Children spend on average 20 hours per week in school, perhaps even more, and, as a parent, you might think that this number of hours is enough to offer them complete, well-rounded education. But while conventional schools may be great at teaching math, science and literature, they don’t exactly support kids in finding their way in life or discovering new hobbies. In fact, more and more studies show that the heavily standardized structure of the curriculum suppresses kids’ inborn creativity and leaves too little room for growth. It cannot be denied that schools are essential for teaching literacy, numeracy and building essential knowledge about the world we live in, but they offer an incomplete approach in terms of personal development.
As a parent, you probably want your child to become a happy and fully functioning adult and for this you are willing to invest in education. At the same time, you don’t want to overwhelm them either and fill their childhood with private classes. The good news is that you don’t have to. Sending your child to summer camp – an activity that sounds all fun and games – happens to be one of the best learning opportunities that they can benefit from. In a few weeks of the summer holiday, your child can have fun, make new friends and learn essential skills that are otherwise impossible to pick up in school.
One of the most stressful things about schools is that they force children to learn a specific subject without the child having any say in it. A child can have brilliant acting skills, but they’re not discovered. Instead, they struggle with Math, Chemistry and English literature and suffer from low self-esteem because they don’t perform. In summer camps, this doesn’t happen. Children are free to take part in any activity they like and, make no mistake, they are spoilt from choice. Pottery, music, robotics, painting, football, in addition to the conventional subjects taught in schools, are just some of the programs they can opt for. And since they don’t get grades or pass exams, they will learn in a much more relaxed, informal manner that doesn’t put pressure on them.
Many children are often criticized for not making enough friends in school, but schools don’t always nurture a sense of community and collaboration. However, summer camps are great for creating long lasting ties and encouraging kids to work together. Because many of the activities there are team-based, your child will learn to become a better communicator. Summer camps support inclusiveness, positive feedback and consideration for others in a safe, nurturing environment. Even introvert kids, who would otherwise find it hard to open up to others, manage to build lasting friendships after spending a few weeks amidst others.
Building self-esteem in children is extremely important. By the time they enter first grade, children already have developed self-esteem, encouraged by their family. But it’s equally important for them not to lose their self-esteem in school, because this can lead to complicated issues such as absenteeism, dropping out and even substance abuse. Summer camps are an excellent way to build confidence in children, because they encourage them to develop independence, discover their strengths and be on their own. The simple fact that kids have to make their own beds and spend more time away from you gives them more confidence, as well as the courage to take on new challenges. They will learn more about themselves, take on challenges with a positive attitude and adapt to new situations.
For many years, academic achievement has been synonymous with success in life. And yet, there are so many cases of children who did great in school and got maximum grades at everything, but didn’t quite manage to find a rewarding career path. Many children have an outstanding potential. They can become brilliant problem solvers, or innovators that could go down in history. But in order for this potential to be reached, they need to hone their creative thinking. In order for children to become successful entrepreneurs or innovators in any field of their choice, they have to think outside the box and bring their own fresh perspective to the table. Unfortunately, memorizing lessons and taking standardized tests forces children to suppress their creativity, so it’s always a good idea to compensate with activities that encourage creative thinking. At summer camp, the focus falls precisely on these activities. “Imagine This” games make children envision possible scenarios, puzzles teach them how to put together pieces of information to solve a problem and roleplaying teaches to be emphatic. Not all of them are the kind of activities that are regularly done in schools, so summer camp is a great way to mix fun with education.
Cynthia Madison is a young blogger and economics and marketing graduate. She writes about home, lifestyle and family topics and is a frequent contributor to popular niche publications.