It's the summer season in some parts of the world and that means the kids are off their rigid school schedules. Some parents, however, send their children to camps to keep their summer busy. A number of these camps have lately been imposing one rule: technology is off-limits.
In Canada and the United States, camps prohibiting the use of gadgets are increasing, according to Globe and Mail. From only 10 percent of summer camps in 2011, the number has reportedly tripled this year.
"Our children don't have an experience of the world without the Internet, so we have to engineer that for them and this digital detox becomes all the more valuable," said Michael Harris, who wrote the book "The End of Absence: Reclaiming What We've Lost in a World of Constant Connection," in the Globe and Mail report.
These camps, added the author, "helps kids to think critically outside the algorithmically sanctioned digital sphere, see themselves more clearly and connect with others in a more sincere way. We become better social creatures when we become more anti-social in our device use."
In Sao Paulo, Brazil, digital detox camps are also cropping up, according to World Crunch. The first few days may seem like hell for the kids, who have been reliant on their cellphones and other gadgets for most of their life. But after a few days, the "detox" seemed to help as outdoor games and activities are met with enthusiasm. "We play cards, dance with hula hoops. Things that our digital generation didn't even know existed," said Marcelo, 15-years-old.
The "no gadget" rule, however, does come with some problems as some kids will always try to sneak their cellphones in. Camp counsellors observe that these are the children who usually do not come back the next summer. The rest of the kids who take the rule seriously also come with some realization.
For instance, Hannah, a 10th grader, admitted that she really wanted to bring the phone with her. She almost refused to go to camp when she learned of the policy, but then she heeded her mother's reasons.
"If they bring cells, they could be so engrossed in sharing every moment of their trip that they're not present for the trip itself," her mother said. "Rather than texting people back home, not having my phone lets me bond with the people I meet at camp. That's really important to me," Hanna concluded, as reported in Globe and Mail.
