A crazy topic for January, some on-the-ball parents (or somewhat-stressed-out working parents) are already thinking about what will keep their kids busy and happy this summer. Pittsburgh Parent asked me to write about the choices parents face and how to approach them.
What does your kid need from a camp?
There are lots of options, and we think about so many factors.
Parents priorities:
- schedule
- price
- location
Kid priorities:
- friends
- activities
- friends
How can you choose?
We have to consider all of the above, but please check out my suggestions for shifting the focus. After you find some affordable options at a time and place that work in your life, consider your bigger picture. Wouldn’t you love to end this summer knowing your child learned some really valuable lessons? Start next school year with a child who expects to do some chores (without whining), who is ready to work hard towards a goal, and who knows he or she can make a new friend or manage a tough situation? Camps teach all of those skills! Respect, responsibility and resilience are high on the list of what great camps have to offer. You’ll be happy you took the time to give your child some strengthened abilities.
