Confessions of a kids camp counselor: Attraction to distraction
As a counselor for troubled teenagers at an adolescent group home some years back, it was always amazing to me how many young people dealt with hard-core addiction issues.
Part of the intake process at the group home included a urine-based drug test, and many of the 13-18 year-olds would turn up positive for various substances. Then, within the next couple days, they’d start to show the withdrawal symptoms of no longer having access to the drugs they had become dependent upon. Irritability, shaking, struggles with concentration, etc. It was sad to watch these young people try to cope with such crippling addictions.
Thankfully, as a kids camp counselor at the Western PA Wesleyan Kids camp near Johnstown in late June, there were no drug-based issues among the second- to sixth-grade campers. But withdrawal symptoms were still evident early in the week, and it highlights a growing concern among young people in the world today.
Within my group of five boys, aged 8 to 12, there were numerous comments about missing the creature comforts of home. Video games, tablets, computers, cell phones – even soda – are items that are not allowed at camp for obvious reasons. We want the kids unplugged from the world and redirected to the beautiful natural surroundings of camp. We want them to participate in new adventures, push their comfort levels, overcome fears and especially to absorb the Word of God.
It was amazing – and sad – how dependent kids are on electronics and other unhealthy activities. Two of my campers complained regularly about not having their Xbox consoles. One of the two admitted to playing his video games about five to six hours a day during the summer months. I asked him how much time he spends reading his Bible at home – and he said he didn’t typically have time for that.
Lack of soda and sugary treats led to other withdrawal symptoms from two of my older campers. When we finished packing on the final day of kids camp, one of the pair admitted he couldn’t wait to get home and grab a two-liter of either Pepsi or Mountain Dew. I pointed out that he made it a week without soda, and maybe this was a good time to quit, and he just looked at me as if I were crazy.
Of course, there is no real danger in age-appropriate video games or a glass or two of soda or other treat when taken in moderation, but for many kids in today’s culture, the concept of moderation is a foreign one. Unfortunately, that trend begins with the parents and trickles down the ranks.
How can we break the negative cycle of distractions – especially when those distractions are cutting into our children’s time for spiritual growth?
At Kids Camp, there is a detailed schedule of events. The kids are kept busy all day long, going from activity to activity. Among the mandatory events are worship services, rallies, TAWG time (Time Alone with God) and counselor/cabin time. Each of those activities engages the children in different ways … from active games and song-based ministry to quiet times of reflection. The key is that these are scheduled events that happen at the same time each day.
At home, especially during the summer months, it can be hard to commit totally to a rigid daily structure. However, we can all carve out specific times for our children to unplug from their electronics and spend some time reading a Bible. We can even set the example by reading the Bible with our children, answering their questions along the way.
We can make it a point to get our kids more involved in local church ministries. AWANA, Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and other children-centric programs are great opportunities to get the kids out of the house, away from their worldly distractions and more involved with positive Christ-centered leaders and peers in the church community.
And we can make it a point to pray with our children every night. Not only does it model for our kids the proper way to pray — but also provides a unique bonding experience. I know I’ve been blown away by some of the prayers my daughters have shared over the years.
Our attraction to distractions that take us away from a God-centered life is a hard habit to break. What are your methods for dealing with those distractions?
Check out each part of the “Confessions of a kids camp counselor” series by clicking below. More posts will be on the way soon: