I pushed my anxious 12 year old to go to camp last summer and she ended up coming home half way through - she couldn't take it. This year I asked her what she wanted to do and she told me she wants to try again because all her friends are going. Maybe some kids just need to go at their own pace.

If you don't push a kid they sometimes won't reach their potential. My 4 year old didn't want to go to his sports group but I made him go. I'm really glad I did because at 6 he's one of the best at sports in his class and he feels GREAT about it. If I would have "respected his wishes" he would never have had the pleasure of this accomplishment. I think parents over-protect their kids nowadays and don't help them build up any frustration tolerance.

My mother pushed me to go to camp every year and I absolutely hated it. I would NEVER make my kids go if they didn't want to. The only thing the experience did for me is cause me to resent my mother.

I think that parents who push their kids are trying to mold their kids into something they are not. There's no crime in not being a good camper. There's other ways to build up a social network. Not everyone is the same. I think it's the mother who is insecure even more than the child!