Warning: the following blog entry may get the Mac vs. PC debate in your house started earlier than necessary.

Watch your wallet, because now the kids can go to summer camp at a mall near you.

More specifically, Apple Camp -- a set of free 3-hour summer workshops for kids ages 8 to 12 teaching movie-making, photo editing, music recording and multimedia fun on a Mac. And yes, they have loaners for the kids to learn on.

Hard to know whether iCamp is an appalling bit of brand brainwashing, or truly useful 21st century tech skillbuilding. Perhaps some of both.

But it does sound fun. All the Apple stores in Massachusetts -- including Chestnut Hill, Hingham, Cambridge, Burlington, Peabody and the flagship on Boylston Street -- are listed as participants in these and other family-friendly workshops.

The parent lucky enough to get "stuck" doing drop-off at the Natick Collection gets to wander happily around its wondrous Nordstrom, Williams-Sonoma-on-steriods, American Girl, L'Occitane, Hanna Andersson and loads of other expensive stores.

The public bathrooms in the Collection, behind the concierge's desk, are fabulous, with private family rooms for diaper changing and breastfeeding. The atrium has free wi-fi and lots of nice, sunny sitting spots.

The crepe place on the upper level is Level 5 yum. The Indian food spot in the regular mall food court is reliably good too. (They still have a Spencer's gifts tucked away over there, if you are less Nordstrom/more Carmen Electra.)

In any case, leave your credit cards locked in the car. Trust me on this.

Thank heavens 4-year-old Dennis -- who has a better mastery of my iPhone than I do -- is too young for iCamp.

He's headed to camp at the Natick Community Organic Farm this summer, so he can learn the operating systems of bunnies and goats.

What do you think? Would you send your kid to camp at the mall? Mac vs. PC? Leave a comment, or email me at enoonan@globe.com