Sometimes summer just isn’t what the camper, or their parents, hoped for. And this can lead to a difficult question for parents to confront – what’s next? With re-enrollment around the corner, now is the time to establish whether a situation is correctable or it’s time for a change. So what are the possible options to tackle a summer that didn’t work out as desired?

The opportunities teen summer programs provide are not ends within themselves – ultimately, pre-college programs should be foundational growth experiences for students to build upon. And in order to make the most of a pre-college experience, it’s vital for students to take steps during the school year to build on their unique summers.

One daily element of camp that is common to almost all programs – and one of the most important child-development tools camps have to offer – is one that is rarely mentioned as a highlight of summer. I’m talking, of course, about clean-up.

It is very valuable for children and teens to build their summers around a primary interest or experience, as these longer-term programs can have tremendous impact. However, it is very rare for any single program to last for the duration of the time that a student is on summer vacation. So what can you do to fill the weeks of downtime, and ensure that your child doesn’t spend hours each day becoming one with the couch and television?

I know many, many people who have taken time off before or during college. And by and large, almost without exception, they were better off for it. The Washington Post recently published an article detailing the specific benefits of the gap year. According to this article, students who take a gap year are 75 percent more likely to be ‘happy’ or ‘extremely-satisfied’ with their careers post-college, not to mention the additional academic and social benefits.

High-school students today are as driven as ever – many boast resumes peppered with AP classes and leadership commitments that would put their parents’ high-school selves to shame – and yet, these hyper-prepared teens are struggling at an unprecedented rate once they arrive on campus. And while some of their challenges may be academic – including challenges with time management, and an increased emphasis on writing – many students are simply struggling with the general transition to college life. More specifically, the transition to college life will inevitably push teens outside their comfort zones, and many teens are struggling to cope with being uncomfortable. 

For parents, watching a child struggle with this anxiety can be extremely difficult, and they may be tempted to give into this request even if they do not plan to follow through. And if this one simple promise can help alleviate a child’s anxiety before they depart, and you’re confident they will enjoy their experience, then there shouldn’t be any harm in agreeing, right?

Wrong.

The transition from high school to college can be a challenge for even the best-prepared students. In addition to being thrust into a completely different social environment, adapting to group living, and assuming entirely new levels of independence, students must also contend with the leap to college academia – tackling much more rigorous coursework, more collaborative classes, and elevated academic expectations. Not to mention needing to master time management. Of course, there is no surefire way to ensure collegiate success – but for students who are seeking to simulate or try out in advance the college experience, summers spent on pre-college programs are great ways to prepare to tackle all that this new chapter has to offer.