Parents, on the other hand, are typically scrambling until they are able to send their kids to a summer camp. Parents dealing with their children running wild at home, work schedules, or kids eating every 5 minutes should consider summer camps as a solution. It may take you a little extra time, but come summer, you and your family will agree you made the right choice. As parents start their planning, they usually look for types of summer camps that will cater to their children’s interests, personality, and their readiness for their first summer away from home.
It’s more than just finding a place to provide children with a few days, a few weeks, or a whole summer. It’s about helping them get ready for a new adventure that helps them grow, learn, and become the best versions of themselves. That’s where you come in. Preparing your child for camp is an important step to help ensure that your child is ready to go off on his own and enjoy the activities and adventures at camp.
What Makes Camp Season a “Survival Guide” Moment for Parents
If the minute that school ends, you can feel your regular lifestyle shift, you’re not alone. Summer can be a time of chaos — chaos of schedules, life in general, and deciding what to do with the kids. Sending them to a camp to learn and be entertained is the goal, but with so much emotion — keeping them safe, busy, and happy so you can take care of your life and work — attached.
Which is where information comes in handy. When you know what types of camps are available, how much they require in terms of commitment, and what they’ll learn, parents can make educated decisions with logic so that they’re not doing it all on the fly, with emotion only.
Which Types of Camps Fit Your Child’s Personality?
Some young people take to new surroundings like any other weekday; some stay the course, but wish they could sleep in their own bed each night; still others relish heading away — even a little way — for a while. So, while a traditional summer day camp is a great choice for the first kind of kid, and an in-the-mountain extravaganza is perfect for the last, there are plenty of six-of-one, half-a-dozen-of-the-other camps to send your child off to.
Meaning you can find sports camps, drama camps, camps in the great outdoors, camps that do nothing but tech, and pretty much anything else in the camp-verse. Because creating a summer situation centered entirely around the spring in your child’s always advancing, ever-curious step? It is one of the biggest gifts you can give in the hot and sunny months ahead.
How Can NotInTheKitchenAnymore Readers Prepare Kids Emotionally?
A big part of camp readiness is emotional preparation. Parents can help by:
- Talking about what a typical day at camp looks like
- Involving kids in choices, like activities or gear
- Practicing independence in small ways at home
- Addressing any fears early, using calm, reassuring conversations
The goal isn’t to eliminate nervousness, but to help children build confidence before they step into a new routine.
What Practical Steps Make the Transition to Camp Life Easier?
What Practical Steps Make the Transition to Camp Life Easier?The transition between home and camp can feel colossal, particularly for kids who have never done it before. Parents can help kids by having consistent expectations and habits. Their “pre-camp routine.” This might involve going to bed earlier as camp approaches, having faster morning routines, setting screen time limits, or other aspects that suit your child. Meanwhile, parents can help their children feel in control by labeling their clothes and preparing necessary gear or equipment, and discussing plans and expectations for the upcoming program.
When dropping off for overnight programs, sending a small, familiar comfort item or two — a family photo, a favorite book—can help soothe homesickness without keeping kids from deepening their camp experience.
How Can Parents Support Their Child During the Camp Weeks?
Support doesn’t end at the drop-off. Day camp requires punctual meetings and positive talk about the day to build confidence, while overnight camp requires support through following the communication rules (letters, not texts for most camps). Your kid will know you’re there while still trusting that you believe they can do it.
In the end, it’s all about staying close while giving them the space to grow. It’s what many of us need in order to come home with all the new skills, new friends, and new stories that last until next summer.
A Season for Growth for Kids and Parents Alike
Camp is not just an event — it’s an experience; transitioning your child to camp, helping your child navigate their emotions throughout the summer, and embracing your child’s summer adventure allows parents to survive — dare we say THRIVE! This allows parents to enjoy a summer camp experience that enhances both our lives and our children’s lives.
