Breaking Free from Summer Camp Expectations
American kids are nearing liberation from the exhausting demands of summer camps. A recent article in the New York Times explored the notion of children “rotting” during summer break. It spotlighted the tendency of suburban parents, particularly in New York, to micromanage their children’s summer schedules. Some of these parents seem to be creating little robots focused on building resumes. Instead of splurging on trendy summer camps that teach skills like coding, many are simply going back to what parents have done since the dawn of family life.
Interestingly, some parents are opting out of hectic schedules and allowing unstructured time for their kids. Some might call this “child corruption,” but I think it sounds like a logical approach to summer. After all, who says a summer can’t be a bit chaotic and not as planned as a corporate calendar?
Looking back, my own summer memories were quite simple. We spent our days at a pool club—not exactly something out of a storybook. Swimming, chatting with friends, and yes, sometimes just lounging around doing nothing. It was a good mix of structure and freedom. After swimming practice, we’d often just hang out, bored yet content. There was something energizing about bouncing from one activity to another, even if it was just finding ways to occupy ourselves while our moms chatted nearby.
Within the confines of that pool club, we had our share of adventures. I remember once stealing a whole crate of tennis balls and causing a paper towel flood in the men’s shower. We skateboarded down steep hills—all without helmets, of course. Our friends, some of whom were lifeguards, allowed us to bend a few rules. It felt like complete freedom, even if it was in a limited space.
As someone who isn’t a parent yet, I can’t pretend to grasp the stress that comes with organizing a child’s summer. I grew up in a different time, before smartphones and constant social media distractions dominated life. I had an Xbox, but I only got to use it after chores, which seems like a different world from now. Kids nowadays seem to emerge from the womb already holding iPhones. So maybe giving children some freedom isn’t necessarily a bad idea, but controlling their access to the internet seems crucial.
When I do have kids, I promise not to treat them like they’re training for some high-stakes competition. If they want to go camping, it’ll be a laid-back summer camp filled with swimming and crafts, not a pressure cooker aimed at future Ivy League admissions. I won’t allow early access to phones or social media—they won’t be about to swipe through life from the couch. Instead, I want them to experience a good, messy summer in the suburbs. They’ll have to make real friends and find ways to have fun in a relaxed, unstructured environment—just like the good old days.
