Discuss Mary's answer to: Summer camp: Good for kids, good for parents?

Summer camps were some of the best times of my childhood, and my children got a lot out of it also when I sent them. I'll send my grandchildren also. It's good for children to get away, and good for parents to have a break. Do kids always want to go to summer camp? No. But part of growing up is those short breaks from home life that teach them to be independent and help them discover who they are away from their nest.

Also, parents help their children have respect for personal space by insisting on having parental breaks or vacations without children. Children who never see their parents have any personal space or time with each other don't know how to take it for themselves when they grow up and need time for themselves.

I think 4 weeks is a lot. A weekend to start, then expand to a week once the child becomes used to camp, then 1-2 weeks at any given time, depending on the child, obviously. If the child takes to it like a duck to water, then go with a longer camp.