Dream Big Day Camp

The Challenge and Joy of Finding Friendship

jo — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:37:02 +0000

By Liza Hubbell

Have you noticed that your student is focused on finding a friend? At the 9-12 age, children can hyper-focus on peer relationships; they are actively engaged in what Dr. Montessori called, “the construction of the social self.” It is an age at which the value of friendship is paramount, and intricately tied to the child’s developing sense of self. Children begin to actively compare themselves to their classmates and can jockey for attention and affection from peers they admire. A sense of security is what the child seeks, but it can be a puzzle to the adults; friendships seem sometimes to ebb and flow almost hourly. This is a natural part of normative development, but presents a challenge to us all —the child is trying different strategies to affirm and maintain connections and it doesn’t always go as well as the child hopes. Sometimes the angst of being left out at lunch or not invited to the birthday party is heartbreaking for the adults to witness, and we want to jump in, fix it and remove the hurt. We may be tempted to declare a moratorium on certain friendships, counseling our children to just avoid a certain person and find another friend. However, it’s rarely that easy to solve; kids will return to the unresolved relationship, mystifying the adults at times.

There are ways to support your learner as she or he forges friendship. First, realize that this process is not linear, nor necessarily logical—it’s emotional and sometimes messy. Your child will make mistakes, and that’s a good thing—help

your student practice clear, calm communication that focuses on how they feel, “it hurt my feelings when you didn’t play with me today.” Recognizing and stating what they feel may not ‘fix’ things, but will help your child develop the habit of speaking up for themselves and crafting healthy boundaries with friends. Second, empathize with your child, but don’t try to solve it; this is important developmental work that they have to do, no matter how hard it is to witness. When something with a friend is upsetting to your child, let them know you have an idea of what that feels like, “I imagine you are feeling sad about that…I am sorry you are going through this.” Instead of telling your child what they should do, ask them what they think might be the next step. “What are some ideas you have that could help the situation get better?” That way, your student can take ownership of the situation and feel more empowered in the friendship. Next, gently help your child to avoid negative or monolithic thinking. When you hear things like, “nobody likes me,” or “he never listens to me,” it’s a cue to you that your child needs help nuancing the way he or she is interpreting the situation. Nudge them toward being specific, and focusing on problem-solving once the real issue has been identified.

A group of Fourth year boys

The Sixth year class

Some kids need more explicit support with friendship skills than others; like any other gift or challenge, we are all wired a bit differently. At MSD, we work to craft an environment that supports this growth for each child. However, you may find that your student could benefit from some outside support. There are a number of resources available, including a small group format that focuses on the process of finding friends run by Dr. Mara Trager. For more information, please reference the website http:// www.laurenkerstein.com/ and check out the Making Connections group schedule. After all, there really is nothing better than moving through the school day feeling confident that no matter if you’ve forgotten your homework, don’t like your sandwich that Dad packed, or missed the goal in floor hockey, you’ve got a friend, someone you can trust cares for you and will work out problems with you… and for us adults, there’s nothing better than seeing the joy on the faces of kids at play, in harmony with their pals.

Why Children Should Go To Summer Camps

jo — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:32:19 +0000

When school gets out for the summer, kids usually have nothing to do. The social interaction and they once had when they were in school is gone. They’re also not challenging their minds. Summer camps are great way for kids to have a memorable seasonal break from school. When students stay home and have nothing to do, the many times lose their motivation. Camps. They provide structure to children during the summertime months. In addition to the structure, many other benefits are included.

First and foremost, camp counselors are excellent role models for children. Young children look up the teenagers. Counselors that are teenagers are excellent role models for the children. The great thing about counselors is that children view them as older peers, and not authoritative adults. Counselors also model appropriate social behaviors. This can be effective because children look up to teenagers.

Second, children get the chance to meet new people and practice their social skills. When children stay home, they don’t get the chance to do this. Children who don’t do anything over the summer usually sit at home all day and have no interaction with kids their own age. This is really bad, especially for children who need to build social skills. Children also have a great chance to meet new friends.

Third, there are many fun activities that are available. Some of the different activities can include swimming, archery, artwork, and many, many more. There are more activities than a kid could ever imagine. When the children end their summers, they will be happy that they did something meaningful on their yearly break from school. They will also get the feeling of accomplishment, feeling like they conquered something.

Fourth, children learn many new things. Many of the activities that are offered stimulate the brains of the children. These activities are also fun. Children will always learn something new that they can take with them at the end of the season.

A fifth benefit is that parents do not have to drive their children to different locations. Parents are usually only required a drop off their children at the camp. For overnight camps, parents don’t have to drive much at all. When parents save the gas money, it makes them very happy.

Sixth, kids can let out a lot a energy. The activities generally make the children use their energy up. The counselors also use energy. The nice thing about this is that children are using their energy in a good way.

Last but not least, children who sit around in the summertime get bored and complain that they have nothing to do. A bored child can sometimes mean a child getting into trouble or driving his parents crazy.

Summer camps are designed to keep children not only busy, but stimulated. When these two elements are incorporated into their lives during the summertime, it usually helps them stay out of trouble. The unique thing about summertime activities is that children will always have fond memories of how they spent their past summertimes.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6270985

The Benefits of Sending Your Child to Summer Camp

jo — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 01:33:03 +0000

When summer starts and the kids are home it can be difficult to keep them entertained. You want them to continue to have the social interactions, the learning experiences, and the fun that they experience while in school. But, it can be tough to keep this up, especially if you work full time. A smart answer is to send your children to camp.

There are plenty of benefits that come from sending your child to camp. For one, you will get them out of the house, away from the TV and video games, away from nagging each other and becoming bored. They will be able to play out some of their energy with exercise and activities. And, they will have time outside in the fresh air and sunshine.

Sending your child to summer camp will also add social interaction into their lives. If they are going to a camp with classmates they will be able to keep contact throughout the summer so that they don’t lose touch during the break from school. Plus, they will have the opportunity to meet children that might not be from their school or area. This gives them a diverse social circle to play, learn, and talk with. Camp creates an atmosphere where your child can meet new people and build lasting friendships.

Another benefit of summer camp is that your child will be put into a new environment. They will gain independence and experience new things. They can use the knowledge they obtained throughout the school year and apply it to their camp activities. It will be a fun and exciting way for your child to continuously learn and grow throughout the summer.

As for what camp to choose, there are summer camps designed to meet any child’s interest. They can be general and offer a variety of activities like arts and crafts, games, theater, and outdoor fun. Or, the camp can be specific to a certain sport like gymnastic camp or baseball camp, or to a specific activity like kids fitness camps. Depending on the age of your son or daughter you might consider a sleep away camp. This will give them the added experience of caring for themselves during the period they are away. For younger children, most areas offer plenty of half or full day camp options. These would keep them on a similar schedule as the school year.

When deciding on which camp to choose, it is good to take into consideration your child’s age, likes or dislikes, and expectations. Although a little persuasion might be necessary, you do not want to force your child into a camp that does not fit them. Include your child in the selection process. Make it an exciting time and you and your child will be sure to benefit from your collective decision. Summer camps will not only keep your children entertained, they will also create lasting memories and life-long friendships!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3394462