So you have selected the Best Overnight Summer Camp for your child. You did all the research and had your child help in the selection. Yet, preparing for camp involves more than just packing their clothes in a suitcase. You want to be sure that your kid is emotionally prepared for this Summer Camp Adventure.
Preparing your child is a delicate balance. While you want to talk about this exciting new experience, you also don't want to overdo it. With too much discussion, your child may seem to loose a sense of reality, and her expectations and fantasies may never be met, leading to disappointment. It's also possible that she could focus on her fears so much that they become overwhelming, leading her to focus only on how homesick she may be. Therefore, if there are several months before the beginning of camp, you may want to drop the subject until at least March or April. You will probably begin to receive pre-season information from the camp, and you can share these with your child in your discussions.
Camp Conversations: Choose your words wisely when you are talking about overnight summer camp. Children are very perceptive, and they feel your concerns and fears. You don't even have to make a negative comment and they know. Visit your library, rent a movie or pick up books about camp. Watch or read them together. Remember, most of the storylines are exaggerated, but they can be a good segway on how to handle situations at camp.
Be sure to pick up on the subtle signals that your child sends. Drop the book or movie if you child seem put off. Make sure that you never use camp as a threat or in a angry tone. Joke about how long till they leave can make a lasting impression Words can linger longer than you think! Help your child believe that overnight summer camp is a fun experience and that is why you have chosen it.
Some Dos: * Do try to have your child meet the camp director before camp begins.
* Only talk in a positive way, they need to know you trust camp to be a safe, exciting place.
* continue to have sleepovers with family and friends.
* Do continue to have short separations, such as sleepovers with family and friends for good practice.
* Do allow your child to verbalize her concerns, even if they sound silly. You may learn about worries that you can easily resolve.
* Talk to a former camper about summer camp. They can tell you what camp is really like from a kids point of view.
Some Don'ts: * Try to keep everything as normal as possible, especially as time gets close to the first day of summer camp.
* Don't try to squeeze in a family vacation just before camp starts. Plan to be at home for at least five days before your child leaves for camp to provide the comfort of a usual routine.
*Don't let your child suspect you have concerns about their adjustment to being away from home.
For more information on helping your child at Children's Summer Camps visit Summer Camp Advisor.
Preparing your child is a delicate balance. While you want to talk about this exciting new experience, you also don't want to overdo it. With too much discussion, your child may seem to loose a sense of reality, and her expectations and fantasies may never be met, leading to disappointment. It's also possible that she could focus on her fears so much that they become overwhelming, leading her to focus only on how homesick she may be. Therefore, if there are several months before the beginning of camp, you may want to drop the subject until at least March or April. You will probably begin to receive pre-season information from the camp, and you can share these with your child in your discussions.
Camp Conversations: Choose your words wisely when you are talking about overnight summer camp. Children are very perceptive, and they feel your concerns and fears. You don't even have to make a negative comment and they know. Visit your library, rent a movie or pick up books about camp. Watch or read them together. Remember, most of the storylines are exaggerated, but they can be a good segway on how to handle situations at camp.
Be sure to pick up on the subtle signals that your child sends. Drop the book or movie if you child seem put off. Make sure that you never use camp as a threat or in a angry tone. Joke about how long till they leave can make a lasting impression Words can linger longer than you think! Help your child believe that overnight summer camp is a fun experience and that is why you have chosen it.
Some Dos: * Do try to have your child meet the camp director before camp begins.
* Only talk in a positive way, they need to know you trust camp to be a safe, exciting place.
* continue to have sleepovers with family and friends.
* Do continue to have short separations, such as sleepovers with family and friends for good practice.
* Do allow your child to verbalize her concerns, even if they sound silly. You may learn about worries that you can easily resolve.
* Talk to a former camper about summer camp. They can tell you what camp is really like from a kids point of view.
Some Don'ts: * Try to keep everything as normal as possible, especially as time gets close to the first day of summer camp.
* Don't try to squeeze in a family vacation just before camp starts. Plan to be at home for at least five days before your child leaves for camp to provide the comfort of a usual routine.
*Don't let your child suspect you have concerns about their adjustment to being away from home.
For more information on helping your child at Children's Summer Camps visit Summer Camp Advisor.
About the Author:
Swift Nature Camp a non-competitive, Minnesota Summer Camps that offers a traditional summer camp for Boy and Girls ages 6-15. Campers enjoy camp activities as they learn at this Animal Summer Camp.
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