Going away to camp can be a fantastic opportunity for your child to grow independently and develop his or her strengths and interests. As a parent, it might be difficult to send your child to sleepaway camp for the first time. This is a common feeling that your child may share. However, sleepaway camp offers much more than just a summer activity; it will allow your child to begin a new phase of his or her increasingly independent life.

• Is Your Child Ready?
• Deciding on a Camp
• Talking to Your Kids
• Preparing Your Child
• Helping Your Child Pack
• Homesickness

Is Your Child Ready?

This is a common discussion among parents. Even if your child insists on sleepaway camp this summer, it is important that you as a parent assess his or her preparedness and make a decision with your child.

If your child has never been away from home for more than a sleepover, sending him or her to a month-long program may not be the wisest choice. Both you and your child will probably feel more comfortable with his or her first experience away from home in a one-week program. Your child can always attend a longer session next summer if he or she likes camp, or a few one-week sessions in which your child comes home in between.

Some children love being away from home from an early age, while others get extremely uncomfortable in these situations. If your child has eagerly gone on overnight trips away from home to friends or relatives, sleepaway camp will likely be an easy transition. If your child has had a difficult experience separating from you in the past, you will need to help prepare him or her for the sleepaway camp experience or decide if it is right for your child. Sleepaway camp can, however, offer your child a chance to gain self-confidence and independence—important skills he or she will use later in life.
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Deciding on a Camp

With so many camps to choose from, deciding on one can be a daunting task. If your child has been attending a day-camp for previous years and that same camp offers a residential program, this might be a good place to start because both you and your child are comfortable with the environment. You also might have heard of a camp from a friend, neighbor or relative, who can be reliable sources, but you will want to do some research on your own.

The American Camp Association has a directory of accredited camps. You can research a camp you have identified, or view the listings of camps. These are all camps that have met the over 300 standards created by experts including the American Red Cross and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Whether you are choosing a specialty sports camp, wilderness camp, art camp, camp for children with special needs, single sex or co-ed camp, or a traditional camp, talk with your child first about what he or she wants in a program. Make clear your goal that you want them to have a positive experience and that they are somewhere they want to be. Make a decision with your camper, not for your camper. Explore camp Web sites, brochures and camp fairs together. Make sure to look at the location, dates, cost, length and activities before making a decision.
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Talking to Your Kids

First, no mater how old your children are, talk with them about the potential disasters that can happen and why it’s necessary to prepare. Be clear about where supplies are, how they use a fire extinguisher, what should happen in case of an emergency. This should include where you will meet and who they should call for news and to tell where they are (usually someone outside the state to avoid busy telephone lines).
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Preparing Your Child

Before sending your child off to sleepaway camp, there are some things you will need to take care of. The spring of the year before your child attends camp, do some research—start asking around about recommended camps, and talk with your child about the upcoming opportunity. Because camps fill up quickly, it will be helpful to interview the camp and do research the year prior to you’re your child wants to attend the camp. Assess your child’s readiness, and consider sending him or her to a short sleepaway session this summer in preparation for next summer. In the fall, make your decision, and join the camp’s mailing list. During the winter, apply to camp with your child, schedule his or her camp physical, go to the camp fairs, read the packing list and plan to obtain the necessary items in time. By preparing ahead, you will ensure a more relaxed transition for your child, and he or she will feel more comfortable knowing everything is secured ahead of time.
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Helping Your Child Pack

Packing supplies for an extended period of time away from home is one of the most important steps in preparing your child for camp. Without the right gear, your child could find himself or herself extremely uncomfortable and left out. The camp will likely send you a packing list, but if they do not, be sure to either call or check the camp’s Web site. Every camp is different, and you will need to help your child pack to fit the camp’s requirements or policies. Listed below are a few things that should be in every camper’s bag.

• Clothing. Depending on the length of the camp, the location and activities, you will need to help your child pack accordingly. Pack a swimsuit if there are outdoor showers, a lake or a pool, and bring warm clothes just in case—temperatures can dip near the ocean or at night. Remember to pack enough socks and underwear, as well as pajamas. If your child is attending a long program, he or she will likely not need a change of clothes for every day. Make sure you find out if there is the option of your camper doing his or her laundry there.


• Toiletries. Don’t forget to pack your child’s toothbrush, toothpaste, a bar of soap, shampoo, a hairbrush and other toiletries they will need, including feminine sanitary products if needed. If your daughter has never had her period before, make sure she is prepared and knows what to expect.


• Sunscreen. Remind your child that it is very important for them to apply sunscreen every few hours. Have your child read about or share information with him or her about sun safety for summer. Stress that even though you will not be there to remind him or her to apply and reapply sunscreen, it is your child’s responsibility to take care of himself or herself.


• Sports Equipment. If your child is going to a specialized sports camp, don’t forget his or her tennis racquet, baseball glove, lacrosse stick or anything else he or she might need. And always remember to pack a sturdy pair of sneakers for sports. If your child will be hiking, remember to pack hiking boots. Without the proper sports gear, your child might not be able to participate in the camp activities.


• Medicine. If your child takes medicine regularly, make sure the camp knows this, and give the medicine to the camp so a counselor can give the right amount to your camper every day. You may also want to arrange with the camp for your child to administer the medicine if you, your camper and the camp are comfortable with this arrangement.


• Bug Spray. Bug bites can be uncomfortable and itchy. Make sure you pack a good spray, and ask your child to apply it every day. Remind your child to be especially careful to apply it at night, when mosquitoes and other bugs come out.


• Water Bottle. Many kids run around all day at camp in hot weather, which can cause dehydration if they do not drink enough water. Pack an empty water bottle, and tell your child to fill it up often to make sure he or she stays hydrated during the day.


• Bedding. Check if your child will need to bring sheets, a pillow, blankets or a sleeping bag.


• Disposable Camera. Give your child a disposable camera so he or she can capture some of the fun to share with you when he or she gets home.


• Money. Depending on the camp, it might be a good idea to send your camper with a small amount of money to spend on snacks, a pay phone, the laundry or at the camp shop if there is one.


• Pen, Paper, Stamped and Addressed Envelopes. Provide your child with stationary so he or she can write to you and his or her friends from camp, and, if your child is staying at camp a while, get letters sent to them.

It is very important to put your camper’s name on everything he or she brings. You never know who will show up with the same swimsuit or tennis racquet as your child. That way, if they misplace something, it can easily be returned to them. Also, check the camp policy on electronics. Many camps do not allow campers to bring cell phones, MP3 players, CD players, handheld games or digital cameras.

Send your child a letter that he or she will receive while at camp. If your child is attending a short program, send the letter ahead of time so it will get there while your child is still at camp. Let your child know how things are going at home and that you miss him or her, but emphasize that you are proud of his or her independence and can’t wait to hear his or her stories. Be positive and stress the positive—don’t dwell on what your child is missing out on at home. Many camps restrict contact during camp in forms other than letters, so prepare your camper for this.
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Homesickness

Both you and your child may feel anxious about him or her being away from home, and it is very likely that your child will feel homesick at some point during camp. In fact, this feeling is so common that a study done by psychologist Dr. Christopher Thurber from Phillips Exeter Academy found that more than 83 percent of campers experience homesickness.

You can, however, prepare your child for some of these feelings. Before your child leaves for camp, make a plan about what your camper will do if he or she is uncomfortable. Encourage your child to try to deal with his or her feelings and new surroundings, and let your child know he or she can talk to the camp counselors, director or nurse if he or she needs help. Do not promise to come and get your child if he or she is unhappy; prepare your child to work through difficulties he or she will encounter and learn strategies to cope. You can pack an item from home to let your child know that you are thinking him or her. This object can be a great comfort to your child, especially at night when he or she is used to being at home.

It can be hard as a parent to know that your child may be having a hard time, but all of the tasks you do ahead of time will make your child’s experience more enjoyable. Trust that the camp is taking good care of your child, and try not to show any anxiety you have to your child; it can rub off on him or her and make the separation more painful.

Plan to do something special when your child arrives home. Make your child a card, have a family dinner in which your child chooses the menu, or just sit down with him or her and talk about the experience. Sleepaway camp is an excellent opportunity for your child to gain confidence and independence while making new friends and developing lifelong skills.
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