Parent Magazine Flagler April 2020 | Page 19

NEGOTIATING. Your kids benefit from learning GROUNDEDNESS. The first step to recovering how to sort things out between themselves at camp. Discussing, bargaining, and coming to agreements that make sense for everyone involved are tools for creating a richer life. from too much anxiety is a sense of earthiness that comes from being in touch with the natural world. Kids benefit in numerous ways from slowing down to the speed of life and keeping their feet firmly on the ground. LEADERSHIP. Camp provides opportunities for kids to discover and nurture the leader inside. Every child is a boss at something. You may not think of a prolific reader as a leader, but what a terrific example she can set at camp for those who avoid books altogether. DIPLOMACY. With bullying behavior at an all-time high, diplomacy is needed more than ever. Camp offers ample opportunities to find common ground, share mutual respect and practice win-win-win relating. Environmental Skills UNPLUGGING. Virtual realities are great when balanced with the real world. If you cannot seem to make a dent in your child’s obsession with technology, why not let the trained staff at camp take a whack at it. NAVIGATION. You won’t likely be able to convince kids that they need to learn old-school map techniques while they have a GPS in their pocket. But put them in the middle of the woods with no Internet connection and they just might feel differently. SURVIVAL. Would your child know how to build a shelter, purify water, start a fire and find food if lost in the wilderness? Learning naturalism empowers kids to feel competent and confident in every area of life. EARTH STEWARDSHIP. One of the best ways to teach kids about personal responsibility is to teach them about wilderness conservation. Learning about flora and fauna can spark kids’ innate respect for the natural world. F L A G L E R parent M A G A Z I N E | 15