There is much to say about March: March Madness, the beginning of spring, daylight savings, and “springing ahead,” among other things.
However, what’s likely the top concern for those still in school (or raising a child still in school) is the impending arrival of spring break. For kids, the prospect of a week or two away from school is exciting. For parents, this provides a bit of an issue. They still need to work, while also facing the need to keep their kids active. After all, it’s all too easy for a week off to turn into a week of straight video gaming.
Among the many extracurricular activities going on during spring break, why not consider sending kids to a sports camp? Not only will it uproot those couch potatoes and keep them physically healthy, but studies have also demonstrated several benefits to children’s mental and social health.
The American Camp Association (ACA) has long studied the role of camps on youth development. The organization’s youth impact study notes, “camps are great practice settings for social and emotional learning, [and] a place to practice building and maintaining relationships, form identities, and try new things.”
This echoes research from the Journal of Youth Development, which published a special issue compiling studies on camp experiences in 2018. This issue of the journal studied the positive impact of camps on everything from educational development to social inclusion and beyond.
These studies suggest the same thing: youth camps lead to positive outcomes for students mentally, physically, and socially. Of course, camps can sometimes be pricy, but keen parents will keep a look out for affordable sports camps put on by organizations like Legacy Sports USA, the YMCA, or Nike Sports camps, among others.
Spring break might only be a week or two, but—if the time is well spent—the benefits could last for life.
