An insightful and powerful look at the magic of summer camp-and why it is so important for children to be away from home . . .if only for a little while.
In an age when it's the rare child who walks to school on his own, the thought of sending your "little ones" off to sleep-away camp can be overwhelming-for you and for them. But parents' first instinct-to shelter their offspring above all else-is actually depriving kids of the major developmental milestones that occur through letting them go-and watching them come back transformed.
In Homesick and Happy, renowned child psychologist Michael Thompson, PhD, shares a strong argument for, and a vital guide to, this brief loosening of ties. A great champion of summer camp, he explains how camp ushers your children into a thrilling world offering an environment that most of us at home cannot: an electronics-free zone, a multigenerational community, meaningful daily rituals like group meals and cabin clean-up, and a place where time simply slows down. In the buggy woods,icy swims, campfire sing-alongs, and daring adventures, children have emotionally significant and character-building experiences; they often grow inways that surprise even themselves; they make lifelong memories and cherished friends. Thompson shows how children who are away from their parents can be both homesick and happy, scared and successful, anxious and exuberant. When kids go to camp-for a week, a month, or the whole summer-they can experience some of the greatest maturation of their lives, and return more independent,strong, and healthy.
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About the author:
Michael Thompson, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist, lecturer,
consultant, and former seventh-grade teacher. He conducts workshops
across the United States and internationally on social cruelty, children's friendships, and boys' development. With Dan Kindlon, Ph.D.,
he co-authored the New York Times bestseller Raising Cain: Protecting the
Emotional Life of Boys, which was adapted into an acclaimed
documentary shown on PBS. With Teresa H. Barker he co-authored The
Pressured Child:Helping Your Child Find Success in School and Life and
Speaking of Boys:Answers to the Most-Asked Questions About Raising Sons.
With Catherine O'Neill Grace and Lawrence J. Cohen, Ph.D., he
co-authored Best Friends,Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives
of Children and Mom,They're Teasing Me: Helping Your Child Solve Social
Problems. Dr. Thompson is married and the father of two. He lives in
Arlington, Massachusetts, and can be reached at
www.michaelthompson-phd.com.
