Can't trade off health
"Going to a summer camp is to be sunny, dusty, and experience an imperfect life" - a point of view supported by many parents. But many people also argued: "Children go out, not have to go to school, it is too dirty! ".
Never before has choosing a summer camp for children made forums and parent groups "hot" like today. The sharing about monotonous menus, degraded toilets, unclean blankets... at some summer camp has sparked fierce controversy among parents.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Van (Hai Phong City) emotionally recounted her son's experience after 4 days of participating in a summer camp in the mountains: "When I got home, I said that the toilet had no water, at times the meal only had rice and soup, at times the eggs boiled all night. The child also suffered from a mosquito bite and swelling in the limbs. I don't feel any good at all. Children must be taken good care of."
From Ms. Van's story, many parents agree that children's health and hygiene cannot be exchanged for "experience". "You can't let the children get diarrhea and a viral fever and call it an adult?" another parent commented.
There are also concerns that many summer camp organizers are running in large quantities and advertising grandly, but the infrastructure and human resources do not meet the requirements for caring for children. "We paid a million but when he came home, he lost 2kg, if he was on the cheek, he would ask if he wanted to give more?" a parent in Thanh Dong ward (Hai Phong city) shared.
On the other hand, many parents think that it is normal, even necessary, for their children to go to summer camp in imperfect conditions.
Mr. Le Van Hoa, a parent who had sent his child to 3 summer camp survival seasons, said: "We don't take our children on vacation. The goal is to help children collide, practice life skills, and learn to be independent. Without a refrigerator, having to wash clothes and eat pickled vegetables are lessons that schools do not teach".
Careful choice from parents is needed
To limit the situation of "disillusionment" after summer camp, many parents with experience share that choosing a reputable organization, clear program, and transparent accommodation conditions are prerequisites.
"We have set up a group to survey the summer camp before registering. Some places are sparkling through photos, but only when I get there do I know that I have "borrowed" the image of another place" - said Ms. Le Thu Huyen, a parent in Hung Yen.
Many opinions also suggest that organizers need to proactively publicize information, even allowing parents to check facilities before registering their children. At the same time, there should be an independent feedback and monitoring mechanism to ensure the quality of the farms.
The line between real-life experience and lack of responsibility can be very fragile if lacking control. The story of summer camp conditions continues to be a wake-up call for parents in choosing a program suitable for their children's age, physical condition and personality.
Taking children to summer camp is not only to "keep them for a few days" or " give them to others", but also to clearly understand: what children will learn, what they will experience, and how they need to be guaranteed. When those questions do not have satisfactory answers, the controversy between "going to get dirty" and "not being allowed dirty" will continue.
