Boot Camps for 14-Year-Old Troubled Teens

Types of Camp

• Look for a boot camp that addresses your teen̵7;s specific issues. Specialist camps are offered for individuals with anger-management problems, oppositional defiant disorder, ADD/ADHD, drug or alcohol dependency problems, truancy and gaming addiction, among others. Depending on your location, these will either be run as private organizations or be funded by the state. They will not be inexpensive, but, depending on the degree to which your 14-year-ld is troubled, they may offer a long-term benefit that is well worth the short-term cost.

Boot Camp Experience

• Although the duration of each camp varies, your 14-year-old will typically spend between 20 days and 40 days in a residential program, sharing communal living areas̵1;bunk bed, foot lockers and dorms̵1;that are subject to random inspection and strict control. She may have to wear a uniform̵1;an external sign of subservience, discipline and conformity. She will learn to follow rules and orders immediately and without question.

Psychological Change

• Apart from the physical demands of boot camp, your 14-year-old will also experience psychological and emotional challenges. These often include disorientation, homesickness, a feeling of disconnection from everything that was familiar and panic. These negative emotions are induced in the teen in order to make her reliant upon her drill instructor. In this way, a strong bond of trust is formed between the adolescent and the instructor that aids in inculcating more socially desirable values. Some camps create a complete disconnect between teens and their family and friends, while others encourage parents and siblings to stay in contact by sending photos, small gifts and letters. Before sending anything to your teen, however, you should check into your camp̵7;s policy and ensure that you adhere to it.

Boot Camp Success

• Secondary to a changed perspective and more socially acceptable behavior, perhaps one of the greatest long-term benefits of boot camp is the friendships your 14-year-old will make. As challenging as this experience will be, your teen will not be alone. He will face the ordeal alongside others whose victories he will celebrate and from whose failures he will learn and grow. The bonds forged by teens at boot camps are destined to last a lifetime, as these adolescents will have shared their lowest points and wildest successes.