Summer Camp: The Parent’s Prospective
For many American households, the summer time is a time of uncertainty: what will children do during their “off” months, how will parents find something for them to do, how quickly will children become bored, etc. While no parent wants to tackle these questions, there is a very viable opportunity that is conveniently bundled with the solution to the items mentioned above: summer camp.
Throughout the country, there are a variety of summer camps that are awaiting your child’s attendance and active participation. Before jumping into camp and shipping off a youngster, there are certainly a number of things to consider.
Talk about Camp
Many young adults have no idea what to expect from their summer experience, while others have a very misguided interpretation of what they will encounter while they are away from home. In either case, it is best to talk things out, be open and honest with them and explain what they will be involved with while they are away. The key is having the conversations well in advance of their departure, not on the way to drop them off. Fear and trepidation in a young adult can produce many physical, mental, emotional and physiological problems with long-reaching implications.
Address the Extended Stay
Depending on the age of the child, leaving home for an extended period of time can be a worrisome task for many young adults. Try to help them get accustomed to this “leave of absence” by practicing throughout the rest of the year: have them sleepover with friends, or spend weekends with their extended family.
Make it Personal
Children that go away to summer camp need reminders of home. One good way to calm their nerves and ease their fears is to pack some kind of memento from their everyday life. Send them a care package during their stay with goodies and pictures from back home. While this may seem counterintuitive, it actually helps children cope with the separation anxiety that they experience.
Be Prepared
Educating yourself on the rigors of summer camp can be the key to a child’s survival and ultimate happiness. If there is a camp website, blog, pamphlet, informational session, guided tour or open house…be sure to take full advantage of the material presented. This will ensure that parents know what their child will be getting in to and also can help them pack accordingly. There is no worse scenario than a child being the “odd ball” camper or left out in the cold because their parents didn’t pay attention to the packing list.
Lost and Found
Children are not the greatest caretakers of valuable items, and many things under their “watchful eyes” are often lost to the world forever. When packing for the summer camp experience, keep in mind that not everything sent with the camper will make it back home. Where appropriate, be sure to write the camper’s name or initials on the item. This will help with identification of lost items, if they should ever be found.
All in all, summer camp is a wonderful experience for many children. Find the camp that is right for each child is not overly difficult, just requires a bit of time and attention.
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This article was written by Strong Rock Camp, a summer camp in Georgia, which is family owned and operated. Strong Rock Camp is a firm believer that positive influences in the lives of young man and women are vital to helping them secure their place in life and become a productive member of society.
Image by deviantmonk
I would add to this commentary the importance of getting to know the directors of the camp if possible. As a parent, I think it is essential that you know who will be taking care of your child and what their experience is. There are hundreds of summer camps you can choose from but nothing will be more important than the leadership and the philosophy of those in charge.