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School’s Out!
Making the most of summer freedom
July 6, 2007

School’s out and hundreds of kids across Morris County are attending high quality, enriching summer camp programs, thanks to your support of United Way.

United Way partners such as Morristown Neighborhood House Association and Jefferson Child Care and Education Center are providing kids from all walks of life with the opportunity to explore their world this summer with fun, educational activities.

Click here to find out more about other enriching summer camp programs provided by United Way of Morris County member agencies.

Help your kids make the most of summer freedom with these guidelines by Richard Gallagher:

General guidelines

• Discuss how you expect kids to relate to others and to the authorities at camp.
• Discuss any emotional challenges that your children are likely to experience, including homesickness, and help them determine how to cope.
• Discuss what safety measures you expect your kids to follow.
• Discuss what rules you expect your children to follow while away from home and your supervision.

Challenges that younger kids may encounter and what to do

• Worries about separation and new activities. Some children are more naturally shy and may have had some difficulty separating in the past. It can be helpful to revisit strategies that have helped. Some parents and children may be surprised by a child's worry in a new setting. The staff can often help guide everyone through a rough patch.
• Peer problems and teasing. Forming relationships can be a problem for some kids and they may experience mild, moderate, or severe forms of rejection. Help your kids recognize the difference and when to get help.

Challenges that older kids may encounter and what to do
Pre-teens and teenagers need some direction as much as other children. In fact, teenagers may need the most guidance because they are likely to be the least supervised. Some of the experiences they might have include the following.

• Temptations and risky situations. Summer is a time of a high level of accidents for teens including motor vehicle accidents, swimming accidents (a significant cause of death and injury), falls, and bike accidents. Additionally, teens are more likely to be presented with opportunities to use tobacco, alcohol and drugs during the summer. They are on vacation and so are their peers. And organized programs are not free from these health risks. In fact, supervision by just slightly older teens often presents kids with their first encounter of watching others use these substances. Pinpoint the ways in which you expect them to behave with regard to use of substances. You have to be specific. Don't just tell them to stay away. Help them practice ways to refuse these temptations.
• Summer love. There are plenty of opportunities for teens to establish strong relationships and find lifelong friends during their summer activities. Most kids handle these relationships well and with responsibility, but a good number of teens will be tempted to get involved in sexual activities that you do not believe are healthy or appropriate. And, these opportunities may present themselves at shockingly young ages. The chance for contracting diseases and becoming pregnant can be significant. Committed relationships at young ages (when under 16 years old) may not be all they are cracked up to be; young teens who have been involved in exclusive relationships experience more depression than others of the same age who get involved in group dating or just establish friendships. Talk to them about the risks, your values, as well as what to say and do when faced with peer and sexual pressures.

Remember, kids make mistakes. Let them know that they can turn to you for advice and help no matter what. Although children and teens should face the consequences for their actions, it is important to let them know that you will help them when they are in trouble. This information can keep them from getting into worse circumstances when they have taken a wrong turn.

Courtesy of Richard Gallagher, Ph.D., NYU Child Study Center.