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Home › Articles › Your Children › Making Your Child a Happy Camper

Making Your Child a Happy Camper

Research Now so You Can Both Relax Later

By Jill Eggleton Brett

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"The third day is usually hump day in a four-week camp," says Marge Driscoll, Director of Member Services for the ACA. "If a child leaves after his first wave of homesickness, he'll miss out on a unique opportunity to learn people skills, a chance to grow as an individual and all those precious memories."

If homesickness does develop into a more serious problem, you can help reassure your child. Suggest that he stay two more days, and if he still feels the same way, tell him you'll discuss options at that point. Gently explain to your child that he's made a commitment to be at camp – not only to himself, but to his roommates and new friends. It's also important to talk openly with the camp director to get his perception of your child's adjustment. And support your child's efforts to work out the problems with the help of his camp counselors. There will be the occasional child who is truly not enjoying anything, not making friends and is just plain miserable. This child should be allowed to return home after some honest effort on his part.

Homesickness in your child is one thing, but what about the "childsick" parent? Are you encouraging your child to have a fabulous time or are you doing things to hamper your camper? "You have to be brave!" Driscoll reminds parents. "Remember, your child is learning invaluable lessons in decision making and is being given the opportunity to take risks and chances in a safe environment. Your child is also being mentored by caring, responsible adults whose purpose ... is to nurture your child." For parents who are childsick even before their offspring leave, Marge recommends beginning with a one-week camp vs. a longer stay.

Technology has been able to bring sought-after comfort to a parent's heart. Many camps have e-mail capabilities and allow parents to communicate with their child this way. Parents can also find visual satisfaction thanks to companies that post camper's progress and activities through photos on a Web site. Parents can log on to the site dedicated to their child's camp and, through a protected password, can keep connected through pictures and progress updates.

With more than 8,500 camps in the United States alone, it can be difficult to find the right one for your child. Fortunately, the ACA offers practical information and guidelines to keep in mind when whittling down your choices. Here's a list of questions to aid parents in the process:


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