Another school year's come and gone. Another hot, sunny summer is upon us. For kids, that's pure paradise.
Summer means tons of free time to hang out with friends. It means trips to the beach with the family, playing baseball with dad in the backyard, or helping mom out in the garden. Of course, for some kids it means packing up a suitcase and getting shipped off for a few months to sleepaway camp.
No parents. No pets. No neighbors. Just a long time away from mom and dad under the supervision of some stranger. Personally, I just don't get it.
I'm not a fan of camp in general; it's just not my thing. I can certainly understand the need for sending your kids to a day camp if both parents are working. But I will never understand why any parent would want to send their kids away to sleepaway camp for months at a time in the summer. I don't even mean teenagers. I'm talking about parents of kids in first, second, or third grade.
Is it so mom and dad can go take a cruise in the Caribbean without any kids? Is it just so they'll have some peace and quiet? Some alone time?
I became a parent so I could be ... a parent. I want to be with my kids. I want to spend time with them, not ship them off for a number of weeks. They grow up so incredibly fast as it is. There'll be plenty of "alone time" when they're off in college.
"But the kids love it? They have so much fun!" Yeah, I can hear you. Settle down. I'm sure there are kids who love it. Just like there are kids who probably can't wait to get out of their house and off to camp just so they can be away from their parents for the summer. But for those that truly do enjoy it, were they like that on day one of their first year? Or did they just learn to accept it at first and then slowly grow to enjoy it?
And then there's the food. Everyone I've talked to that sends their kids to sleepaway camp says the food is terrible. Their kids say it's awful. The skinny ones don't eat and lose a ton of weight, while the heavier campers just eat carbs all day and come back 10 pounds heavier. That's not even bad parenting, it's "no parenting." Letting young kids just choose whatever they want to eat all summer is a recipe for failure.
As far as I'm concerned, the only good to ever come out of sleepaway camp is Bill Murray's classic comedy Meatballs. Any other reason is just an excuse to put parenting on hold for a few months.
Do you send your kids to sleepaway camp?
Image via Steven Depolo/Flickr
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
This Hot Dad Wants to Cook You Dinner
This Hot Dad Cooks AND Does the Dishes
Comments 65
I didn't not go to summer camp as a kid. But I sure as hell wanted to! My parents couldn't afford it. And once my kids are old enough at 9-10 they will be going if we can afford it.
Haha don't be silly - that's not American way!
Sleep away camp is not a bad idea at all, not the entire summer but 2-4 weeks isn't so bad. So many kids have amazing memories, long ditance friends, learn new skills....I can go on but I will not. I agree for months at a time is strange and what does that say as a parent to ship them off for so long when they just got out of school? I look forward to summers since my oldest started K, I love the fact that I do not have to set my alarm to rush them out the door for school, preschool and daycare, just on the days I need to go to work. In the same breath though I can say I would not mind sleep away camp a couple weeks out of the year if it was something they wanted to do.
billsfan1104-you are right. There are special camps for children with disabilities, disorders or diseases. Those camps are crucial for kids in that situation because they can see others are out there who understand and live the way they do.
I guess it depends on the camp. Starting next year my daughter is looking forward to the week-long church camp all the kids go on. She will get to swim, play, have fun with her friends, learn a little bit of independence, and spend time in daily worship. Maybe it helps that I know most of the adults that will be there, but I'm very comfortable sending her. I remember church camp as the best week of my summers, and I hope she will too. I have never even heard of a summer camp that lasts a couple of months. I know I would never send my sweet girl away for that long....
Sleep-away camp is an awesome opportunity that I am pleased to be able to provide for my daughter, and my boys when they are old enough. My daughter cannot wait- she went last year and I'm not sure I can ever deny her the chance again. I see it as another step in offering my child the world to explore. :-)
How bout say its not for EVERY kid. I dont think my younger daughter would love it as much. She is a lot more attached, as well as a lot more fearful. Not sure yet if I will be having her go.
The author is so judgemental it makes me sick.
"There'll be plenty of "alone time" when they're off in college."
Really? Because a parent can't enjoy a week or even a day to themselves without their child? Some mothers don't want to take time away and that's fine but there is nothing wrong with focusing on yourself for a short time without wondering if the silence from your kid's room is beacuse they are fine or because they are up to no good.