Summer camp is a fun filled and enriching time for spending summer vacation in a stimulating and learning environment. Children enjoy outdoors, connecting with nature, team building and learning new skills. Technological devices are limited during summer camps and thus cell phones are conventionally not permitted. Summer camp is just one place where plugged-in kids are forced to wean and explore the world above and beyond connectivity. So comes the big question Should children bring cell phones at summer camps?
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Cell phone are great to stay connected with parents and inform about their whereabouts. But during summer camps it causes immense distraction. So cell phones are banned from most summer camps. In a way it is incredible to connect with nature, talk to friends, learn new skills and relax. The whole concept of summer camp is to provide uninterrupted ways of skill and knowledge enhancement in addition to amusement and physical fitness.
Reasons why cell phones are not permitted at summer camps:
1- Phone calls from home intensify homesickness:
Children get more and more homesick when they speak with parents. So keeping a cell phone will intensify their feelings and emotions. Even a small text from loved one, makes the child start missing the times at home or with friends. When they get homesick they start loosing concentration in the activities at hand and thus the entire essence of summer camp is lost.
2- Summer camps are aimed at learning independence:
Summer camps are probably the first place a child learns to work independently. From morning till night all their activities and needs are fulfilled by themselves. If they receive calls in between their training for independent action is lost. Rather than doing it by themselves they would seek solutions from parents over phone.
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3- Summer camp activities are packed fully:
All activities at summer camp are packed fully; the day plan is such that there isn’t much of free time. But if there is cell phone on them, they will definitely delay and miss most of the activities. Cell phones are addictive and once children begin using, they are difficult to stop.
4- Cell phone causes distraction:
Cell phones are too distracting, as they keep the children away from outdoors. Cell phones make children stick with them all the time. The fun and enjoyment of being at camp is lost in between the cell phone addiction
5- Cell phones make kids stop utilizing their logic and analytics:
For every problem there is one Google, and kids do not even attempt at finding solutions themselves. Summer camps help in shaping children’s logic and analytical competence. Children are bound to pursue trial and error and put their efforts and their thoughts into the problem resolution. And this definitely helps in their all round development.
Reasons why limited usage of cell phones must be permitted at summer camps:
1- Stay connected:
Parents are as vulnerable are children while they are away at overnight camps. Even parents need to be able to talk a few times during the summer camp schedule. This will help in staying connected and secure
2- For emergencies:
Children may face power outage or telephone disruption, and this time cell phones will be their blessing in disguise. Even during their outdoor expeditions, if children get stuck or lost; cell phones can help in finding them
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3- Resourceful assistant:
For all survival and life skills, cell phone can be a guaranteed help assistant. How to build fire and how to set up tents are some few of the tasks cell phone can assist with. Infact children who are doing their chores for the first time, may even need help in how to do their laundry, how to fold clothes, how to get dressed and many more
4- Eliminating technology is not the solution:
In todays technologically driven world, eliminating technology is not a solution rather fostering moderation can be an important lesson summer camps can train in. Why depriving of something so critical that needs mastery at every level. It is better to have ti and not need it than need it and not have it.
5- Multi-tasking point:
Cell phones today are a whole lot more than just conventional one’s for mere calls. Children can take wonderful pictures, read books, listen to music, keep time check and play games and ample more activities on this small cell phone. This makes it easy to do it all with just one device in hand
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The above compilation on Should children bring cell phones at summer camps, is based on experiences and learnings over time. There are ample benefits and few drawbacks of permitting cell phones at summer camps. A moderate level of usage is essential to keep the child informed and secure. But cell phone addiction needs to be controlled. Children must be made aware of adequate time for cell phone and need based usage. This will help in preventing the extreme cases of cell phone addiction.
Check campnavigator for some of the most exclusive summer camp and program listings. Be sure to read through the reviews and pick the best one for your child. Make it an enriching summer for them.
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By Minu Manisha
