There has been new attention in recent articles and studies on the importance of friendships for children today and the role this plays in helping them lead happy and successful lives as adults. We all want our kids to lead happy lives, and as parents we want to help by providing any tools that might help them achieve that. Our attention is often focused on a child’s academic success to prepare them for their future, but beyond providing them with the tools that prepare them for a successful career, is there anything else we can do in terms of their future happiness?
A recent study from Christine Carter (the author of Raising Happiness), has reinforced the most important key to happiness no matter your choice of career or academic discipline: “Our happiness is best predicted by the breadth and the depth of our relationships with others. – When kids have a lot of friends in childhood and adolescence, they tend to grow up to be happy adults [Kids] need tools to build social intelligence.
In our busy society, camp is one of the few places children can develop and hone their friendship skills by forming real meaningful relationships. Making, navigating and maintaining friendships are all key skills practised at camp. It is a unique environment where children will meet new people, have a shared experience, live closely with other children, and form real connections with their peers, kids of all ages and adults. They learn to express themselves, negotiate, cooperate, be part of team, and work with others to achieve a common goal.
Campers have multiple opportunities to practice friendship making and keeping as well as receive guidance from counselors. These counselors offer a unique perspective that parents aren’t able to provide since they are young adults, have the cool factor and are looked up to by kids of all ages. They can role model positive relationships, communication and coach kids, as well as that, great counselors will carefully orchestrate activities for group building that promote friendship making.
At camp kids must learn how to work with others to perform daily group living tasks, face challenges together and achieve common goals. These shared experiences create close relationships in a short time at camp because a group focus helps kids create bonds of trust and loyalty. 
At camp kids can start with a clean slate, try things out, practice new skills and redefine themselves as a person. Camp is a safe place for kids to have new experiences, meet new people and develop friendships.The camp environment promotes community, respect and acceptance where kids can develop healthy friendships and return year after year to reunite with old camp friends and meet new ones. The best part is that kids can take the friendship skills they learned at camp and use them through out the year in new situations. Camp truly helps kids builds lasting friendships and develop meaningful relationships; these are skills they will use their entire lives and this leads to more happy campers!
See more on our blog about how camp can help teach children make and keep friends and the group focus and team spirit we practice here at camp.
For more discussion about the importance of friendship for children see the 32 year scientific study on pathways to well-being. Also this great piece from Dr Christine Carter on Tools to build social intelligence which discusses further the need to develop these skills to form friendships. A recent piece from The Boston Globe also makes a good read on How Kids Make Friends and Why it Matters.
