Enjoyment is the fuel that drives the developmental engine, and may be what distinguishes it from children’s experiences at school. Imagine a 10-year-old child who has struggled (or maybe just straggled) socially due to shyness, but who has an encyclopedic knowledge (and love) of computer programming. If there was a day camp that grouped children into teams that would then design a new computer programming language over the course of a week, that could be a great fit for this child. The child’s interest in and self-confidence about computer programming would engage him or her in the project, while allowing the child to work on social skills. The fact that the other children have a shared interest further tips the scales in favor of social success. Social success reinforces healthy skill development, which will make it easier for the child to face a social situation in less-favorable circumstances, perhaps at school. The great thing about development is that mastery often begets mastery.
We appreciate that economic limitations can limit summer planning. Sleepaway camps can be expensive, and a teenager taking on a job may be essential for the family budget. However, even within these constraints, there may be creative options through local organizations like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and through extended family. And for most, summers well spent (a dozen or so opportunities, each 2-3 months long) are terrific ways to enhance self-esteem and broaden experiences.
Dr. Swick is an attending psychiatrist in the division of child psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and director of the Parenting at a Challenging Time (PACT) Program at the Vernon Cancer Center at Newton Wellesley Hospital, also in Boston. Dr. Jellinek is professor of psychiatry and of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, Boston. He is also chief clinical officer at Partners HealthCare, also in Boston.