Last summer, I signed up my kids for too many camps. This summer, we leaned into getting bored.
A parent reflects on the shift from over-scheduling her children in summer camps to embracing unstructured time. The author contrasts the high-pressure culture of American summer planning with her own upbringing in Argentina, where children were encouraged to find their own entertainment.
Why it matters
This piece highlights the growing cultural debate regarding 'over-parenting' and the mental health benefits of allowing children to experience boredom.
The author decided to sign her kids up for fewer summer camps this year. Courtesy of the author I have three kids, 8 and under, and like many parents, I struggle to keep them engaged all summer. Last year, we signed them up for nine consecutive weeks of camp. We were all exhausted by the end, so we decided to scale it back this summer. By the time September rolled around and my kids' school started again, we were all exhausted. But not from hearing my kids say "I'm bored" for the 11th time in an hour during summer break, but rather because we overcommitted to too many summer camps. I had to have major surgery in early July and figured sending my kids to nine consecutive weeks of camp was a great idea. They'd be out of the house, entertained with their friends.
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