The band Chicago once sang some very wise lyrics: Everybody needs a little time away from each other. Nowhere are those words more accurate than when applied to parents, children and summer. The monotony of the endless summer hours can build laziness, tension and, worst of all, complacency. Kids take parents for granted, parents take kids for granted, and everyone loses sight of how important family is.
Fortunately, sleep away camp is a fantastic remedy for this very problem. Whether you are sending your kids away for a week or even four, camp is a guaranteed way for your child to build character, make friends and feel completely free to be his or her true self.
When children attend a sleep away camp, they may be leaving home for a few days, but what comes back with them is where the real good stuff lies. So what can you expect when your kids get back?
Confidence
When your children return home from camp, you may notice they do so with their heads held a little bit higher. Melissa Houston is one of the K-1 women’s directors for Kanakuk Kamp, a Christian camp that has been helping children gain confidence and character since 1926. She has seen this positive effect of camp first hand.
“With no reservation,” Houston says, “kids get to be completely and totally who they are at camp. Where else would they feel comfortable to wear a crazy costume, fit right in and not have to worry about their dance moves being cool enough? Everyone is a hero at camp!”
Not only does the judgement-free zone from kids bolster confidence in kids who are already socially skilled, but it can foster confidence in those who struggle with shyness.
Houston explains, “We hear stories of kids going home and trying new, intimidating, big things like auditioning for a play, running for student council and trying out for a team or starting a Bible study at their school—all because summer camp helped them see who they really are!”
Conquered Fears
For many children, the thought of leaving home for a few days is great in theory, but the reality is much more intimidating. Attending camp will help your child learn to deal with this inevitable anxiety and the challenges of trying new things in a safe and healthy environment. Unlike sending your child off to a friend’s house where television, screen time and potentially questionable behaviors might be learned, camp provides exercise, activities and constant skill building that undoubtedly will make your child stronger and braver than you ever thought possible.
Structure and Responsibility
How many times have you heard that your child volunteered to do dishes at a friend’s house and thought, “What? My kid? NO way!” Believe it or not, the skills and responsibilities you are pushing at home do get through to your children, and camp can further reinforce those routines.
”At camp we have ‘planned spontaneity,’ but we also have daily classes, set mealtimes, wake-up and bedtimes,” explains Houston. “And at Kanakuk, Kampers share the responsibilities to keep their cabin clean daily.”
Parents of campers may decide the side effect of increased responsibility in a child just might be the greatest gift the camp can give.
Trying New Things
Take a glance at the activities list at camp and you’ll see more opportunity for hustle and bustle than any summer at home ever could offer. Baseball, basketball, zip-lining, swimming, canoeing, parties—the list goes on. The great benefit here is a chance for your child to try something that might always have piqued his interest, without making a hard and fast commitment. Maybe a child always has wanted to try baseball, but the idea of 10 games over an entire summer was too intimidating. Enter summer camp.
“Our classes help build on skills that a camper may already have,” Houston says. “But if a camper hasn’t experienced a certain team sport and has interest, they have opportunity to try in a fun, safe and encouraging environment.”
In the end, summer camp is a place where children can grow, learn and develop skills they will use for the rest of their lives. Camp encourages independence and offers freedom from judgment, coupled with an expectation of responsibility and ownership of one’s actions and thoughts. The best part is kids don’t even realize they’re learning these skills. To them, camp offers summer laughter and fun—and a needed break from life at home.
Kim Antisdel is a freelance writer and interior design sales rep for KC. She lives in Liberty with her husband, stepdaughters and toddler son.
TIP: Use KC Parent's Summer Camp Guide to Find the Best Camp for Your Child!