How to Prepare a Child for Overnight Camp

A child's first experience away from home at an overnight camp can be a scary thought for most kids and their parents. The benefits of going to an overnight camp make the effort to prepare for it worth every minute. With a little help from mom and dad, any child can be ready to take that first adventure away from home.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Pen and paper
• Special memento
• Camp address

Instructions

1. Let your child practice get used to being away from home by spending the weekend with friends or family. This will let them experience being away from mom and dad but only for a short time and with familiar people.
2. Have your child talk to older kids that have been to camp before. They can give your child reassurance that overnight camp is so fun that you hardly have time to miss home. You'll want to talk to these older children in advance to make sure they'll say words that encourage your child.
3. Have your child write down any questions or fears they may have about going to an overnight camp. Then seek out a counselor or previous camp member to answer those questions.
4. Schedule a tour of the camp for you and your child.
5. See if there is a parent visitation day. If so, you might let your child know when you will be visiting.
6. Have your child pick a memento to take with her such as a family picture or special pen. She can look at the picture and know her family is thinking of her. She can write letters with the special pen to mail home.

Tips & Warnings

• Find out if the camp has email access for the campers. You can write a email each night asking a specific positive question like, "What was your favorite event today?"
• Keep letters and emails positive. Help them think about the good things at camp.
• Mail a care package a few days before your child leaves for camp so that it arrives early in the week. It should include things that your child enjoys such as stickers, favorite candy or cookies. Include extra items that your child can pass out to the other campers. This will help her make friends and not feel lonely.
• Put hidden notes of encouragement throughout their luggage.
• Fear is the biggest enemy of a child away from home. Encourage your child to talk to their counselor about how they are feeling. Remind your child that if they look for the positive things at camp they'll find them.
• Do not tell your child that they can come home early if they're homesick. Doing so usually ensures that they will try to come home. Instead, remind your child of the exact number of days camp will last. Encourage them to take one day at a time, and before they know it, they'll be home again.