Schools and homework are winding down and camps are gearing up.\u00a0 Sorry, my dear parents, your summer vacation from parenting never really happens.\u00a0 In reality, there\u2019s never a vacation from parenting.\u00a0 But you already know that.\u00a0 It\u2019s important though to prepare your child so that he can enjoy a \u201cwin-win\u201d this summer.<\/p>\n
Whether it\u2019s overnight or day camp, your child will be changing clothes in close proximity to others.\u00a0 I hope and pray your children\u2019s camps have guidelines for changing times.\u00a0 This should be included in a child protection policy and code of conduct developed by the camp which the camp\u2019s professional heads have communicated to all staff and trained accordingly.\u00a0 Further, if the Heaven Forbid were to happen, what is the camp\u2019s policy for addressing it?\u00a0 How is such a situation reported?\u00a0 How will the camp deal with a predator of any age?<\/p>\n
Rooms that are on camp grounds that are not required for camp activities should not be accessed.\u00a0 The rooms required for activities can be clearly seen and easily accessed.\u00a0 During camp activities, doors should be kept open.\u00a0 Preferably, camp staff should be working in pairs.<\/p>\n
This is an ideal time to instill or re-instill in your child a respect for his body as well as respecting his peers for their bodies.\u00a0 It\u2019s also an appropriate time to discuss that no person should ever touch or examine his private parts unless it is a physician or other health care professional and only with a parent in the room.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, intuition can tell us when another person\u2019s vibe is projecting something off kilter or danger might be lurking.\u00a0 Encourage your child to listen to his \u201cgut feeling\u201d and keep away.\u00a0 Your child may want to discuss these feelings with a trusted staff member.<\/p>\n
Camps have zero tolerance for drugs and alcohol.\u00a0 Again, if the Heaven Forbid were to happen, what is the camp\u2019s protocol for addressing such behavior?\u00a0 I urge you to discuss this with your child in advance of camp so that he is prepared in case he encounters the Heaven Forbid.\u00a0 Some suggested language:\u00a0 \u201cI love you very much and want only the best for you which means that you are safe at all times.\u00a0 It is possible that you may see people indulging in drugs and alcohol.\u00a0 I won\u2019t be physically present but I hope and pray that you will exercise your free will to walk away and never touch the stuff.\u00a0 You are helping others by reporting it to the camp.\u00a0 Please know that I love you and you can talk to me about anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
Summer time equals sun time and it\u2019s crucial that our children (and all people) need sunscreen in order to be protected from the sun\u2019s harmful rays, no matter how wonderful sunning may feel in the moment.\u00a0 Sunscreen use can help prevent skin cancer which any person can get, regardless of age, gender or race.\u00a0 Of course, the first and best line of defense is to cover up and to remain in the shade as much as possible between 10 am and 3 pm.\u00a0 Sunscreens should offer broad-spectrum protection, Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 30 and higher, and water resistance.\u00a0 Teach your children to apply, apply and apply, especially after swimming.\u00a0 Instruct counselors how they can help as well with younger children and applying.\u00a0 Sunscreens are also for cloudy days.\u00a0 Brimmed hats are also a good avenue for sun protection (Borsalinos not necessary) as are some of the contemporary swim cover-ups available.<\/p>\n
Summer time equals water.\u00a0 Water is fun but it means following the rules.\u00a0 Swim only where it is clearly marked.\u00a0 This includes pools, lakes and oceans.\u00a0 Hopefully, your child\u2019s camp has a strong swim program.\u00a0 Investing in swimming lessons is a fabulous way to empower children.<\/p>\n
Speaking of water, a win-win summer entails encouraging your children to hydrate at every opportunity with water.\u00a0 Children are at greater risk for dehydrating because their bodies do not cool down as efficiently as adults.\u00a0 Make sure your child has access to cool drinking water at all times.\u00a0 Speak with them about scheduling hydration breaks.\u00a0 Before prolonged physical activity, a child should be well-hydrated. During the activity, periodic drinking should be enforced:\u00a0 For example, each 20 minutes, 5 oz of cold tap water or a flavored sports drink for a child weighing 90 lbs, and 9 oz for an adolescent weighing 130 lbs.\u00a0 This holds true even if the child does not feel thirsty. <\/em>Sugary drinks are not recommended as they can aggravate dehydration.\u00a0 Sorry kids, my own included.<\/p>\n In summary, having healthy boundaries and a sense of self, being able to communicate, applying sunscreen and hydrating will go long ways to assuring a great summer for each child.\u00a0 Most important of all \u2013 You daven<\/em> and your child davens<\/em>.\u00a0 It\u2019s all up to Hashem<\/em>.<\/p>\n Dr. Hylton I. Lightman<\/a>\u00a0is a senior statesman among pediatricians, an internationally-recognized authority and diagnostician, a public speaker, expert witness and go-to resource for health issues in the Orthodox Jewish community and beyond. Originally from South Africa, he started his current practice, Total Family Care of the Five Towns and Far Rockaway, PC in 1987. Dr. Lightman is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP). Dr. Lightman is a clinical assistant professor of pediatrics at Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine. In addition, he is actively involved in teaching pediatric and family nurse practitioners through Columbia University, Pace University, Lehmann College, and Molloy College, as well as mentoring physician assistants through Touro College. Read more\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Schools and homework are winding down and camps are gearing up.\u00a0 Sorry, my dear parents, your summer vacation from parenting never really happens.\u00a0 In reality, there\u2019s never a vacation from parenting.\u00a0 But you already know that.\u00a0 It\u2019s important though to prepare your child so that he can enjoy a \u201cwin-win\u201d this summer. Whether it\u2019s overnight<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":133543,"featured_media":59856,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cloudinary_featured_overwrite":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-59855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-parenting"],"yoast_head":"\n
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