Summer Camp is a great way for your children to enjoy the summer with other kids all the while improving social skills and experiencing the great outdoors. As parents, you need to equip your kids with all the necessary tools they need in order to experience summer camp to its fullest!
Share Your Own Experience
Sending your kids to summer camp can seem a daunting task especially if it’s their first time away from home. It can be a good idea to share your experience if you’ve been to summer camp before. Whether or not this is the case, an open line of communication is a great way to assess how they feel about being away from home.
Follow Packing Guidelines
You wouldn’t want your child to come ill-prepared during their first day in summer camp. Make sure to include all the items listed in the packing list so your camper won’t miss out on any of the fun activities planned. Also, take note of items that aren’t allowed such as phones and other electronics as sneaking gadgets in will detract from a holistic summer camp experience.
Involve Campers In Packing
Part of the process of bringing your kids to summer camp is teaching them to learn independence. Avoid having to pack all their items yourself and instead, do your best to involve them in the process. By doing so, it will help them keep track of the different things they have brought to camp!
Label Belongings
Speaking of keeping track of the items, it’s important you label all of your camper’s belongings so they won’t get lost or mixed with the other camper’s stuff. This can even be a fun activity to do with your child. Mark ALL belongings either with a permanent marker or stick-on labels so all their belongings get home safely.
Encourage Independence Early
Weeks before the camp, it’s important to help your child feel at ease with the idea of going to a camp alone. Make sure they feel comfortable with the idea of not having you around. A good way to do this is to bring your child to a friend’s house for sleepovers so they begin to have a grasp on what it’s like to be independent.
Prepare for Homesickness
One of the challenges campers can face is the feeling of homesickness. Do your best in encouraging your child in enjoying the fun activities they will experience at camp. So your child can feel more at home, try to include personal belongings such as their favorite toy or stuffed animal. Lastly, make sure you continuously reassure them by letting them know how proud you are of them as going to camp is all part of growing up.
Arrive On Time
As you prepare your camper to finally leave home, make sure you arrive at the departure site on time to avoid having to rush to the pick-up site once departure is nearing. Before leaving, make sure your camper has everything they need for the trip. Leaving at the last minute can lead to unforeseen circumstances like forgotten belongings at home. By being late, you not only do a disservice to your beloved camper but also to the other campers as well.
Final Take
Lastly, if you have any concerns be sure to stay in touch with the summer camp during your camper’s stay. At Camp Live Oak, we are committed to helping you and your child get the best out of the summer camp experience. Remain confident and be thrilled for your camper as summer camp is filled with lots of exciting activities that your child will surely enjoy!