Camp - an antidote to social stresses at school

Just as how a normal day in the office can easily turn into a stressful one, what you may refer to as a normal day at school for your kids can be just as stressful. 
 
Take a look at these examples of stress our kids are faced with at school and see the reasons why camp is the perfect antidote to social stresses at school. 
 
Social Standing 
 
Children are expected to maintain a certain image at school in order to secure a reputation. Social standing at school divides kids. Kids who dress well are admired as the “Trendsetters”, kids who excel at sports are the “Jocks”, kids who are great at socializing and have a multitude of friends are the “Popular kids” and intellectual kids are known as the “Nerds”. If your kids don’t fit into any one of these categories at school, they’re usually the “Outcasts”. This is why our children are always trying so hard to fit in, which can be very stressful as not all of us are fashion forward, good at sport, great at interacting with others, or above average in academics. 

Summer camps give kids the opportunity to project their true selves without any restrictions. This forces kids to leave behind whatever reputation they had to uphold anywhere outside of camp and reinvent themselves. In an environment like this, where kids get to be themselves and live in a judgment-free zone, all kids fit in. The stress to be “part of the squad” does not exist. 
 
Peer Pressure 
 
Children at school are pressurized to do what their friends think is “cool”, which are usually childish and petty things that we as parents would certainly frown upon. For example, when your child becomes friends with a student who isn’t “popular”, they are judged and expected to abandon them in order to fit in. This is peer pressure. They could really enjoy someone’s company but will be expected not to associate with them regardless. Choosing friends can be very stressful in such a pressurizing society. 

Peer pressure at summer camps is regarded as “bullying” and isn’t tolerated. Everyone is friends with one another and form one, big happy family at camp. Campers aren’t forced to, nor, are they restricted to befriend anyone. Both campers and counselors are constantly focused on having fun whilst building each other up and have no opportunity to indulge in this demeaning act. 
 
Precocious Behavior

When a child behaves in a way that is advanced for their age, this is regarded as precocious behavior. Smoking, involvement in intimate relationships, alcohol and illegal substance abuse at a tender age is the perfect example of this. These examples are common stresses kids are facing at school, and the easy access kids have to technology could be one of its greatest influences. 

Camp counselors play an integral role in assisting kids to refrain from precocious behavior at camp. They predominantly work on showing kids that they can have fun and embrace their youth without smoking, consuming alcohol, indulging in illegal substances, being in a relationship or influenced by the media. This is why most camps promote their technology-free movement, which doesn’t allow campers to have their mobile phones or internet access at hand. Counselors are always channeling their inner child at camp, which encourages kids to be kids at camp. 
 
The summer camp opportunity is the ideal break away from the social standing, peer pressure and precocious behavior stress that the schooling environment can have upon your kids. Pack your kids bags this end-of-term break and send them to camp, which is certainly the ideal antidote to school social stress. 

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