Summer
Camps: A Campin' We Will Go!
It is that time
of the year again! If you haven't already, then it's time to start making
your kid's summer camp plans. Camps all over the country are already enrolling
kids for this summer, and many will fill up very quickly. Wondering how to make
sure your child has a fun and memorable camp experience? Here are a few pointers
to help your kids have the time of their lives.
Choose a camp
based on your child's age, maturity level, interests, and location. Young
children and those who aren't ready to go to an overnight camp may want to
attend a local day camp. Check out local organizations that offer day camps,
such as Scouts, Campfire, YMCA, and many others. Talk with your child about his
concerns and ideas about camp. Choose one that offers age-appropriate activities
that your child enjoys.
There are camps available for nearly every
sport, activity, or interest that your child has, so start researching now
online and locally. Let them help you choose a camp but limit the choices
to the ones that you have already pre-approved. Once you've both agreed upon a
camp, enroll as early as possible because most popular camps fill up way before
summer.
Prepare your
child for the camp you have chosen by talking about the activities he will get
to do there. If he is worried about missing his family, reassure him that it is
normal to feel home-sick, especially if it his first time away, and that those
feelings will lessen after a couple of days. Share some of your fun childhood
camp stories too. Older kids who are ready for overnight camp may want to stick
with one fairly close to home their first time, just in case. If possible, send
a postcard or card a few days before camp to the camp's address so it will be
waiting when your child arrives. (Check with the camp first to make sure they
will hang onto it until your child arrives.) And be sure to send some
pre-stamped postcards addressed to home, so your child can write to you and let
you know all the fun he is having!
If your kid has
friends who want to attend the same camp, try to coordinate with them so they
can bunk together. My daughter and her best friend went to camp for the first
time at an overnight camp that is three hours away from home. They were a little
nervous about it, but had an incredibly fun time because they were together. My
son and his best friend attended that same camp the next summer because their
sisters had talked so much about it. Having a friend at camp can help kids beat
homesickness and it doubles the fun!