Summer Camp is drawing near and it is time to start preparing your child for camp. More often than not parents focus on the physical needs of their child while at camp and don’t always prepare their child emotionally for summer camp. They worry about, how many t-shirts to pack, if SPF 2000 sun block is too much, and if they should pack that extra pair of socks (yes, in fact pack 2 more pairs.) The fact is, you need to make sure that you pack your child’s emotional suitcase so that they are fully prepared for camp and not just focus on what “things” to bring. Here are some simple ways that you can mentally prepare your child for camp.
Pack something personal!
1. Include Your Camper in the Packing Process
I know I said that you should not just focus on the physical, but your child will be more at rest if they know that their physical needs will be met. Make sure that your child is part of the packing process for camp. They need to know that they have everything they need. Have them go over the camp provided “What to Bring” checklist with you. Give them an opportunity to bring a little bit of home to camp. Encourage them to bring their favorite book, stuffed animal, etc.
2. Visit the Summer Camp
If your child has never been to camp or they are going to a new camp, schedule a visit so that they can see where they are going and meet some of the people that work at the camp. This will go a long way to making your child feel like they are going somewhere safe.
3. Tell Your Child the Truth
The last thing you want to do is misrepresent the experience your child will have at camp in order to get them to be okay with going to camp. If you promise your child something that the camp does not in fact offer, your child will feel like they were “tricked” into going to camp and they will have a hard time enjoying the experience. Basic rule of thumb is that an informed camper is a happy camper.
4. Tell Your Child About Camp Ahead of Time
The sooner you tell your child about summer camp the better. Do not wait until the day before camp (or worse the day of!) to inform your child that they will be going to camp. Better yet, include your child in the process of choosing a camp. This will help your child take ownership of their camp experience and will help limit the amount of homesickness they experience.
5. Letters, Letters, Letters.
One of the most helpful things you can do is write your child letters. Many Charis Hills Camp parents write letters ahead of time and put them into labeled envelopes that they then give to the camp to give to the camper throughout the week. Every child will appreciate this gesture. Be sure to address the issue of homesickness in the letters. You should tell your child that homesickness is normal and that you miss them, but that learning independence is an important part of growing up. Go on to tell your child that you are very proud of them for conquering their homesickness!
Parents, if you have any other helpful hints, please share them in the comments section below. – James
Tags: Homesickness, Packing, Preparation, Summer Camp
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