The cloud created by the Coronavirus pandemic has dramatically impacted the summer landscape and altered the way families are approaching summer. So how can parents of kids and teens make smart decisions and still plan an effective summer in such uncertain times?
Plan B: Shifting to Content
When advising families on their summer decisions, we normally place a great deal of emphasis on evaluating the social fit of programs for specific students. We speak with teachers, coaches, therapists and psychiatrists, and meet (either in-person or virtually) with each of our families, including their child or teen, and we speak specifically about the student with camps or programs we’re considering in order to evaluate fit. We make this investment because we believe that the social-emotional development that occurs during the summer is among the most important outcomes.
However, with many summer camps and programs either cancelling or transitioning to online formats this summer, the opportunities for social-emotional growth may be largely reduced. While some academic programs are addressing this by placing an emphasis on creating small-group, discussion-based virtual classrooms, this structure is simply unlikely to have the same impact as an in-person, residential experience.
As a result, we are focusing on prioritizing the content that interests our students when recommending summer options. Understanding a student’s interests has always been central to our philosophy, but in the current circumstances we are re-emphasizing this component of summer planning. For most, sitting through Zoom classes has been a major part of their school year, and so we feel a child or teen is simply not going to successfully engage in remote programming – whether academic, artistic, or experiential – if they are not genuinely interested in the content. We are working to help our clients figure out which options can keep their students engaged, whether this means identifying synchronous or asynchronous opportunities, or recommending group or individualized learning settings,
Enrolled and Unsure
If your child or teen is enrolled in a summer camp or program, you may currently be waiting for the camp or program to determine if or when they will be safely able to run. For those that have not cancelled or transitioned online, dates might be shifted or locations may be changed. If your camp or program decides to move forward with an in-person experience, you as a parent will need to ultimately decide if you’re comfortable sending your child or teen, just as camp and program directors are must navigate if and how they will be able to move forward responsibly.
In the meantime, we strongly recommend creating contingency plans of online, remote options that will be able to run in any case. You might also need to be more fluid this summer than in years past. While many families like to plan each week of summer months in advance, you might find yourself adapting as things change. Check in with your child or teen periodically throughout the summer to see what opportunities they might like to explore, and try to be nimble to help them find opportunities to explore their interests.
Try to Work with Programs
We truly believe that the right summer program can have a transformational impact on a young person’s development. Many independent summer programs see themselves as experiential educators, helping participants grow and develop as individuals. Unfortunately, COVID-19’s economic impact is being felt acutely in the summer camp and programming industry, and there may be challenges yet to come for those programs who are unable to run this summer.
If your child or teen was enrolled at a camp or program that has canceled, see if you’re able to work with that program to find a solution. If you’re in a position to defer your payment to the following year, rather than requesting an immediate refund, consider this option. If you do need a refund, try to work with the camp or program on a payment plan or timeline. This is an unprecedented situation, and the business model of many camps and programs – the fall and winter months spent investing in the summer ahead – has left them particularly vulnerable. Wherever possible, try to be understanding.
Looking Forward
Unfortunately, the repercussions of the Coronavirus pandemic may be felt even once the world has returned to normalcy. These summer months are usually opportunities for children, teens, and young adults to explore and develop their independence, to grow and mature and learn about themselves. This year, instead of experiencing the freedom of a summer camp or program, many young people will pass the summer the same way they’ve passed the school year: by spending hour after hour at home with their parents.
For elementary, middle, and high-school students it will be more important than ever to invest in interpersonal interaction once this is possible again. Whether this is achieved through after-school clubs, organized programs on future school breaks or during future summers, or even through gap years for older high-school students – it’s vital that we focus on helping young people develop the soft and social-emotional skills that are going to set them up for long-term success.