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Making Your Child a Happy Camper
Research Now so You Can Both Relax Later
By Jill Eggleton Brett
Ahhh, the dog days of summer. The scorching sun, high temperatures and energetic kids who are out of school for the summer. What's a parent to do? For some, this is the recipe for summer camp. Just as kids come in all shapes and sizes, so do camps. The American Camping Association (ACA) offers parents lots of helpful advice on the selection process. But before you sign those registration forms, how do you know if your child is ready for summer camp?
The first step is to consider your child's age, the length of the camp and your child's emotional maturity. Involve your child in the decision-making process – don't force the idea on him. Ask him what type of camp he's interested in, when he'd like to go and for how long.
"If your child brings the idea of camp to you, he's probably ready," says Dave Nealon, Camp Director for Camp Horizons in Virginia. "Even if your child is pondering the idea and is not sure, he can have a wonderful camp experience if you are supportive and get things set up for success." This means preparing your child mentally for camp, especially if this is his first time away from home. The ACA recommends that you and your child visit the camp ahead of time if possible, so that things won't be unfamiliar when camp begins. It's also helpful if your first-time camper can attend with a close friend or relative. To show your support and love, write an encouraging letter to your youngster and send it ahead of time so it's waiting when he arrives at camp.
Talk about what camp may be like with your child, acknowledge feelings of apprehension and discuss homesickness. Allow your child to pack a favorite stuffed animal, toy or picture so he'll have a comfortable piece of home with him. But the ACA strongly recommends that you not tell your child that if he isn't happy, he should "Call right away and I'll come get you." Doing this gives your child an immediate way out and does not allow him to work through justified feelings of separation anxiety.