“You don’t take your laptop to camp, and you don’t take your telephone to do business.”
– Lin, an Atlanta-area father
Simple lodging. Meals are included. Camp fires, walks in the woods, lots of outdoor fun.
This summer, many families are heading to camp – together. It’s a concept called family camp.
“The realities of the business world and my law practice can be put aside,” says Lin, a father from Atlanta. “We can escape from them. You don’t take your laptop computer to camp, and you don’t take your telephone to do business.”
“I get to spend time with him,” Wood’s 12-year-old son Charlie says. “And it’s really fun.”
Traditionally kids went to camp to get away from their parents. At the same time, camp was supposed to teach kids how to be independent, and how to get along with other kids.
“Learning to live with those other kids,” says psychologist Jerry Jennings, “learning the give and take of relationships, building self-esteem, having a great time.”
But how do you build your self-esteem , if your mom or dad tags along? Experts say family camp helps strengthen the bond between a parent and child. But only if parents let their kids be the stars.
“They need to be encouraged to ask questions of their kids and let their kids take the lead,” Jennings says. “(Parents) don’t need to go to an experience like this and be in the lead themselves.”
“So it’s a time I think for him to show off a little bit,” Lin says. “And for him to provide me with what he believes is a fun experience, because that’s what it is to him. And it turns out, that’s what it is to me.”
What We Need To Know
More and more summer camps are now inviting parents to camp with their child.
Family camps can be fun and affordable, offering lots of activities in the great outdoors with meals and lodging included. Lodging might be as rustic as tents or cabins without electricity or more inn-style accommodations. Often, more traditional kids’ camps offer special weeks for families at the end of the camping season.
But, is having a parent along really “ideal?”
Some children benefit from some time away from mom and dad. The American Camping Association, (ACA) says that camping provides opportunities for children to experience healthy, successful separation from parents. This, in turn, helps children discover who they are and to recognize their strengths. The National Camp Association points out that camping provides the opportunity for children to develop interpersonal skills and to become more responsible and independent. Having a parent along could interfere with a camper’s ability to get the most out of the camping experience.
Although it can be difficult for a child to separate from his parents, it can be even more so for the parents. The ACA has some coping tips for children and parents:
- If possible, visit the camp ahead of time so that your child will be familiar with the surroundings.
- Consider arranging for a first time camper to attend with a close friend, relative, or camp “buddy.”
- Do not tell your child in advance that you will “rescue” him from camp if he doesn’t like it.
- Discuss what camp will be like well before your child leaves, acknowledging feelings. Consider role-playing anticipated situations such as using a flashlight to find the bathroom.
- Send a letter to your child before camp begins so she will have a letter waiting for her arrival.
- Allow your child to pack a favorite stuffed animal and/or picture as a reminder of home.
If your child experience adjustment problems, such as homesickness, the ACA has the following recommendations:
- Talk candidly with the camp director to obtain her perception of your child’s adjustment.
- Resist the temptation to “rescue” your child.
- Acknowledge your child’s feelings and communicate your love.
- Support your child’s efforts to work out the problems with the help of the camp staff.
- Remind him, if necessary, that he has made a commitment.
- Trust your instincts: If, after a reasonable amount of time and effort, your child is truly miserable and has not adjusted to camp life, allow the child to return home.
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