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Dear Parents & Friends:
At this busy time of the year with graduations, weddings, getting the kids ready for camp and summer programs, and making plans for family vacations or reunions, it is all too common to neglect making time to address important social and emotional issues that can make this summer a positive, safe, and rewarding summer experience for your kids and teens.
We bring you tips from the experts on these three very important topics:
HOMESICKNESS
PREVENTING BULLYING IN SUMMER CAMP
MAXIMING PRE-COLLEGE TEEN SUMMERS
No summer plans yet for your children? It is not too late for this summer or too early for next summer; keeping in mind that summer is the best time to visit camps while in session. Let us help you find the right summer camp or program, and put your child on the path to rewarding summers!
Sincerely,
Jill and the Everything Summer Team |
| DEALING WITH HOMESICKNESS |
 Frank J. Sileo, PhD Research indicates that 95% of all children experience some form of homesickness. Here is the good news! Homesickness is preventable and treatable.
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Involve your children in the decision to be away from home.
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Teach them that homesickness is "normal."
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Organize practice times away from home at a friend or relative's home.
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When your child goes to camp, supply him/her with pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelopes. Send a letter to your child at camp before arrival.
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Help your child to become familiar with the new environment.
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Use a wall calendar to demonstrate perspective on the time.
Tips
- Encourage kids to do something fun to distract the homesick thoughts.
- Encourage them to do something to feel closer to home (write a letter, look at a family picture).
- Encourage kids to talk with someone.
- Have children think about good things about the environment (new friends, swimming, campfires). Or have them think good thoughts, listen to pleasant music or engage them in laughing.
Under no circumstances should parents make the "pick-up deal." We don't want to do this because it will reduce the child's success. This deal conveys to the child that you have very little confidence in his/her ability to cope with this "normal" feeling and that the only solution is to rescue him/her. We want to build confidence! This deal teaches children that the only solution to their problems is to either avoid it or escape from it. Most parents struggle with this, but stay strong!!
Dr. Frank J. Sileo is a NJ licensed psychologist with a practice in Ridgewood NJ. He has authored three children's books including one on homesickness. You can learn more about Dr. Sileo at www.drfranksileo.com or call him at 201-447-0705. |
| PARENT TIPS TO PREVENT BULLYING AT CAMP |
 Joel D. Haber, PhD, The Bullycoach
The approaching summer camp season is a perfect time to discuss bullying prevention tips with your child. You may be wondering why even talk about bully prevention? The reason is that bullying can happen whenever kids get together: school, sports, after school programs and even summer camp. As a psychologist working to help camps tackle this problem, you as a parent can do a lot to prepare your child if he/she is faced with any bullying situation.
Let's first define what bullying is:
Bullying is when one or more kids intentionally hurt another child (the target) and it can happen in one of 4 ways:
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Physical bullying - hitting, kicking, punching, stealing or breaking of personal items.
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Verbal bullying - teasing or taunting, or insulting family comments that are meant to hurt the target.
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Relational aggression and exclusion - gossiping, leaving someone out, "dissing" them, and spreading rumors.
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Cyberbullying- using technology (email, IM, texting, etc.) to hurt another person intentionally.
Talk to your child about these types of bullying and let him/her know that these behaviors are unacceptable in summer camp. Tell your child that if he/she is faced with bullying behavior and cannot stop it, to alert a counselor or a leadership team member, or even the Director of camp if he/she feels unsafe either emotionally or physically.
Tell your child not to be afraid to report bullying to staff and that it can be done confidentially if he/she is worried about being seen or called a "rat". Camps do not tolerate bullying and no child should be the target of repeated bullying. You can tell your child to be a good "upstander" and report bullying to staff if he/she sees another camper being on the receiving end of bullying, because he/she would want someone to help him/her in the same situation. Lastly, tell your child that he/she deserves to have a fun summer, and bullying is not part of an enjoyable time.
Camps are more prepared than ever to tackle bullying and it is up to each camper to do his/her share to treat others well and report problems when the camp experience is threatened by other campers who want to bully.
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MAXIMIZING PRE-COLLEGE TEEN SUMMERS
 Everything Summer interviewed Danielle Toglia, George Washington University's, Regional Admissions Director, to get the inside scoop and tips on how teens can maximize their summers to help them best prepare for college. Danielle has been at GW for more than 11 years and met countless students and parents on their path to college. Her insights apply to every teen.
Summer growth is a two-way street - for parents and teens:
 PARENTS:
- Allow your teens to make decisions - right or wrong. Learn to be more flexible; start to lay the foundation for your teen to earn more trust by easing up on the parental strings. Let go more. Danielle shares teens with the greatest social restrictions and least experience making decisions in high school have the tougher time transitioning to college.
 TEENS: - Set goals: consider your needs before the summer: a paycheck, skill building, pursuing a passion, etc., and discuss with your parents. Don't try to trump others with your experiences. Colleges do not evaluate students this way. One summer program is not more important than the other. What is important to a teen is what matters.
- Work on better time management skills: In high school, days are packed with structured class time, extra-curricular activities/jobs, and prescribed homework time. College has a good deal of down time, between classes meeting less frequently and at different times. Learn how to structure your own time when you have more hours on your hands.
- Learn to share: In college, all your living spaces are shared. Spend time away from home (e.g. a summer program, relative's home) sharing common spaces; learning to communicate and resolve issues by putting aside personality and habit differences.
- Experience diversity in a different setting: College is a big diverse community. Use the summer to diversify yourself - academically, geographically, socially and through travel if possible. Learn how to react in different situations.
- Trial and error: Use the summer to take some risks, pose challenges. Most issues in college stem from residence hall life and social skills; learn how to approach situations in different ways. Making mistakes is OK; you will learn best from disappointments and bounce back.
- Think outside the box: Make your summer experience one that builds your personal and social skills. Colleges assume you have these skills upon arrival. Volunteer, job shadow, intern, interview career professionals. If you love languages, immerse yourself in cities with diverse populations while volunteering. Think whether you can do this activity closer to home, or is traveling somewhere else to do this a valuable part of the experience? Extracurricular experiences help you find your way and a potential college major.
- Take note at summer's end: Write a personal essay about one piece of your experience, one moment where you felt something mattered. Reflect on the opportunity; did you become a better person, did you positively impact another individual? Put together your resume; apply the information from your experience, see how your extracurricular activities identify your skills; i.e., being a yearbook editor indicates you can manage others and time well.
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What Can You Do This Summer?
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Create summer memories!
This summer, develop rituals you and your family can enjoy, remember, and look forward to every summer.
Plan to save the memories in a scrapbook or online journal.
Use the time when your kids are away to clear out clutter; it is empowering!
Now is the time to complete the organization project you've been putting off or to start a home decorating project!
Schedule a "date night" or romantic summer weekend at a B&B.
Get local! Explore your own town or nearest city - walking tours, cultural activities, etc.
Embark on family adventures with younger kids.
Pamper yourself! Make a spa appointment and enjoy a relaxing massage or facial.
Plan a family reunion for the end of the summer when kids return from overnight camp and teen programs.
If you can stand the heat, look for vacation bargains in warmer climates.
The GUIDE & PLANNER:
Every parent should own this BOOK filled with decision-making tools, planning checklists, questions for camp and program directors and much more. Order it now! SEE MORE » |
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Families with Food Allergies
June 8th, 10am-noon
The Food Allergy Educational Alliance in Westchester, NY is hosting a seminar on the 'How-to's for Food-Allergic Kids in Summer Camp" in Harrison.
Jill will speak about how parents can uncover and evaluate a camp's food allergy policies, and the level of food safety for their kids.
Jill will also speak at GO RED FOR WOMEN
Greenwich, CT family, careers, relationships and health issues Thursday, June 10th 5:30 to 7:30 pm |
JILL'S PICKS
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A must read for every parent who's ever received a letter from a homesick child or anybody who's ever written from the bunk.
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What did Jill discover during her recent visit to Maine?
Read our Everything Summer blog to find out!
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