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s t i f e n e B 4 r e m m u S f o Camp for Kids
by Miriam Frankel, OTR/L
Summer camp provides a great opportunity to be involved in group-focused activities, which are an excellent outlet for a child’s energy and creativity. It helps kids build self esteem and learn how to be part of a group outside of their home. Whether your child is at sleepaway or day camp, or you’ve created “Mommy camp” at home, the benefits of summer camp are plentiful. Here are four of them.
1. Builds Confidence: Camp usually provides a variety of experiences for children to explore and develop an interest in. Unlike school, where the main areas in which to excel are academic based, in camp children can discover new kinds of hobbies and experiences in many other areas, such as sports, art, or drama, allowing them unique opportunities to shine and excel. These activities build confidence. 2. Develops Relationship Skills: In camp, peer and group-based activities enable a child to learn how to resolve conflicts and interact effectively with friends. If the child is going to a camp with different peers to his usual group, it also provides him with a chance to branch out and have new opportunities for camaraderie, growth, and friendship. 3. Builds Resilience: Camp offers opportunities for challenges to arise and for kids to problem-solve when things don’t go their way. Whether it’s a sports or a science camp, summer camps allow a child to experience triumph and disappointment. Because they’re in a group setting and experiencing disappointment together with others, children can more easily be resilient in the face of setbacks than when they’re on their own. 4. Promotes Physical Activity and Stimulation: Physical activity—especially in the sunny summer months—is so helpful for kids, especially those who are sensory seekers and need more movement than they normally get during the school year. All the extra time outdoors helps children sleep better too.
Being in touch with your child’s mental health as they move through their childhood is part of healthy development. Giving your child a camp experience, in some form, is just one of the ways you can help support your child’s mental health and develop new skills that differ from those learned and worked on in their year-round school setting.
Miriam (Manela) Frankel OTR/L is a mental health occupational therapist, founder of the online platform ChildrenBloom.com, and The Thrive Group, with offices in Brooklyn and Passaic. ChildrenBloom.com provides toolkits for parents and educators to deal with struggling children. Miriam is the author of The Parent-Child Dance and an international speaker.
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WELLSPRING / AUGUST 2023
