First of all, let’s be honest. All children are naughty at times and some children are naughty most of the time. But is that bad behavior a bad thing? Is it just a case of kids blowing off steam, sibling rivalry, or just growing up? When your child is a young child, he will do certain bad things. In elementary school, your patience will be tested in other ways. And in adolescence they can commit serious mischief. Just remember that there is a training ground for a certain type of troubled teenager.

If your child is just being a kid, a troubled teen camp is probably not required. But on the other hand, if your teen lacks confidence and is dropping grades, running with bad people, or spending long periods of time alone in their room, then this can be a very good option. Remember that training camps and boarding schools are not to punish but to help.

And let’s get another myth out of the way. Parents should never feel guilty about sending their teens to camp. They do it to help their children and not to punish them. Remember that it is a break for both parent and child and camp is intended to be a circuit breaker. Boot camps offer a positive and potentially transformative program. You want your teenager to come home a new person. That’s the goal of all teen boot camps. But keep in mind that boot camp is not for all troubled teens. Someone who is willing to push boundaries and has great spirit may be the wrong teenager for a camp. But any young person with a learning disability, a condition like depression or ADHD, and any teenager in need of hands-on therapy could well be an ideal candidate.

How do you know if your teenager is ready? Well, in many cases it will be common sense or your instinct or simply your exhaustion in the ranks and unreasonable behavior exhibited by your teenager. Feel free to seek professional advice, whether it be from your GP, the school principal, the church leader, or a child psychologist. But no one knows a teenager better than their parents – well, hardly anyone. If your teenager is dropping out of school, life, or normal activities, this could be the perfect solution. Give your child structure. Provide lots of physical and worthwhile activities.

When a teenager gets in trouble, doing nothing is never an option. The right boot camp offers a short-term solution, but one that could have long-term benefits. If it’s time to stop your teen’s misbehavior, then it may be time to ask about the services available at a good camp. Do not be afraid to follow the advice of the experts and do not delay if the problem is such that it seriously worries you. A stay in a good boot camp could save your teenager from some serious consequences and keep your family together and happy.