8 Reasons Kids Should Go to Summer Camp ...

It’s a tradition here in the States. Every summer, millions of parents send their children off to sleep-away summer camp, or to day camps. There are so many reasons to consider summer camp for your kids, and it’s well worth the expense and separation anxiety! Here are my top eight reasons why children should go to summer camp, especially children with esteem or fitness issues!

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It Builds Self-esteem

It Builds Self-esteem Photo Credit: lorenzodom

When your child goes away to summer camp, you’ll notice a big difference in their natural self-esteem. They’ll be more confident, less clingy, with much more self-esteem. Being away from home gives children the chance to figure out who they are outside of all of their family’ pre-conceived notions.

It Encourages Independence

It Encourages Independence Photo Credit: Dalla*

Being away from home at summer camp will make your child much more independent and self-reliant. You won’t be there to coddle them, or to do everything for them, so they’ll have to learn to do more for themselves. Don’t worry! They won’t be on their own, but they won’t be over-mothered, either.

Frequently asked questions

They’ll Make New Friends

They’ll Make New Friends Photo Credit: pictureclub_2000

I am still close to the two girls I bunked with during sleep-away camp when I was 12. I’d have never met these girls had I not gone off to camp, and I am so glad I did! When your children go away to camp, they’ll meet so many new people, and they may make friends for a lifetime.

They’ll Try New Things

They’ll Try New Things Photo Credit: lancewebel

Unless you have a lake for swimming and canoeing, plus a rock-climbing wall, archery range, and horseback riding corral at your home, chances are, your children will be able to try new things at summer camp. They might overcome fears, or even discover talents and interests they never even knew they had!

Related: 7 Reasons to Have a Child ...

They’ll See Diversity

They’ll See Diversity Photo Credit: Tatiana Cardeal

Sleep-away summer camps and even day camps, will expose your children to people of all different background, cultures, ethnicities, religions, and races. They might hear new languages, learn new cultural practices, and try new foods and hear different types of music. This is incredibly valuable, because as technology brings the world closer together, they’ll be learning how to interact with the people they’ll be interacting with later in life.

They’ll Learn to Love Nature

They’ll Learn to Love Nature Photo Credit: elsa11

Most camps focus their summer activities and learning opportunities on nature and the outdoors. What a fantastic way to make your child more environmentally aware, and kinder to plants and animals! Once your child returns home, carry on with what they’ve learned at camp by going on nature hikes and small expeditions.

It’s Better than a Summer in Front of the TV!

It’s Better than a Summer in Front of the TV! Photo Credit: lancewebel

What else does your child have to do all summer long, besides sleeping late, eating too much junk food, and sitting in front of the TV? They may complain, but the XBOX and Wii will be there when they get home from summer camp, right?

My daughter is already begging to go to horseback riding camp this summer, and I can’t wait either! Did you go to summer camp when you were young, or have you sent your children to summer camp? How did it help them? What did they get out of it, and did they enjoy it? Please let me know!

Top Photo Credit: indiekidd73

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

I signed my daughter up for 2 weeks of sleep away camp when she was 13. She was going to go with a friend, but the friend decided against it. My daughter seemed okay with it -- she is very self assured on the outside -- but as time got closer and "well meaning" friends told her how brave she was to go to camp all by herself, she started having misgivings and didn't want to go at all. I insisted and dropped her off at camp and left soon after since we arrived late and camp activities were getting underway. We didn't hear from her at all during those two weeks even though the camp said it was mandatory to write home at least once. We were so nervous that we even called the camp to make sure she was okay. When we went to pick her up, we were shocked to see her with tears in her eyes and every time she saw one of her new friends, the crying and hugging would start all over again. I think she cried on and off the whole way home. She now has a group of close friends that she sees fairly often. She even has friends from Spain and France. Camp to her is "the best place on earth" and she has been back every summer since and is going back this summer to be a junior counselor. Since she is an only child, I think camp was the best thing we could have done for her!

I have been sending my children to day camp for 8 weeks every summer for the past 4 years or so (my boys are 10 and 7 now) and I truly believe it is the best thing ever for them. Otherwise, they would be spending many hours a day in my office at work, going stir crazy with little to do, and driving me crazy as well. At camp, they have a schedule and a routine, but the kids like it, because all the activities are fun! In addition, we are blessed to have a camp with an inclusion program, which my older son, who is on the autism spectrum, truly needed. It is with great pride, that I can say he has been kicked out of the program, because camp has helped him be more independent! It has also helped him need less supervision in a regular school setting. I think sometimes my boys don't realize what a great thing they have, but I certainly do!

ooohhhhh.....Sheila, maybe your parents heard too many bad stories about summer camps. Actually, I would recommend for everyone to first research the camp, and find out from other people's experience, before sending their children there. Some camps are not as well managed as others.

#2 thank you

Beautiful post!! I loved spending my time at the summer camp. I never had more fun than during the 3 weeks each year at camp. I also sent my children to overnight camp as soon as the age of 6 and 7, but I would come up on Thursday night and stay nearby until Sunday, just to see how things were going. They loved it, and made many life long friends.

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