Ten Top Mistakes Parents Make When Choosing a Residential Camp for their Teen
Mistake number 6: Our teenager just needs to be disciplined, we want a military school or boot camp.
There is a lot of confusion over the terms military school and boot camp, and a lot of assumptions as to what a good dose of discipline really means! Parents at the end of their tether with a defiant and disobedient teenager may think that all they need is a short sharp shock and all will be sorted.
That is an unlikely scenario with a teen suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD) or Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD). If a parent believes in improving behavior through punishment then a traditional boot camp may be what they are looking for, but most of these types of camp are increasingly rare, as professionals generally do not believe that punishment alone is sufficient to change behavior. It is better in all situations to start with the needs of the teenager and determine what treatment will best suit their particular condition.
When is a Military school suitable for a troubled teen?
- There are long waiting lists for military schools and they are generally very expensive
- Military schools are good for academically able students who lack focus
- They do not offer any behavior therapy, just rules and a strict approach to following orders
- They are good for the disorganized but reasonably well behaved teenager
- They are ideal for a teenager that wants to join the military
In short, it is unlikely a military school will accept a significantly troubled teenager and they would be unable to do more than keep them under control whilst at school, as soon as they return home they would act out again!
What can boot camps offer a troubled teenager?
- Poor behavior is punished in strict and physical terms and can build serious resentment in the emotionally disturbed teen
- Boot camps are often an alternative to prison for young offenders
- New style boot camps offer therapy and support, with a structured environment
- Therapy and counseling may still be required if your teen has emotional problems
- Some residential treatment centers are misnamed as boot camps, check the program they have on offer
- Sometimes a boot camp approach is effective for seriously out of control teens, prior to offering treatment, as they focus the teen on quitting the extreme behaviors first
Again, it is not what you, the parent, thinks will work for your child; an assessment of your child's needs is critical prior to choosing any form of residential treatment. There is a place for boot camps in the range of treatments for troubled teens, but they are often very different from what a parent imagines them to be!