from the everyday
The world in which
our children live is
complex. Their daily
schedules are often full
with school, homework,
team activities (athletic,
ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS / WAVEBREAKMEDIA
academic, arts, theater,
music, etc.), playdates,
family visits, chores
and, yes, cell phones/
computers/video games.

THE BENEFITS OF SLEEPAWAY CAMP
BY GLENN SMITH
J ust as we recognize and
learn to accept this cur-
rent world around us, we
can, and should, remember a
key element of physical and
emotional well-being: moder-
ation. Moderation gives us the
opportunity to
sidestep overload, stress and lack of
sleep — and those are just
a few benefits. It gives our
kids an opportunity to con-
trol the noise and control
the demands on their time.

It gives them permission to
unplug. Unplugging from
technology allows our kids to
be the story, not text the story.

While fall, winter and
spring are dictated by
schools and schedules, the
summer presents an oppor-
tunity to recharge, ener-
gize and moderate the hec-
tic life the rest of the year
demands. It’s a moment for
interacting in real time, with
real people, for real experi-
ences. Nicole M. Stern, Ph.D., a
practicing licensed psycholo-
gist in D.C. notes that “camp
provides a cell-phone free zone,
meaning no social media, which
is so freeing for these kids.”
We know that our kids live
in a world that requires them
to plug in maybe more than
we would like. But, sleep-
away summer camp presents
that unique opportunity to
change that part of their daily
routine, even if only for a
few weeks. It provides the