Happy Campers
Camp is one of the quintessential moments of childhood. Many adults have fond memories of childhood campfires and s’mores, silly songs and morning stretches. But sending your child to camp before they’re ready can turn this delightful treat into a terrible ordeal.
I was 11 the year my parents sent to camp. I didn’t go willingly. A cousin had recently come home from university too homesick to continue and it was decided then and there that I needed some independence. Many eleven year olds are completely up to the adventure of camp. I was not. I went, under much duress, and my memories of camp are not pleasant. I never went back.
How do you know if your child is ready for camp?
An article on Parentmap.com quotes River Ranch Camp Director Marcy Mastel saying, “one way to tell if your child is ready for overnight camp is, quite simply, if they ask to go.” Listening to and watching each child can also help you assess their readiness for camp. Do they make friends easily? Do they cling to you in unfamiliar situations? Has your child spent time away from home before?
Remember, too, that a week-long sleep away camp isn’t the only option. Try a shorter camp or a day camp to ease children into the idea of being away from you. See if you can arrange for a cousin or friend to go to camp with your child. A familiar face in the cabin can make a world of difference.
I believe that camp can be a wonderful and important time in a child’s life, provided that it comes at the right time. If you are considering sending your child to camp this summer, take some time to talk to them about it. There’s no guarantee a child will have fun just because they are at camp. However, if they feel safe at camp, if they’re excited to be there and ready to participate in all the activities, camp can be the highlight of the whole summer.
(The cousin, it should be noted, went back to university the follow year. She graduated handily and spent a career in medical research. I wonder if her parents sent her to camp?)
More for kids:
Creative ideas for rainy days
Photographing kids
