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When parents are the anxious ones
Q: So many kids are excited to go to camp — and so many parents are quietly spiraling. What would you say to the parent who can’t stop picturing their child sitting alone, missing home, and not having fun?

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This is totally normal and I think most parents will experience this to some degree at some point during the process. If you can remind yourself of all of the time that your child is already away from you and how they have navigated those situations. From being at school all day, to a drop off birthday party, or the first soccer practice of the season, our kids actually get a ton of practice in meeting new people and doing new things. While sleepaway camp is obviously different, I find that when parents can use their own coping skills (such as “focusing on the facts”) they may be able to remind themselves of all that their child is capable of. I also think it is important to know that at some point, your child will miss home, will find an activity boring, and may be sitting by themselves! There is no situation where everything is perfect all of the time so being realistic with yourself, and your child, can be really helpful.

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Separation day & the bus goodbye
Q: For families worried about that moment when the bus pulls away, what are the best ways to handle separation day so both campers and parents feel supported, grounded, and confident?

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There are so many opinions on this but I think that it is actually totally ok to tell your child that you are going to miss them, too!! While I wouldn’t bring it up, if they say they are worried about missing you it is ok to share that you are worried about missing them as well. Also, normalizing the idea that you can love camp while also missing home is a really important thing that lots of new campers forget. Kids will often get so focused on their fear of being homesick that they forget that it is totally normal to miss home although everyone misses it to different degrees.

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Starting camp later & worries about cliques
Q: What advice do you have for families of rising sixth graders starting camp for the first time who are nervous about fitting in when it seems like “everyone already knows each other”?

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I think it is always important to remember why you picked the camp you did! I am sure that you weighed the options and heard about the make up of the groups or when kids start/stop and then chose accordingly.

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Bedwetting at camp (the one no one wants to ask out loud)
Q: If a camper occasionally wets the bed, how should families handle this going into sleepaway camp — in a way that protects confidence, privacy, and emotional well-being?

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Honesty is the best policy and getting your child involved is key! All camps have dealt with this so it is often helpful to ask the camp with what they typically do and then run options by your child. One common solution is a child having a signal or code word with a counselor who then goes to breakfast late, or comes back early, and changes the sheets and takes care of any soiled clothing. This can be done very discreetly and I have seen many camps handle this with grace and kindness.

 

Trouble sleeping & nighttime comfort
Q: For campers who struggle to fall asleep or are used to extra comfort at night, how can families set them up for smoother, more confident nights at camp?

 

​Sometime around April I encourage families to start setting up bedtime to be similar to camp. If they fall asleep watching tv or with a parent in the room, it is important to start pulling back on those things so that they can feel more confident in their ability to fall asleep independently. For some kids, this requires support from a professional to come up with a plan and if you do want to consult with an expert, I would reach out by March so that there is enough time to meet and work on this before departure day.

If your child will have a music player or a special reading light, pull those things out in the spring so that they get used to using them at night and they are comfortable with turning things on and off and monitoring their own cues of sleepiness and when to stop and go to bed. Talking about sleep should always be positive with reminders that everyone falls asleep eventually and even if they don’t sleep well or don’t sleep enough, the worst case is being a little tired the next day, something that most kids have already dealt with at one time or another! 

 

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