Laying the groundwork for your child’s first sleepaway camp experience

Parents who are about to send a child away to camp for the first time invariably have many questions. That’s why in order to help relieve some of the stress, the Kingswood directors have come up with a list of things to help you and your child prepare for his or her time away at an overnight camp.

Group of boys enjoying their time hanging out at camp!

Preparing the Child:

Your child will look to you for cues in handling his or her first extended stay away from home. Naturally, you too may feel some anxiety, but be sure to exude confidence and a positive attitude. There are many steps you can begin to take weeks or even months before camps starts to help win the fight against homesickness.

When preparing for camp, keep the dialogue positive. Assume a happy outcome, your child will most likely enjoy his time.
Include the child in all camp-related decisions, from the choice of the camp to packing that trunk and duffel.
Tell some good stories about your own camp experiences, it will help to keep your child excited!
Be honest if the child inquires about the negative aspects of the above, but re-emphasize the happy outcomes for most of them.
Remind your child that homesickness is like a headache – certainly unpleasant, but short in duration and rarely disabling.
Understand that separation anxiety usually is experienced and conquered early in the session and is seldom the result of staying away from home for too long, make sure to reassure your child that he will have fun by being active while at camp.
Lastly, if your child is one of those chronic homesick cases, remain upbeat, positive and willing to work with the camp to get that child over the hump. Nearly all the time, the final verdict is a positive one.

Campfire at Camp Kingswood — Campfire at Kingswood Camp

Preparing yourself:

Your child will be surrounded by new friends and engaged in activities from dawn to dusk- with far less time to think about home than you will likely have to think about and miss him! Make sure that you not only help prepare your child prepare for his time away at camp but that you prepare yourself as well!

Tell some good stories about your own experiences away from home, it will help you to remember all the good times you had.
Never promise to bring your child home from camp if he is not having a good time. Your child needs to remember that they can do things on their own, that you are there to support them but this is something he needs to do.
Understand that separation anxiety usually is experienced and conquered early in the camp session and is seldom the result of staying away from home for too long, you may miss your child but remember this is part of letting him grow up.
Regarding the impending separation, keep your own emotions under wraps. In nearly all cases, camp is a wonderful experience for your child.
You should also expect to feel a bit low for the first few days. Any sadness passes quickly to become an enjoyable vacation from the rigors of parenthood, no guilt needed.
First letters home tend to be not only negative but also full of hyperbole. Laugh off 90% of what you read. When writing letters yourself, acknowledge that you miss your child, but stress how boring it is at home.
Never overdo the privilege of calling. Remember: kids are not sitting on the edge of their seats, waiting to hear from you. They are too busy enjoying camp, and that’s how it should be!

With these simple and helpful tips you can make your child’s transition to camp as smooth as possible. You will maximize the probability that that your child’s first camp experiences will be positive- your child will be happy and so will you!