Social Networking and School Performance

We hope that you enjoyed the holidays and time off from school and work.  School vacations are a great opportunity to spend quality time together as a family.  A time to reconnect and catch up from the busy lives we lead.  With the demands of work, school, after school activities and everyday life, it’s rare that parents and children get to spend extended time together anymore.  But as great as it is, this time can also be an eye opening experience into the world of our children.  With extended time together, many parents saw firsthand the huge influence social media has on our children and the obsession that has become the norm.  Parents witnessed children who could not function without texting, Facebook , Instagram and Twitter (to name a few), in constant communication with their “friends”.  And though it seems to be okay to be “plugged in” during time off from school….what happens when students return to class and greater demands of time are being placed on them?  Is this ongoing distraction compromising our children’s school performance?

So much has been written about the emotional impact, like cyber-bullying, of social networking, but what about academic outcomes?  Does actively participating in social media impact academic performance?  Many parents express concern that the amount of time their children are spending online is affecting school performance. They say that even while studying online, their children have numerous social media sites open and are constantly checking in, when they should be focusing their attention on their homework assignments.  Teachers report that students are finding it harder to concentrate in class and seem distracted.  Time that should be spent studying is being spent on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  Life experiences and face to face interactions are decreasing, and constant texting and tweeting has become a way of modern communication; often using networking chat in place of proper English. 

A study by The National Journal website reports that teachers are concerned that the amount and types of electronic media that children interact with at home may be harming their performance in the classroom.  A study at Ohio State found that Facebook users had GPA’s between 3.0 and 3.5 while non-users had GPA’s between 3.5 and 4.0.  Another study done by Common Sense Media, a think tank focused on children’s media use, also found that students’ media use hurts their attention span in school, harms their ability to interact face to face, and has a negative impact on their writing skills.  These findings are concerning, especially with the increasing demands on students today. 

There are of course some benefits of social networking sites for students, like a great communication tool to discuss assignments and projects, but it takes a conscious effort to develop efficient time management skills when it comes to separating study time and the use of social networking.   The extensive use of technology is only going to increase in the coming years, so the best we can do is to guide our children to make good media choices and help them find balance in their day between social media and other activities.  We all need to be aware and get involved, so that our children don’t become too distracted to keep up with the demands of school.  It can also be a wake-up call for parents to model responsible behavior when using social media and lessen our time “plugged in”.  If  we are encouraging homework time to be just that, and separate from social networking time, then we need to lead by example. 

I believe a round of applause goes to all the summer camps that do not allow the use of cell phones or other connections to social media (except emails that are allowed to be received from home).  Though summer camp is a time away from school work, it is still good to have a breather from all the pressures and constant distractions of social media.  Thank goodness for having face to face interactions where you see a friend’s facial expressions… sitting down to meals together… participating in activities together… having heart to heart talks during rest hour…singing songs around the camp fire… and truly connecting with the people in our lives.  Hopefully campers can bring back home with them the pleasure of focusing on something without distractions and apply it to the school year.  

All The Best For 2013 !!!

The holidays are here and the year 2012 is coming to a close.  With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, many of us are beginning to look toward 2013 and deciding what changes, or “resolutions”, we want to make and (hopefully) follow through with.  New Year’s Eve has always been a time for looking back, reflecting on both the good and not so good, and most importantly, anticipating the year ahead.  This time of introspection often paves the way for positive change and hopes of a fresh start, and who couldn’t benefit from that? 

A New Year’s Resolution is a commitment that a person makes to one or more personal goals, projects, or the reforming of a habit (Wikipedia.org).  Coming up with goals to make our lives happier, healthier, and more fulfilling is the easy part.  It’s keeping up with these changes and new habits that is the challenge we all face.  It takes perseverance, motivation, commitment and sometimes the support of others to make change happen.  But no matter how difficult it may be to stick with our resolutions, the idea behind making them is a great message to send our kids.  Setting personal and family goals is a great way to teach about self-discipline and commitment, and can result in feelings of accomplishment and great sense of self. 

Setting New Year’s resolutions (or any goal) should be thought out, realistic and age-appropriate.  So gather the family to reflect on the past, discuss what changes each member would like to make to create a happier self and improved household, and then have a plan.  If your 10 year old proclaims that her resolution is to keep her room cleaner in 2013, have a clear plan to help support this goal.  It could be as simple as setting aside one hour every Monday for her to clean up her desk and personal belongings in her room.  Having a goal that is doable will keep the positive change alive.    

We are all familiar with the goals typically on the top of most New Year’s resolution lists, including losing weight, exercising more, kicking a bad habit, and getting organized.  The list of self-improvement is plentiful.  But some of my favorite resolutions are ones that the entire family can get involved in and are included on the Statisticbrain.com website as part of the top 10 New Year’s resolutions for 2012.  Hope they make it to 2013. 

1.      (#6) Learn Something New and Exciting:  Instead of just improving on something you already do, why not focus on expanding your horizons and pursue a new activity or talent.  Learn a new language or musical instrument, try out for a team you’ve never joined before, or audition for the school or community play.  Kids at camp do this every summer.  They take on adventures and challenges they never thought possible, and they walk away with the rewards of a new skill and improved self-confidence.   

2.     (#10) Spend More Time with Family:  Schedules are filled to the max and sometimes weeks can go by without really seeing our family members.  Scheduling time together is important and can be as simple as having family game night, reading together before bedtime, or planning a weekly sit down meal, free of electronics or outside distractions.  Catching up on the week will help everyone feel closer and more connected.  Last year, my father asked my sister and I to free up Sunday mornings so that we could all have family time together over breakfast, grandkids and all.  I can’t say we never missed a breakfast, but knowing the time was allotted made it easier to schedule the rest of the weekend, and we did our best to be there.  It was time well spent and so important for the three generations to share that time together. 

3.     (#8) Help Others:  Volunteering could be the resolution that keeps on giving – to yourself and others.  Committing your time and energy for the benefit of others is a fulfilling and gratifying experience.  It’s easy to get caught up in what we can do to improve our own lives in the New Year, but bettering the lives of others can bring even bigger rewards.  Helping others can take the form of becoming a mentor, being a part of building community homes, or volunteering at a nursing home.  The opportunities to help are endless. 

4.     (#4) Enjoy Life to the Fullest:  This last one is a bit vague, but it deserves to be mentioned.  With so much stress and pressure on both children and adults in today’s families, it’s a good reminder to stop breathe, laugh, and enjoy life.  Whatever you decide to do to make life more enjoyable, be safe, be responsible and be happy. 

We wish you all a very Happy Holiday season and all the best for a peaceful and joyful New Year.  See you in 2013!

The Value of a Mentor

January is National Mentoring Month.  It’s the time of year our nation spotlights the importance of mentors and the need for every child to have a caring adult in his or her life.  Dictionary.com defines the word mentor as a wise and trusted counselor or teacher.  To be a mentor, you don’t need special skills or a lifetime of experience; just the ability to offer friendship, guidance, encouragement and support.  A mentor is a person with good character, wisdom to share, and of course a person you admire and strive to be like.  Mentors offer young people an experienced friend who is there to help them in a variety of situations.  The mentoring.org web site notes some of the values of mentoring as (1) improving a young person’s self-esteem, (2) providing support for new behaviors, (3) helping keep students in school, (4) helping young people learn how to relate well to all kinds of people and strengthening communication skills, and (5) helping set career goals and start taking steps to realize them. 

We often think of mentors as role models in the workplace, but the mentor–protégé relationship exists in so many other areas of life.  It’s the college professor who helps you pursue your career goals; the sports coach who helps you develop greater skills and the confidence to keep playing; the neighbor who listens to your concerns and guides you in making responsible choices; and the camp counselor who assists you in navigating through a summer of new experiences and greater independence.  Choosing to be a mentor is accepting an important role in a young person’s life.  Regardless of the setting, be it the workplace or a less formal setting of summer camp, mentors can have a profound impact by being leaders who are trustworthy, supportive and encouraging.   

I know the value of a good mentor because I was lucky enough to have two of them.  The first was Marylou… my camp counselor when I was 12 years old.  Marylou was funny, kind, honest, and was always there to listen.  She had a willingness to share and be open, was a great role model and friend, and was admired by all the girls in the group.  Aside from the activities she encouraged us to participate in, and confidence she instilled in us, she set a strong example when it came to developing friendships and navigating our way through the days at camp.  And though it has been over 30 years, I can still see her face and remember what a great counselor (and mentor) she was.  And then there was George…my internship supervisor in graduate school.   George was a remarkable man and teacher who helped me develop the skills I needed to be an effective school counselor and the wisdom to listen and guide people to live happier lives.  My favorite part of the day was sitting down with George and (what he referred to as) “chatting”.  I learned so much from our chats and George never forgot to tell me how much he learned from me in return.  I am truly thankful for the mentors that helped shape my life, and I only hope that everyone has a mentor in their lives that they can think of in such a positive light.  

     

“Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction”.   John Crosby

Another Great Camp Reunion

The holiday season is upon us and so is Camp Reunion season.  It’s that time of year campers eagerly anticipate reconnecting with camp friends face to face.  All of us here at Camp Iroquois Springs had the pleasure of seeing our camp family at our 12th annual camp reunion held on Sunday December 2^nd at New Rock City.  The day was filled with fun, reminiscing and a whole lot of smiles and laughter.   Campers enjoyed the games, laser tag and rides, but the real excitement of the day was being together again and catching up on the past four months.  It was quickly discovered that being together again made it feel like the summer never ended.  We picked up where we left off and had a great time talking about our fond summer memories.

We are lucky to be living in a time when reaching out to friends near and far has never been easier.  The conveniences of social media, like Facebook, Facetime and Twitter, make it possibly to stay in touch with camp friends throughout the year.  But one thing still holds true….there is no substitute for sitting next to someone and spending time together.  Being together brings back summer memories that no online experience can compare. The camp reunion is a special time that cannot be replaced.  We are fortunate that so many of our campers were able to attend, with many families traveling a far distance to be there.  We especially loved seeing campers that arrived carrying their overnight bags from staying at a camp friend’s house the night before.  Catching up with summer friends and hearing about the impact camp has made on so many lives was the icing on the cake of an already wonderful day.  We missed those of you who were unable to attend, but we do encourage you all to reach out to camp friends in your area, and stay connected to the friendships that mean so much.  Enjoy the holiday season!!!  See you in 207 days!!