This time of year it’s hard for us not to get swept up into holiday gift giving, especially those of us with kids, and it’s hard not to lose sight of what we really want to give our children.
Finding meaningful gifts for children can be challenging for parents today. In his article “35 Gifts Your Children Will Never Forget,” Joshua Becker asks the important questions, like “What type of gifts can we give to our children that they will never forget? What gifts will truly impact their lives and change them forever?” Fortunately, there is a way to give children a gift that will create meaningful life experiences, develop memories and learn skills that will last a lifetime.
The gift of summer camp will give children priceless experiences and teach valuable lessons that cannot be learned in a classroom. The article by the American Camp Association “Top 10 Reasons to Give the Gift of Camp” suggests that, “camp is a truly life-changing experience – one that provides a lifetime of memories, and develops real life skills needed to be a leader in today’s changing world.” Giving the gift of camp not only gives children an entire summer of timeless memories, but also gives them the life skills that will last them the rest of their life. Children will learn things like, self-confidence, gratitude, and team-work. These are gifts that will never break, cannot be returned, and have an actual lifetime warranty.
Becker observes that, “very few childhood memories actually include the gifts [he] received.” Camp will provide countless gifts in the form of life lessons that children will remember forever. Here are just a few of the life lessons that children learn at camp:
Affirmation: Sometimes one simple word of affirmation can change an entire life. So make sure your children know you appreciate them.
Challenge: Encourage your child to dream big dreams. In turn, they will accomplish more than they thought possible… and probably more than you thought possible.
Determination: One of the greatest determining factors in one’s success is the size of their will. How can you help your child grow today?
Opportunity: Kids need opportunities to experience new things so they can find out what they enjoy and what they are good at.
Self-Esteem: People who learn to value themselves are more likely to have self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-worth. As a result, they are more likely to become adults who respect their values and stick to them.
Nature: Children who learn to appreciate the world around them take care of the world around them.
As the ACA points out, “for many families, camp is already a holiday tradition.” We hope this gives you inspiration as you look to create traditions and memories for your own families. Wishing you and your family peace, love and happiness this holiday season!
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