You might be in doubt on whether to permit your child to go to the summer camp or not. To help you decide, here are a few pros and cons.
Pros Of Summer Camp For Kids
Independence and Creativity – Through the tasks they are given, children will be able to figure out solutions on their own. At camp they are not trated by like babies, they are taught to be independent and the activities foster skills such as, leadership, self-confidence, critical thinking, and a sense of accomplishment.
New Experiences – While the tasks provided to them can lead to autonomy, the experience they will have in camp contribute greatly to maturity. It helps them to grow as people when they are exposed to the culture that is typically seen in camp and all the new experiences that they will encounter.
Socialization – It starts with them getting acquainted with positive role models in the form of counselors. These are the people whom they can identify with and will display a far different approach to dealing with them rather than your parenting style. It moves to their meeting new friends from different schools with different nationalities. This provides for the knowledge of diversity and that there is more to the world than your child has ever thought of.
Life Long Friendships – Many times camp is a place where kids develop life long friendships and bonds.
Values – Perhaps the most important benefit of summer camp is the development of new values in kids. They will see that there will be others who share a similar hobby, who are better than them in certain aspects of school life, and different cultures. Through the tasks they perform, they will be able to exercise principles of accommodation, resilience, and assimilation of the values learned throughout the camp.
Cons Of Summer Camp For Kids
Separation Anxiety – Summer camp is a form or weaning. Some children manifest homesickness while away from you. This is called separation anxiety and it is a normal response to being away from one’s parents. You will also miss your kids. But, this can be a positive experience in learning how to separate and letting them be individuals.
Worries – Of course you will worry while your kids are gone and maybe even feel guilty at times. This is all normal and a part of letting them go out into the world. You might find some comfort in the fact that there are other parents out there feeling the same way.
Budget – Often the best camps will cost quite a bit, and many families cannot afford such high rates. One idea is to check with local church groups or Jewish agencies, often times these organizations offer financial help and camp scholarships.
