With the end of school, summer preparations are underway. I am a procrastinator. So while Summer camps are the order of the day, I am scrambling to find the best camp for the kids. As I am doing this exercise, came accross many overnight camps. I know there is something special about sleeping away from parents and living out what we see in the movies of songs, s’mores and learning new skills. Day camp or overnight camp, I came up with this list of tips that should be helpful in Preparing the Kids for Summer Camp.
Tips to Prepare for Camp (Day or Overnight)
- Go over different summer camp descriptions and make sure they match your child’s interests, skills or needs.
- Go over the camp activities with your child and talk over what they feel or expect to participate in these activities
- Choose shorter camps for first timers
- Explain to your child when you will be picking them up
- If you can, visit together the camp before attending
- Share your camp experiences with the kids to get them excited
Tips to Prepare for Overnight Camp
- Consider sending your child away to grandma’s for a weekend to help with the adjustment of staying away
- When you go over the camp activities, ask open ended questions to allow for kids to elaborate on their concerns
- Let children know you have spoken to camp officials on their special issues like allergies, for example. (Don’t forget to do it 🙂 )
- Reassure the children that if they need you, you are a phone call away
- Prepare together their essentials and bag
- Tell your children you can’t wait to hear all about their camp adventures when they return
Camp benefits are really for the entire family. With summer camps we give the chance to the children to learn something new in a fun way, build their self confidence, and great stories. Also, we supply for a wealth of activities that replace the tablet, TV or the “mom, am bored” catch phrase.
I hope these tips will help you make the best of the summer camp experience for your little ones. If you have additional tips, please do share them with us!
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WOW, super useful information. Thank you, this would come in very handy in July when the kids are off on day camp.
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In this one instance I am glad I am not a Mom–I hated camp (my Mom loved it)–I was sent every year and was miserable just because my Mom figured she loved it thus so should I. I would have been happier staying home–going to the pool-playiing with my friends and reading!! Not all children love the camp experience!!
you are so right Michele. We do need to consider kids’ preferences too
I think it’s smart to do a trial run of sorts with a weekend trip away from home to prepare them. It can be a little overwhelming when it actually happens.
We have yet to ‘send them away’ to camp, instead enrolling them in day camps (drama, etc.) and the various college-for-kids programs in our area.
These are great tips. We sent our kid off to summer camp a few years ago and it was hard on all of us. Thanks for sharing.
My kids do simple camps like soccer camp which is at night and Apple camp at the Apple Store in the mall. Those are great tips.
My daughter doesn’t do camps but she does VBS
My kids went to soccer camp one year, but it was only a day time thing. It was fun for them. I do think getting kids involved in choosing what they want to go to is essential! I wish my son could go to a music camp, but it is so expensive!
My kids are going to be going to day camp for the first time this year. it is only for a few hours a day for one week, so I think I can handle that – with the help of your awesome tips.
These are fantastic tips! Ah…camp. The good ol’ days, for sure!
I loved going to summer camp. There was one Sumner where I was gone for a month. I had a blast and always came home with a ton of memories.
My kids would love this idea. Im so glad that I found it, I love this idea of how to prepare the kids for summer camp, thank you for sharing.
When I was a kid I went to day camp with my friend and my little brother one summer 🙂 It was a pretty neat experience but I can’t say that I loved it. I had terrible allergies (and still do) as a child and being outside all day meant sneezing, itchy skin/eyes/nose, and lots of tissues. Your tips are all great 🙂 Not all camps (or kids) are the same and I’m sure your kids will have a great time!
Thanks for the cool tips! My boys love camp, but haven’t in years since we moved to a new area. It’s definitely important to let camps know ahead of time of any allergies, a little boy almost died because of a peanut allergy the last time my son went to camp – it was traumatizing for everyone.
Summer camp is really nice, it gives them the chance to try so many fun activities! I sadly have never been to one when I was young, it would have been a great experience.
Summer camps are so much fun for kids. Plenty of activities to keep them busy and entertained.
I love the tip of sending your child away first to stay with a relative so that they can adjust to being away first. Camps can be so much fun for kids.
We haven’t done camping yet but hopefully soon,. The kids have asking about it. Thanls for these tips.
These are some great tips! I have afew years before my daughter is old enough for camp, but I will keep these in mind when she gets to camp age 🙂
It’s that time of year now. These are awesome times. I don’t do overnight, but definitely taking this in for day camp.
These are great tips!! I think summer camp is a great place for kids to grow when they are younger.
I considered camp this summer too. I thought it would be fun. We had a last minute change of plans though.
I haven’t experience any kind of summer camp. Hopefully, my kids could experience this. Thanks for your tips, they will come in handy!
We spend out summers in Italy so our kids will probably never have the full-on summer camp experience. I don’t think they’ll complain though, lol!
It’s so funny but I have kids who were never afraid of anything so I never really had to prepare them for things like this. It’s so interesting to see the needs of various kids.
Summer camp can be very stressful if a child is not ready. I like the idea of sending him to granny house to adjust
My nephew will be doing soccer and swimming this summer, as far as camps go. I wonder how he would feel about an overnight one.
I have always wanted to go to summer camp! 😉 Wish there were adult options. I’ve actually never been camping!
We don’t have a Summer Camp here but I think this is something my daughter would love.
Very good tips! I never went to a summer camp as a young kid, my first was a 6th grade Outdoor Ed thing with school.
This is so helpful and very relevant. Thank you, I feel empowered to get the kids prepared!