Kaori’s eight-year-old daughter, Rin, answered the door one day and found her little Grade 3 friend asking her to go play at the park down the block. The little friend was alone. Kaori replied that they would love to go to the park, and would meet her there in 15 minutes. The friend had a puzzled look on her face when she realized that Rin’s mom was coming to the park too. Kaori wondered whether she was being too protective of her daughter or if she should let her skip off to the park alone with her friend.
For many kids, the fast-approaching lazy days of summer represent freedom from school, learning and responsibility. But for teens, summer vacation also represents an opportunity to explore new interests, gain real-world skills and forge important connections that will help them as they transition into adulthood.
Your teen has been to summer camp for a few years, and now they’re old enough to join camp staff as a Counselor-In-Training (CIT). Why should they? What are the benefits of your child being on staff? Counselors on staff are provided important training, get real-life opportunities to manage conflict and learn practical life skills while having fun all the while.
Teen self-esteem is not as tricky as you might think. It’s actually quite easy to understand. Think of their self-esteem as a finicky orchid flower that needs constant attention and its environment around it always seems to be conspiring to wilt it! It is very much the same with an adolescent’s self-esteem.
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