Parenting Guru: Anxious about Camp? Tips you can use.
Look, camp can be stressful. It's supposed to be great, but it's not always fun for everyone. Sometimes it's the child who's nervous, but other times, if we're honest, it can be our own parental anxiety on display. So if either you or your young child are anxious, an overnight summer camp experience is probably an adventure you need to build up to. Here are a few things that worked for my family:
Start with a half-day or day option first, then gradually extend the times away from home. Practice overnights in a familiar setting (i.e., a friend's home).
Think about your child's temperament. Some kids jump in feet first and withstand failure with barely batting an eye. Other children are slow-to-warm up and prefer to observe their peers before joining in. Camps vary in how flexible they are with kids, so ask!
Think about your child's maturity. Note that I didn't say 'age'. Lots of activities are indeed age graded, but the more important ingredient is your child's maturity level. Only sign up when you think s/he's ready.
Before enrolling your child into any program, consider the following questions:
How well/easily does my child separate from me under normal circumstances? Has there ever been a prolonged separation?
Is my child likely to express how s/he's feeling to a trusted adult?
Does my child need a lot of supervision/guidance with new activities?
How comfortable is my child with asking questions when s/he's unsure?
Does my child get overwhelmed in busy settings?
Can my child work alone and with others cooperatively?
Selecting your camp should be informed by your honest answers to these questions. There are a whole lot of helpful tips, like signing up with a friend (think: built-in buddy system) or getting referrals from people you know. Don't forget to ask your child if s/he might have any questions in advance; it might be as basic as "Where's the bathroom?" By reassuring your child and treating their camp experience as an adventure, you can keep Camp Nerves to a minimum. For all of you :)
Are you a nervous camp parent or eager to drop your kids off? What tricks have you used to help allay Camp Nerves?
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Boston Irish is actually Maureen O'Brien, a Shine Parenting Guru, mom of twins, and the founder of www.destinationparenting.com. Her musings can also be found on Galtime.com. She is passionate about all things parenting.
