How Summer Day Camp Counselors Help Shy Children

How​ ​Summer​ ​Day​ ​Camp​ ​Counselors​ ​Help​ ​Shy​ ​Children

Kids​ ​come​ ​to​ ​day​ ​camp​ ​with​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​temperaments​ ​that​ ​all​ ​add​ ​something​ ​special​ ​to​ ​the group.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​common​ ​for​ ​children​ ​to​ ​go​ ​through​ ​a​ ​stage​ ​of​ ​shyness​ ​at​ ​some​ ​point​ ​during​ ​their

childhood.​ ​Day​ ​camp​ ​counselors​ ​are​ ​specially​ ​trained​ ​to​ ​recognize​ ​when​ ​a​ ​child​ ​is​ ​feeling​ ​shy.

There​ ​are​ ​strategies​ ​that​ ​can​ ​be​ ​utilized​ ​to​ ​help​ ​bring​ ​them​ ​out​ ​of​ ​their​ ​shell.

Demonstrating​ ​Respect​ ​for​ ​All​ ​Personality​ ​Types

When​ ​a​ ​child​ ​is​ ​shy,​ ​even​ ​the​ ​smallest​ ​hint​ ​of​ ​negativity​ ​can​ ​cause​ ​them​ ​to​ ​retreat​ ​further​ ​into their​ ​shell.​ ​For​ ​this​ ​reason,​ ​counselors​ ​recognize​ ​the​ ​benefits​ ​of​ ​all​ ​personality​ ​traits.​ ​For

instance,​ ​a​ ​shy​ ​child​ ​might​ ​be​ ​an​ ​introverted​ ​thinker.​ ​This​ ​might​ ​be​ ​helpful​ ​in​ ​a​ ​tutoring​ ​situation or​ ​a​ ​chess​ ​competition.​ ​Showing​ ​kids​ ​respect​ ​contributes​ ​to​ ​building​ ​trust.​ ​It​ ​helps​ ​shy​ ​campers feel​ ​safe​ ​enough​ ​to​ ​begin​ ​taking​ ​risks​ ​such​ ​as​ ​jumping​ ​off​ ​the​ ​diving​ ​board.

Providing​ ​Reassurance​ ​Throughout​ ​the​ ​Day

Most​ ​kids​ ​are​ ​a​ ​little​ ​shy​ ​when​ ​they​ ​first​ ​show​ ​up​ ​to​ ​day​ ​camp.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​the​ ​reason​ ​day​ ​camp

counselors​ ​make​ ​it​ ​a​ ​point​ ​to​ ​check​ ​in​ ​with​ ​their​ ​newest​ ​campers​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​day.​ ​Ask​ ​shy kids​ ​how​ ​they​ ​are​ ​doing​ ​and​ ​offer​ ​them​ ​a​ ​reassuring​ ​smile.​ ​It​ ​helps​ ​speed​ ​up​ ​the​ ​process​ ​to thrive​ ​when​ ​they​ ​know​ ​there​ ​is​ ​someone​ ​nearby​ ​who​ ​is​ ​always​ ​on​ ​their​ ​side.

Boosting​ ​Confidence​ ​Through​ ​New​ ​Experiences

Shy​ ​children​ ​often​ ​lack​ ​confidence​ ​in​ ​new​ ​situations.​ ​Day​ ​camp​ ​is​ ​the​ ​ideal​ ​place​ ​to​ ​get​ ​them​ ​to

step​ ​out​ ​of​ ​their​ ​comfort​ ​zone.​ ​Counselors​ ​plan​ ​activities​ ​that​ ​are​ ​all​ ​designed​ ​to​ ​challenge​ ​every kid​ ​to​ ​try​ ​new​ ​things.​ ​Everything​ ​from​ ​swimming​ ​lessons,​ ​ropes​ ​courses​ ​and​ ​rock​ ​climbing​ ​walls.

When​ ​they​ ​accomplish​ ​their​ ​goal​ ​even​ ​the​ ​shyest​ ​camper​ ​will​ ​want​ ​to​ ​share​ ​their​ ​excitement with​ ​everyone​ ​around​ ​them.

Giving​ ​Opportunities​ ​to​ ​Be​ ​a​ ​Leader

Leaders​ ​are​ ​born​ ​at​ ​summer​ ​day​ ​camp.​ ​Yet,​ ​it​ ​may​ ​be​ ​a​ ​little​ ​more​ ​challenging​ ​for​ ​a​ ​shy​ ​child.

As​ ​more​ ​outgoing​ ​boys​ ​and​ ​girls​ ​are​ ​jostling​ ​for​ ​their​ ​position​ ​as​ ​head​ ​of​ ​the​ ​group,​ ​shy​ ​kids

often​ ​recede​ ​into​ ​the​ ​background.​ ​However,​ ​camp​ ​counselors​ ​are​ ​sensitive​ ​to​ ​these​ ​situations.

They​ ​make​ ​sure​ ​everyone​ ​gets​ ​a​ ​turn​ ​being​ ​a​ ​leader.​ ​For​ ​shy​ ​kids,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​safe​ ​leadership

opportunities​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​out​ ​their​ ​best​ ​attributes.​ ​One​ ​way​ ​might​ ​be​ ​helping​ ​to​ ​feed​ ​the​ ​animals​ ​in the​ ​petting​ ​zoo.​ ​Another​ ​might​ ​be​ ​welcoming​ ​another​ ​shy​ ​youngster​ ​to​ ​camp.

Helping​ ​Kids​ ​to​ ​Make​ ​New​ ​Friends

Making​ ​friends​ ​is​ ​easy​ ​at​ ​summer​ ​camp.​ ​But​ ​sometimes​ ​the​ ​shyest​ ​kids​ ​need​ ​a​ ​little​ ​support

when​ ​it​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​making​ ​introductions​ ​or​ ​joining​ ​a​ ​group.​ ​As​ ​day​ ​camp​ ​counselors​ ​get​ ​to​ ​know each​ ​child’s​ ​personality,​ ​they​ ​become​ ​experts​ ​at​ ​helping​ ​the​ ​shy​ ​ones​ ​navigate​ ​challenging

social​ ​situations.​ ​Techniques​ ​such​ ​as​ ​pairing​ ​kids​ ​to​ ​work​ ​together​ ​on​ ​a​ ​project​ ​also​ ​help​ ​new friendships​ ​to​ ​form​ ​that​ ​often​ ​continue​ ​long​ ​after​ ​the​ ​activity​ ​is​ ​over.

Summer​ ​day​ ​camp​ ​is​ ​the​ ​ideal​ ​environment​ ​for​ ​helping​ ​youngsters​ ​develop​ ​the​ ​confidence

needed​ ​to​ ​allow​ ​their​ ​personality​ ​to​ ​shine.​ ​Yet​ ​parents​ ​often​ ​express​ ​concern​ ​about​ ​how​ ​their shy​ ​child​ ​will​ ​do.​ ​The​ ​counselors​ ​recognize​ ​their​ ​role​ ​in​ ​helping​ ​shy​ ​kids​ ​to​ ​succeed.​ ​Their

efforts​ ​help​ ​shy​ ​campers​ ​grow​ ​into​ ​outgoing​ ​leaders​ ​who​ ​love​ ​meeting​ ​new​ ​people​ ​and​ ​making new​ ​friends.

Let​ ​your​ ​kids​ ​enjoy​ ​summer​ ​camp​ ​fun​​ ​at​ ​Maplewood​ ​Summer​ ​Day​ ​Camp.​ ​Experienced staff​ ​will​ ​keep​ ​your​ ​child​ ​both​ ​safe​ ​and​ ​busy​ ​with​ ​arts​ ​and​ ​crafts,​ ​games,​ ​water​ ​sports, gymnastics​ ​and​ ​more.​ ​Visit​ ​the​ ​site​ ​at

http://maplewoodyearround.com/summer-camp/summer-camp-activities/​​ ​ ​to​ ​see​ ​the​ ​fun your​ ​child​ ​will​ ​have​ ​at​ ​Maplewood​ ​Summer​ ​Day​ ​Camp.