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Anyone who has raised a teenager or is doing so will know there are times when things can become difficult. Some of the issues which teenagers face include drugs, alcohol, sex, mixing with the wrong crowd and discipline problems at home and at school.
There is a multitude of goods and services aimed at helping parents raise their teenage child to be happy, healthy and with high self-esteem. This particular article concentrates on boot camps; what you need to know and how to make the right decision in choosing that type of treatment for your child.
Some Bad Publicity
Some isolated incidents in which a teenager has been mistreated while attending a bootcamp have brought considerable publicity. Of course any unfair or illegal behavior is never to be condoned but remember there are two sides to most debates and you can read many testimonials from both teenagers who attended a bootcamp and their parents stating what a positive experience it was. In many cases it was a life-changing experience.
So in choosing a method of helping your teenager, consider all the facts before making a final decision.
What Is a Bootcamp?
You may have seen a so called ‘reality television’ program usually set in a rural area where loud pseudo-sergeants yell and badger the inmates urging them to do all manner of physical activities. That’s not necessarily how a bootcamp operates for troubled teenagers. In other words, don’t believe everything you see on TV.
Bootcamps certainly place an emphasis on physical activity and this may be just the program your teenager deserves. Remember these camps are for boys and girls although many are single-sex operations.
The word bootcamp may be linked with the word military but teenage camps for troubled teens are run either by state institutions or privately and are not connected with the military. If your son or daughter is interested in becoming a cadet with a view to joining the military, the organizers will almost certainly not accept a teenager who is unruly and has been in serious trouble with authorities.
There has long been a juvenile detention program for young offenders and participants are directed to be a part of this as a result of having been to court. In short, the judge puts them there.
This is not the place for your teenage son or daughter if you want to help them improve your life.
What Happens in a Typical Bootcamp?
Lots of physical activity; marching, orders, commands and all in a structured, ordered environment but also responsible tasks such as caring for animals. The teenagers are not mollycoddled. They are there to straighten out their lives and will have little time or opportunity to get up to mischief. Many camps are in rural or isolated areas away from the bright lights.
One aim is to teach the teenagers new skills whether this is with animals or farm chores or map reading. Self-esteem and self-respect are often improved and certainly are front and center of any program.
Bootcamps are usually relatively short running for about 30 days. Other types of facilities can operate for a year or longer. A bootcamp offers a short, sharp shock type of treatment. The whole idea for many parents is to give their child a wake-up call in the hope they will stop their unruly behavior and get back on the straight and narrow.
Disadvantages of Bootcamps
One major aspect of a bootcamp is its running time. If the teenager knows he or she will be back home in thirty days or so, doing the time may not seem all that bad. And if a teenager has some serious attitude problems, it may be unrealistic to assume a cure of any sort will take place. Sometimes a disturbed teenager will need prolonged therapy and an individual program in order to change their behavior patterns. So all this means parents shouldn’t think a miracle will necessarily happen. It might and many teenagers certainly benefit from a bootcamp stay but the running time of many camps does not allow for everyone to make a significant improvement.
Confrontation may not work with your child. If they need a different approach, then there are alternatives.
Tough Love
Tough love is an expression we hear often when talking about troubled teenagers. To some people it means the parent needs to be cruel [although cruelty as such is never condoned] to be kind. To others it means the parent is keen to set standards and rules and to apply discipline on their teenage child. Of course the rules for a five year old will hardly apply when that child is fifteen. But the principle remains the same. There are rules. If you break the rule there will be consequences. Parents must follow through as per the stated rules and consequences.
Going to a bootcamp would not happen unless the teenager has defied their parents on many occasions and could in fact be in trouble with drugs and alcohol or their school, etc.
Summary
The word bootcamp applies to many different programs today. You can go to a bootcamp to lose weight, to get fit, to perform extreme sports, to write a novel or do many other activities. You can also enroll your teenage son or daughter in a bootcamp with the sole aim of stopping their anti-social behavior or overcoming their failure to attend school and help them turn their life around.
It’s been said before, bootcamps for troubled teens will not be the best solution for every disruptive child. The discipline is strict and the program intense. Because of the shortness of the course, the cost of a bootcamp can compare favorably with alternative facilities.
The separation of the troubled teen from his or her friends and from their family is, in itself, a big step. A break may be all that is required to short-circuit their foolish ways. Most bootcamps have an internet site, brochure or telephone advisory service or all three. Take your time and investigate different camps. The best way to do this is to have a detailed description of the type of behavior or misbehavior carried out by your teenager.
If you choose to use the services of a bootcamp but you really want to make sure you choose the right one.
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