Summer vacations can seem endless when you’re entertaining young kids and teens, so it’s no surprise that summer camp has become a popular choice for many families around the world. Since many people choose to send their kids to camp every summer, are camps really a convenient form of summer fun? What are the benefits for your child in the camp?
First of all, it is an opportunity for children to play and have fun outside of school in the way they should. In doing so, they will be able to learn new skills. Summer camp keeps the kids entertained and has many health benefits. The best part is that the kids want to go to the camp because it’s fun and positive results are not long in coming.
Here are the top 6 reasons why your child should go to summer camp:
1. Improve social skills and find new friends
In each camp, friendships and connections were some of the most impressive memories of these camps. This has never been more evident than on the last day of camp, when children often tearfully say goodbye to new friends.
Camp is a unique environment outside of school where kids can get a “crash course” in social skills with a new group of people. Studies have shown that the camp significantly develops children’s emotional intelligence, which includes recognizing, understanding and managing emotions, and is a key component of future success.
2. Active outdoor lifestyle
One of the most challenging aspects of childhood for modern parents is keeping children active and healthy. It’s harder than ever for kids to stay active outdoors, especially in urban areas. A new generation of kids are spending less time outdoors than any previous generation.
At the camp, children can safely explore nature and the world with their peers. All this happens under the watchful eye of the staff. Physical activity often comes in the form of fun and games that teach children to be active. Even if they don’t realize it on the spot, children are very likely to apply these skills in their home life. With numerous health benefits, including increased fitness and a healthy body weight, active kids can also concentrate better, do better in school, and have fewer behavioral problems.
3. Break from technology
More than ever, our children rely on technology for entertainment and schoolwork. Almost every child who arrived at the camp has an iPad, iPhone, iPod or laptop at home. Most children spend hours watching TV or playing video games in their spare time. While technology can have huge benefits, spending some time without it is essential. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to convince children of this.
At the camp, children are only allowed limited access to their mobile phones and other devices. In their free time, they can be fully involved in activities and “disconnect” from the digital world. Being away from technology provides an opportunity to have fun and connect with peers. This helps kids realize that there is a world beyond video games and they will be much more likely to get active, pursue their new hobbies and get off the couch when they get home.
4. Increased confidence and self-esteem
Camp is an environment in which children are introduced to new tasks and activities. They may not have known them before, or they may not have believed they could succeed. Children are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and take part in activities such as talent performances, roping courses, or starting a fire. In the favorable environment of their peers and camp leaders, they learn that it is possible to try to fail, and with each success their self-confidence grows.
This newfound independence, resilience, and self-esteem carry over not only into the camp, but will come in handy later in school as well as in family life. Children will be happier to take on new activities, solve problems in areas or school subjects where they previously had little confidence in their own abilities.
5. Development of leadership skills
Leadership can manifest itself in many ways, as at summer camp for children it is necessary to complete tasks in their social groups, whether during classes or in their free time. Children rely on each other to cooperate, and in the process they learn to have a voice in a group, discover the skills and qualities that make them good leaders. Children in the camp are also given the opportunity to learn how to take the initiative. It could be helping the younger one find their way, or just cleaning the room.
6. Expansion of the worldview
In camps, children meet and form friendships with those outside their usual social circle at school or at home. Teenagers from different cities or countries meet here. It helps to broaden one’s outlook, to learn first-hand about other cultures. Often children return year after year just to be reunited with their friends who may be living on the other side of the world!