Building Age Appropriate
Programs For Children
Throughout childhood, parents witness simple yet important
milestones. The day a child learns to tie his shoes, catch and throw
a ball, or learns to ride a bike are signs of increasing independence. These achievements begin at birth and are part of healthy
development. We celebrate these small victories that become more
frequent as they grow older. Often we are amazed by the progress.
We want our children to grow but yet the speed by which it
happens can be a cause for worry. A common question among
parents is, “are they growing too fast?” As they grow children
become more conscious of themselves. By the age of seven they
often begin to loose the carefree attitudes of earlier years. They
begin to take life more seriously. They are more socially aware and
are very keen to liked and appreciated by friends outside the
family.
Cub Scouting is designed for children 7-10 years of age. This is an
important time in the development of a young person. It is a time of
rapid physical development, increased cognitive and language
skills and social and emotional growth. The Cub Scout Program is
designed to create an environment that nurtures this development
by providing positive experiences appropriate for this age group.
Summer camp is an essential part of the Cub Scout Experience.
All of our camp’s activities provide opportunities for Cub Scout’s to
explore, learn, create, and build memories that are challenging, but
not overwhelming. Every child is unique and different. The
programs we offer recognize those differences and allows for
children to grow naturally.
The 7-10 year age group is a period of accelerated growth. The
difference of three years is profound, especially in the area of social
and emotional growth. A child of 7 is unlikely to be prepared to
camp overnight without his parents. By the age of 10 he is often
ready to spend a few nights away from home.
The Spirit Of Adventure Council recognizes these differences and
offers a variety of programs that are age appropriate. The council
offers family camping, day camps and resident camps to meet the
needs of children at all these time points. All our Cub programs
welcome and encourage family participation. The level of participation should be based on the needs of the individual child. It is like
training wheels on a bicycle.
How do we know when it is the right time to remove the training
wheels? Often the child in a statement of newfound confidence will
ask that they be removed. With parent encouragement the child
willing accepts the challenge.
Is your child ready? With so many programs how do you know
which one is best for your boy. A good place to start to figure that
out is by asking your child.