Parents with shy children may wish to enroll them in social skills camp. These camps teach young children and teens the life skills necessary to better communicate with others in social situations. Kids can not only take part in helpful workshops and exercises, but they can also make valuable friendships. Most programs group children by age and skill level, with the length of particular sessions to be determined by counselors who assess the needs of each child.

What to Ask the Camp Director: What is the camper to counselor ratio within the social skills program? Some camps boast a 2:1 ratio, ensuring individualized attention.

Counselor Certifications: Counselors should be licensed and certified in dealing with children that have disorders like nonverbal learning disabilities, Asperger's Syndrome, autism and the like. These children need to develop social skills to cope with everyday life, and therefore, counselors should have plenty of experience providing ways of developing and enhancing such skills.

What to Pack: Be sure to pack your child's comfort items, as time away at a life skills program can be daunting. Most of these camps offer traditional recreational options, such as swimming and hiking, so pack according to activities offered as well as the weather.