Boot Camp for Teens

Many parents feel that a boot camp for teens is the best option for their troubled teen. They have a teen that is defiant, misbehaves, talks back, is disrespectful and is skipping school. A bootcamp for teens will solve the problem. Or will it?

Boot camps are a good option for short-term intervention. They teach respect, discipline and teamwork. Teens attending boot camps often respond well to the structure and discipline and direct command style communication. These programs teach teens to listen to clear orders, respond accordingly and subsequently earn respect by doing so. This helps the teen to increase their confidence and self-esteem, and have a clear and positive relationship with an adult.

Studies have shown that teens respond well to direct, consistent instruction with a clear understanding of consequences. A boot camp for teens clearly offers this for troubled teens. The number one priority is to instill the understanding of who is in charge, and a clear expectation of acceptable behavior by the teen.

One of the biggest challenges of a bootcamps program structure is the return of the teen to the family, school and community environment. Because parents and teachers do not ask students to stand at attention and bark out instructions and orders, a boot camp teen returning home may be confused and tempted to once again engage in disrespectful and defiant behaviors.

The purpose of putting the teen in a program like a boot camp for teens in the first place is to have the teen return to the family a well-rounded member of the family and community. Parents want their teens to have direction and purpose. If the parentÕs desire is to encourage the teen to consider a military career, this may be a good option. However, if the goal of placing the troubled teen into a boot camp environment is to create a well rounded, educated teen, who can embrace their own potential, A teen boot camp most likely will not be the appropriate solution to meet the parentÕs objectives. Often a long-term therapeutic program(Link going to featured school) will have a more lasting effect on a wayward teen.

A participatory aftercare segment, not found in boot camps for teens, is critical in a successful program for troubled teens. Aftercare provides the troubled teen a way to reconnect with the program and stay on track, ask questions, engage with their family in solving problems and continue to have a positive connection with the counselors, program staff and fellow students to help them to successfully re-enter their home, school and community. A teen boot camp usually will not offer this solution for your family.

The failure to provide Aftercare only strengthens the need for the teen to be in a program with a strong aftercare component. Most successful academic and therapeutic programs have within their structure, a strong aftercare program. A boot camp for teens often lacks the essence of the caring, therapeutic tradition, and therefore is unable to provide complete programming that leads to successful outcomes for your teen.