Kevin Gordon

About Kevin Gordon

Posts by Kevin Gordon:

6 Ways to Be a Better Parent

We value working with our campers’ parents at our summer camp near Chicago, Illinois. Just as we continually strive to improve our camp experience via counselor training and continually reviewing our program, we recognize that our parents also seek to be a better parent for their children. A recent article offers some good tips on how to be a more “intentional” parent. Bullets below, with the whole article by Susan Swann available at this link. 1. Be consistent. Be consistent with how you reinforce the implementation of your values. Remember […]

9 Things to Do Before Bed to Maximize Your Well Being

At our summer camp outside of Chicago, Illinois, we recognize the importance of goal setting and positive psychology to maximize one’s well being. A recent article details 9 steps you can take each night to do the same for yourself. Summaries below, with the whole article by Jacquelyn Smith available at this link. 1. Read. Experts agree that reading is the very last thing most successful people do before going to sleep. 2. Make a to-do list. Clearing the mind nightly means cluttered thoughts don’t end up invading your head space during the night. 3. Spend […]

Three Things You Didn’t Know About Teens

Sociologist Christine Carter has an interesting piece culled from her conversation with scientific expert on adolescence Ron Dahl, regarding insights about teens (and pre-teens). Highlights below, with the whole article at this link. #1: Your adolescent isn’t a teenager. Dahl avoids the term “teenager” because it implies that all the action only after the age of 13. Puberty typically lasts only two to four years, with most at the end of puberty by the age of 13. Today kids have a longer period of time to figure out who they […]

7 Ways to Maximize Your Emotional Intelligence

At our multicultural summer camp outside of Chicago, Illinois, we focus on individual empowerment and development of leadership skills to help with emotional intelligence. Psychologist Daniel Goleman (see his web site for more) emphasizes some critical pieces regarding emotional intelligence that help one maximize leadership capabilities. TO INCREASE SELF-AWARENESS, you should: Maximize realistic self-confidence by understanding your own strengths and limitations so that you operate from competence and know when to rely on someone else on the team. Develop emotional insight by understanding the origins of your feelings FOR SELF-MANAGEMENT, you […]

Learning How To Let Go

Parents, especially American parents, sometimes obsess about safety. While we certainly want to encourage parental warmth and love (especially with newborns and toddlers), as children mature, you must create safe spaces to let them explore on their own. As we recognize at our girls-only and boys-only summer camps here in the Midwest, by giving children opportunities to overcome discomfort in new situations, they grow into competent, independent adults. As a blog by Steve Baskin—former executive board member of the American Camp Association (in this article from Psychology Today) discusses—children need […]

Tips on Preventing Cyber-Bullying

At our summer camp in the Midwest, we recognize how important parents value the safety of their children in a physical location. It is no less important in the “virtual” world. Indeed, especially as social media become increasingly prevalent in the lives of youth, we need to be mindful of the impact that smartphone and online computer use can have on our children. Cyber-bullying is real, and bears a huge daily toll on many young people. Here are a few ways that we can help. Even if you can’t necessarily be there in […]

The Stuck At Home Generation

The percentage of 20-somethings living at home doubled over the last few decades. Although some critics blame this increase on the struggling economy, statistics prove that the fear of leaving the nest began earlier. It seems that being independent is no longer a characteristic of a young (North) American. Parents can take three steps, detailed fully in a blog by sociologist Christine Carter here, in order to promote their children’s individual growth. (1) Foster the growth-mindset, or the belief that people are successful because of their hard work and effort rather than their innate talents. When we foster the […]

Why It’s Good to Let Kids Fail

School today is very different from the experience most parents recall from their own childhood. Education has advanced in leaps and bounds; teachers today spend much time and effort catering to individual needs and abilities. But what about the lessons that can’t be taught from books? In a recent blog, family physician Dr. Karen Latimer speaks about the importance of allowing our children to figure things out on their own, without our constant intervention. “How to stand up for themselves–If I came home from school and told my mother I […]

5 Ways to Minimize Back to School Anxiety

At our girls-only and boys-only Midwest summer camps, we recognize the importance of effective transitions in helping quell anxiety for children entering new situations. Indeed, it’s already time for some, and almost time for many other children to head back to school. For some parents and children, that can be an anxious time. A recent blog by Dr. Karen Latimer details 5 tips to help quell that back to school anxiety. Bullets are below, with the full piece at this link. Watch what you say. Be positive. Tour the school. […]

Too Much Fun to Blog About

Hello! With apologies to any parents who have been scanning, waiting, and hoping with bated (sp?) breath for an in-camp blog, at long last, here’s one! The girls have been getting acquainted with new friends and re-connecting with old ones during these first few days. From day one, our campers had a smooth and seamless beginning to camp. From our opening pot luck to camper check in, big group games like Ship Island and Running with the Bulls, and opening campfire, the day was a great one. The meals throughout […]

Saving Our Earth Starts Now

April 22 is Earth Day. It seems that with each passing year, it becomes more important not to just participate in events on that day, but to incorporate into our own lives critical practices that will allow our Earth to sustain itself for our children and their children. (For more on Earth Day generally, here’s one good link). At our multicultural camp, environmental awareness and respect for the natural environment is one of the core values that we emphasize at camp. We take seriously our relationship withtheenvironment and convey that […]

3 Ways to Foster Independence in your Child

At our summer camp outside of Chicago, we recognize how we contribute to the growth and independence of our campers. We also recognize that is every (okay, most) parents’ dream to have a self-reliant, successful child! However;, it’s also becoming more common for parents to dread the day their child leaves the nest. What parents forget is that self-sufficiency can help a child grow tremendously. One way to kick-start a child’s feelings of independence is to foster their independence. Here are three ways from psychologist Christine Carter explaining how. Excerpts below, […]