Sleep away camp is a big step for many kids as they grow and learn to
become more independent. For parents and kids alike, it can be difficult to
decide the right time to take the plunge and start attending a residential
camp. While you may feel apprehensive about sending your child to overnight
summer camp for the first time, you might be surprised by the positive
transformation you’ll see at the end of the camp session.
Not only does overnight camp provide kids with the opportunity to make
lifelong friendships and life-changing memories, studies show that
overnight camp also improves overall happiness in many children and can
help kids learn how to navigate social situations later in life. The
following are three reasons why sleep away camp is good for your child:
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Friends for Life
Many veterans of overnight camps say that during their camp career, they
made friends that they still keep in touch with many years later. At sleep
away camp, kids engage in social interaction that they would not otherwise
be exposed to. For many, those late-night chats just before lights-out or
cheering on a fellow camper in a new activity or experience are the moments
that make overnight camp truly unique. For some kids, overnight camp might
be their first chance to sleep away from home, to make decisions
independent from their parents and to navigate a day filled with their own
choices. It can be a good first step to establishing self-esteem,
self-confidence and independence.If you’re wondering how to help your children make friends, putting them in
an environment that encourages teamwork and trust is essential. Many camps,
like Pali Adventures, offer an array of different specialties, meaning that
your child will spend time with kids who have similar interests.Sleep away camp can also help to instill a sense of cooperation, empathy,
responsibility and respect as kids learn to live together and find common
ground that unites instead of differences that divide. -
Learn How to Unplug
Many sleep away camps have a no-cell-phone or no-technology policy. Taking
time to step away from the screen can help kids practice mindfulness and
feel more present.Pali Adventures participated in a UCLA study that explored the benefits of
unplugging while away at camp. Results of the study showed increased social
awareness after only 5 days of being “unplugged.” -
Kids Can Establish Independence
For many families, the parents have a harder time saying goodbye than the
kids. For many campers, overnight camp is an important step in learning to
think independently in an environment separate from parents, school and
home friends.Sleep away camp is a great opportunity to teach kids how to make
independent choices and decisions while in a safe and controlled
environment. When children arrive back from summer camp they may take a
more proactive role in helping out around the house, cooking their meals or
keeping their bedroom clean. Overnight camp can help to nurture a sense of
confidence that would otherwise take longer to develop.
