Like so many events of childhood, going to camp can be a big transition.  In this article I am only referring to day camp and not sleep away camp, which presents many other issues, but several of the suggestions can apply to both. Sometimes summer camp is the first opportunity your child has to ride a school bus. This can be exciting and new or scary for your child. Camps are often much further away from home than school and so the commute may be longer. Unlike most elementary school settings, parents typically have little involvement in the day to day of camp functioning so it is a time of real separation from mom and dad.   It can also be a time of wonderful growth for your child.

When you ask adults about their past camp experiences you get extremely varied responses. For some it conjures up the happiest of memories - carefree summers, getting dirty, making new friends. For others it brings to mind something akin to time served - bad food, uncomfortable activities, getting dirty and kids they really didn't connect with at all. So much of these experiences are based on the chosen camp and the child's personality. Of course there are some inherently  bad camps out there that are poorly run and just run down but for the most part camps are full of fun and most kids can have fun doing simple joyful activities.  You should always tour a camp and meet those in charge before sending your child off to participate in any program.

Your child's willingness to separate from you will often dictate how much fun they are going to have. Keep in mind that summer camp for elementary school aged kids can be a long day but most children are ready for that kind of activity by the time they are 6 or 7 years old. (Remember that all children develop at a different pace so your child may not be ready until they are older). Here are a few things you can do to give your child the best chance of having a positive experience at summer camp.

1)      Set your child up for success.  Talk about what is fun about camp and what type of new adventures they may have.  This doesn't mean building camp up so much that your child has unrealistic expectations, but it does mean deliberately casting the experience in a positive light.

2)      Avoid telling your child about any negative camp experiences you had. This is one of those rare instances where honesty may not be the best policy. Even something as seemingly innocent as a statement such as, "I didn't like camp at all when I was a kid but you're going to have a lot of fun" can lay the groundwork for a negative experience for your child.

3)      Keep your own anxiety in check. Avoid statements such as, "I'm going to miss you when you are gone all day." Focus instead on how excited you are to hear all about the events of their day. For parents, camp can signify a major growth spurt and can tug on their heartstrings. Save those emotions for your mate or your friends. If your child senses your longing or anxiety they may take it on as their own.

4)      Don't talk about what they can do if they get homesick or miss you. If they ask you these questions directly then you should of course answer them directly and with a plan. But if you are the one bringing up how they can get a hold of you at any moment, and walking them through their emergency plan, you may give them the idea that what they are about to embark upon is going to be overwhelming for them. Most camps have a plan in place in the event that your child is having separation issues. Typically they will try to distract and engage before they get to the final step of calling you.

5)      Help them process the day's events when they are at home with you. If they are having a ball, then enjoy the stories they tell and ask them to teach you their camp songs so you can sing along with them this summer. If they are struggling, help them to come up with solutions to their dilemmas. Make sure you are able to connect and communicate with their counselor and or the head of the camp if there are any real issues to be dealt with and, in the event that those issues exist, make sure your child knows that you can advocate on their behalf.

I wish you all a summer filled with happy moments.