As the end of the school year approaches, many parents begin to consider sending their kids to overnight summer camp. And if you’re one of those parents, this might seem like a scary decision.
We’re here to put your mind at ease.
It’s understandable that you may always see your children as the small and helpless babies who once needed you to survive. And, don’t worry. They’ll always need you to some extent.
But the reality is that little kids turn into bigger kids. Then bigger kids become teens and teens become adults.
One of your job requirements as a parent is to teach your kids the skills they need to build the independence necessary for adulthood. Even if that isn’t coming for a while.
Overnight summer camp can help parents and kids learn to operate independently of one another.
Still, this fact doesn’t necessarily help you arrive at a decision.
The absolute first thing to consider is your child’s desire. If s/he really wants to have the experience, then you can start doing some research on things to look for in a summer camp. This will give you peace of mind.
But if your children want to go and it’s your resistance to separating from them that’s motivating your decision, then that’s all the more reason they should go. Why?
Because sending your willing children to overnight summer camp will require you to come up against your own philosophies on supervising and monitoring. In other words, it is an opportunity to grow.
One mother put it like this:
“It took the [overnight summer] camp experience for me to realize that I could not depend on my daughter for my happiness.”
She came to realize that she needed to let her daughter explore her independence and figure out how to make herself happy in her absence.
But if that isn’t motivation enough, here are seven other reasons that overnight summer camps are great for the entire family.
1. The Tech Disconnect
A lot of parents who’ve done the overnight summer camp thing in the past say how much they love having their kids unplugged for an extended amount of time. (In some cases, for the entire summer.)
At many camps, the kids are completely disconnected from technology. So when they have a designated rest time, they don’t grab their iPad or phone to go zone out in a corner somewhere.
Instead, they are (re)introduced to activities that involve physical play or imagination. Things like reading, playing cards, making art, writing or playing sports become interesting again.
And what happens when they return home? Surprisingly, most parents say that their children stick with these new activities.
It doesn’t mean they give up their tech toys, but they do have an appreciation for these activities they formally didn’t have. Or lost, at some point.
2. The Life Connect
Right along with the tech disconnect comes a newfound interest in connecting with life. And that means connecting with one another.
Many children – and adults too – spend a disproportionate amount of time looking down at our devices, texting, watching videos, etc. Essentially, everyone is hiding behind technology and living disconnected with our world.
Summer camps encourage kids to look into each other’s eyes. It teaches them to read social cues. And it’s there that they learn how to listen.
Learning to listen is huge because it teaches kids empathy.
When kids listen to one another, they understand what moves the other person, what scares them and what it means to be a true friend.
And since they are forced to live in a communal setting, they begin to understand the implications of their actions on others, how to resolve differences and how to be a part of a group.
It isn’t just about them any more. It’s about community.
3. Ah, Nature
Back in a time when escaping technology was not a priority, gaining an appreciation for nature was often touted as the top reason to send kids off to camp.
Kids in general aren’t getting outdoors enough. According to many reports, this lack of outdoor time is causing “nature deficit disorder” which results in all sorts of behavioral problems in children.
Summer camp reconnects kids with nature, something they aleady have a natural love for. They get face-to-face with frogs, bugs and other critters absent in their lives now that they have become confined to the indoors.
Plus, being in nature gives children an outlet to release all of their energy as it’s a wide open space where they can run, climb, swim or wander.
4. New Circles, New Friends
Having the overnight summer camp experience gives kids a chance to branch out from their neighborhood and make connections with kids they normally wouldn’t.
In making these connections with kids from other backgrounds, they learn to embrace different philosophies and life practices. They also build social confidence that will help them when they return to school and continue on their navigation toward adulthood.
Speaking of adulthood, consider how the kids going to overnight summer camp will benefit you, the parent.
5. A Shout Out to Practicality
Bottom line, logistics dictate that most parents have to work.
So what do you do when summer comes and there is no school in session? Camp is the perfect solution.
Of course, this is hopefully just a fringe benefit and not your main reason for sending the kids to camp.
6. Revive Your Love Life
If you’re in a marriage, partnership or relationship, the challenge of balancing careers, carpool schedules, school life and extracurricular activities doesn’t leave a whole lot of time for romance.
With the kids at overnight summer camp, you can return to doing the activities you both enjoy doing. You can eat Apple Jacks all morning and lie on the couch with no one taking the remote.
You could even go back to the places where you first met and dated. You’ll have a lot of time to commit to one another. And that’s worth a lot.
7. Get Back to You
Ultimately, the children being at overnight summer camp will give you a chance to pick up where you left off when the kids were first born.
Some parents talk about a creativity revival.
One parent recommends taking a walk after dinner on a warm summer night with no reason to rush home. You might be surprised how many new ideas pop up for you!
Overnight summer camp can be a win-win situation for everyone involved. If you’ve found other benefits to sending your kids to camp, feel free to share!