Foster Positive Relationships at Camp with Fun Social Skills Lessons


The original inspiration for this post comes from Cindy Grant.

Teaching Social Skills at Camp

Let’s talk about social skills – those essential abilities that help us interact with others in positive and respectful ways.

Social skills are not always easy to learn, especially for kids who have different needs and preferences. That’s why it’s important to incorporate some fun and engaging social skills lessons into your camp activities. 

Consent: Asking and Respecting

One of the first things you teach your campers is the importance of consent. Consent means asking for permission before touching someone else, and respecting their answer. Some people love hugs and high-fives, while others prefer not to be touched at all. And that’s okay!

Your camp probably has policies on camper/staff touching. Side hugs, not sitting on laps, etc. are all a part of that even though we see the opposite happen time after time. Camp is an ideal place to discuss respect and consent.

Take time to have group discussions about how everyone has different feelings about touching, and how we can respect those feelings. Remind your campers to ask every time, because consent can change depending on the situation. So, before we hug or high five we ask if it’s ok. 

This lesson can be very helpful for your campers who have sensory concerns, as they feel more comfortable saying no to unwanted touch. It also helps them understand why some animals don’t like to be petted, a lesson that is often learned on field trips to petting zoos and farms. Sometimes animals feel hot and cranky, so we need to respect their space and admire them from afar. 

Personal Space: Respecting Boundaries

Another important social skill that should be taught is personal space. Personal space is the area around us that we feel comfortable with. It can vary depending on the person, the place, and the activity.

To illustrate personal space, use hula hoops of different sizes. Show your campers how our personal space can be small on a crowded bus, but bigger at lunchtime. Also explain that personal space can change depending on how we feel, and that we should be polite when someone tells us we’re too close.

Campers love this activity, as they get to move around and experiment with different hula hoops. They also learn to be more aware of their own and others’ boundaries, and how to respect them.

Apologies: Saying Sorry and Making Amends

The last social skill I want to cover is apologies. Apologies are a way of expressing regret and taking responsibility for our actions. Sometimes, we make mistakes or hurt someone’s feelings, and we need to say sorry and try to fix it.

You may have noticed that traditional time-outs are not very effective these days for many campers, as they feel isolated and angry. Try a different approach. Teach your campers how to write sincere apology letters, using a fill-in-the-blank form letters if they are too young to write one on their own. Teach them how to distinguish between accidents and intentional actions, and how to avoid repeating the same mistakes.

This approach can be very successful. Campers become more aware of how their actions impact others, and how to make amends. You should see less undesired behavior and more empathy among your campers.

__________

These are wonderful social skills lessons you can include in your camp program. I believe that these skills are essential for building positive relationships and fostering a sense of community. Also, make sure that these lessons are fun and interactive so that your campers enjoy learning and practicing them.

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