In our world of constant connectivity, some might argue that kids
shouldn’t be expected to “unplug” for weeks on end. And yet, most
overnight summer camps are still tech-free zones. Why? Recent studies
reveal there are good reasons for taking a tech break. And seasoned
camp directors are privy to a little known fact: Kids actually enjoy
it. Erec Hillis, boys’ camp director at Camp Champions in Texas, says,
“Many of our campers actually thank us for the opportunity to put away
their phones for a while. Some of them say that it is exhausting to try
to keep up with all the demands of being available 24/7, and that camp
is a welcome break.”
Nonetheless, it can be daunting to think about letting the smartphone,
iPad and laptop go untouched for the camp session. And parents may feel
just as anxious as their kids. After all, we’re used to communicating
with our children whenever and wherever the notion strikes. What to do?
First of all, it helps to know why most camps remain
unplugged. Kevin Gordon, director of Camp Kupugani outside of Chicago,
says, “Because the whole point of our camp is to enjoy nature,
facilitate communication, and empower children by developing those
skills, we don’t allow cell phones or iPods, which diminish
interpersonal interaction.” Gordon says there’s solid evidence to
support this view, and points to a recent study from UCLA in which a
group of sixth graders unplugged for five days at an outdoor camp. This
group showed marked improvement in their ability to accurately read
nonverbal emotional cues when compared to a control group of same-age
students who hadn’t yet been to camp. While the researchers did not
dismiss the value of technology as a communication and learning tool,
they concluded that “digital screen time, even when used for social
interaction, could reduce time spent developing skills in reading
nonverbal cues of human emotion.”
It is through face-to-face encounters that kids gain the ability to see
another’s perspective and develop empathy. They learn to cooperate and
contribute. All of this is important in the cultivation of lasting
friendships. In his book, “Homesick and Happy: How Time Away from
Parents Can Help a Child Grow,” psychologist Michael Thompson contends
it is because campers spend so much time together, that “camp
friendships grow so quickly and deeply.” The camp environment itself
inspires face-to-face interaction. Campers eat, sleep and play in
proximity to one another. Hillis says, “Kids want to interact with one
another. Camp allows kids to be near enough to each other that they
don’t need their phones. They can just walk over and start a
conversation.”
Still, it’s a good idea to prepare your child for the tech-free
experience. You may simply inform him of the “no electronics” rule, and
express your confidence in his ability to abide by it. Hillis reminds
parents not to commiserate with a child who seems reluctant to give up
his device. Just remind him that all campers will follow the same
rules, and that the camp has good reasons for being tech-free. As
Hillis says, “We simply want kids to be comfortable in knowing that
they can turn the phone off for a period of time and perhaps enjoy life
even more richly, rather than feeling that they are missing out on
something.”
Gordon recommends experimenting with a tech break of a day or two,
sometime before the start of camp. “Do it as a family and recognize how
it’s actually fun and you feel more connected as people!” He also
suggests discussing how your camper can deal with homesickness, and how
you’ll keep in touch without devices. Many camps now offer one-way
email; parents send email, which is then printed and delivered to
campers by the staff. However, Gordon favors old-fashioned snail mail,
and says email, “though easier for the parent to send, is generally not
as appreciated by the camper.”
In fact, experts like Thompson recommend letter-writing as the primary
form of communication between parent and camper. He writes that “the
time spent between sending and receiving a letter is a valuable
opportunity for both parent and child to think about one
another without having to do anything with or for
each other.” He believes a child cannot become independent without
spending time away from parents, and warns that “minute-by-minute
contact with parents undermines the sense of separation.” So don’t be
the parent who slips an extra phone into your child’s duffel!
Gordon acknowledges that being disconnected from screens is more
difficult for parents than for campers. ” It’s also a different
experience (and harder), since the parent is in their same world, while
the camper is busy in a new environment,” he says. Yet parents would do
well to practice some tech “downtime” for the duration of the camp
session. Thompson writes, “My advice: Stop the emails, and just send
one or two packages per summer and give yourself a break from checking
the camp’s online photos. Go buy some stamps and write a long letter or
two or nineteen.”
During the weeks at summer camp, your child will make new friends.
Every day she’ll eat, bunk, play, share adventures and have
heart-to-hearts with them. True, she may use social media to stay in
touch with her camp friends throughout the year. But memories of the
things they did together – tipping the canoe, singing by the fire,
playing pranks on the counselors – will create the strongest of bonds.
She’ll yearn for next summer when she can ditch the smartphone and wrap
her arms around her forever friends. Face-to-face.
