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Description
Jack, 11, seems to spend much of his time playing his Nintendo Wii. His mission for the summer is to get to the next level on his video game. He used to enjoy the outdoors, but now he rarely sees the light of day.
Concerns
Jack resists the idea of leaving his friends and his computer for the summer.
His parents hesitate to send him to camp against his will, and worry about his bee-sting allergies.
Catherine's Advice
Jack's parents need to give him a choice—not whether he will go to camp, but which camp he will go to. Together, they can agree on the parameters, such as location, program and budget. Proximity to a hospital may be a prerequisite given his allergy. Jack may then use his computer skills to surf the web and select a camp that appeals to him. He has to clearly understand that his Nintendo Wii stays at home—but he is making a commitment for a few weeks, not a lifetime. If he approaches the new experience with a positive attitude, with luck, he may become hooked on camp. |
