Should I let my child go to camp?

Therefore, when my son turned 7 years old and 3 months of summer vacation loomed ahead, at a family council we decided to try it.

The camp was chosen not far from home, but outside the city. The shift was related to computers, and the program promised to be rich. Fresh air, sun, river, games with peers, competitions, discos, what could be better for a child in summer! But only we thought so, not our son.

We gave him our word that if he lasts a week, and then asks to pick him up on parent’s day, then we will definitely do it.

They gave him an old phone, packed a full bag of things for every day – just take it off in the evening and put it in a separate bag. They gave sweets and instructions on how to behave with children and educators.

Of course, I didn’t get off the phone, I was very worried about him. Experienced mothers said that it was better not to call them there, not to disturb them. I did just that, called the counselors and educators. Eating? Does he go to the river? Not sick? Changing clothes? Participates in the games? Do you have friends?

For 4 days, the son did not call us even once. When the mother’s heart was completely yearned, I had to ask the teacher to give him the phone:

– Why don’t you call us? How are you doing?

– No time. From morning to evening, everything is scheduled. Will you come?

– Yes. Do you like it?

– Yes. Just come.

Parents’ day has come. Imagine my surprise when my son came to the meeting in the same clothes that he left home.

– Haven’t you changed your T-shirts, shorts, socks?

– I didn’t find them.

– How? I put everything in a separate package for every day.

– Where?

– In the bag.

– And I put it in the closet as on the day of arrival, and did not get it, I just took a towel.

– And the sweets, cookies in the bag? They melted there.

– They were immediately taken away from us. Well, let’s go home?

We could not refuse this request, since our child looked like a grimy imp. Then I understood for the first time what the expression “socks are worth” means.

At home we bathed him, washed his clothes, dressed him in clean clothes, allowed him to watch cartoons all day and do nothing.

He did not want to return, but we, having forgotten about this promise, nevertheless persuaded him. My son did not talk about the camp. He was silent all the time. And only when we were driving back, he said that he had a good friend there, they go to discos together and participate in skits, that a scientific laboratory came to them, and they did experiments and conducted experiments, there were funny birthdays and swimming competitions …

So three weeks passed, the son stayed in the camp until the close of the shift. He brought a lot of letters, photographs and a lot of memories. But every time we came to visit him, history repeated itself: he was dirty, disheveled and with only one desire to go home.

Throughout the year, we all the time met his acquaintances from the camp: we greeted him everywhere – in transport, in a store, in someone else’s school, in cafes, at bus stops, in parks and even in other parts of the city.

– Where do you get so many acquaintances from? – I was surprised at first.

– Mom, have you forgotten? I was in the camp, ”he answered proudly.

Friends at that time reproached me that I sent such a small child so far from home. But I have no regrets. He became more independent, more responsible, learned to take responsibility for his words and say “no”. Of course, this experiment could have been carried out several years later, but you should never compare your child with others.

When deciding to send your child to the camp, always take into account his individual characteristics, so that this experiment will bring pluses, not minuses, to the development of your child.