Let your child feel a sense
of ownership over the
experience. Involve him
in picking the summer camp;
familiarize him with the camp
environment and teach him about
camp activities so he can formulate
expectations. Make communication
easy and accessible: Pack
envelopes and stamps,
outline a schedule for phone calls
or emails if they’re part of the
camp’s routine, and make sure your
child understands how easy it will
be.
Help your child get excited
about camp. Take her
shopping for new gear and
focus her on fun things about camp
that she can anticipate. Have goals for each letter or
conversation, so your child
will come away focused on
how she is adjusting, rather than
on how much she wants to come
home.
1
2
Avoid focusing on what
makes children anxious.
Instead of asking leading
questions like, “Are you nervous
about horseback riding?” ask open-
ended questions like, “How are you
feeling about the horses?”
3
Don’t trivialize her concerns
or offer glib reassurances.
“There’s nothing to worry
about!” or “Everyone loves camp!”
may discourage your child. Instead,
show that you have empathy and
acknowledge her concerns.
4
Focus on concrete details in
conversations leading up to
and during summer camp.
Avoid abstract issues like what it it’s
like to be away from home in favor
of cabin details, meals in the lodge,
or campfire rituals.
5
Reflect on your own
formative experiences
away from home and share
positive aspects of them with your
child. Show that you are willing
to talk about the new things he’ll
be doing, whether it’s eating
new food, sleeping in a bunkbed,
getting along with cabin-mates, or
coexisting with insects.
6
Go through “rehearsals.” A
shorter-term sleepover or
a night at Grandma’s will
make it easier for your child to be
away from home.
7
Don’t linger at the bus stop.
Keep the goodbyes short,
as delaying just causes more
mixed feelings.
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9
10
Try not to communicate
your own anxiety; your child
can pick up on your feelings
even if you don’t verbalize them.
What you want to share is your
confidence in your child and the
summer experience.
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Help your child formulate
realistic, goal-oriented
plans for making friends or
toasting the perfect marshmallow
or passing a swimming test. The
thrill of completing these plans can
give your child a feeling of success
and take his mind off his anxiety.
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If your child has psychiatric
or learning issues, don’t
keep them a secret. Make
sure the staff and counselors know
anything they need to know to
head off problems and maximize
her experience. Does she wet the
bed? Is she anxious about water?
And let your child know that
counselors are there to support her,
whether she has a simple question
or a larger problem.
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Are you ready for your
child to go to camp?
For parents who are anxious
about sending kids to summer
camp, remember that the cost of a
good camp covers more than the
arts and crafts; it includes a team
of professionals and counselors
committed to fostering social
learning in your child
learns how to interact socially
in a less-structured environment
than school. This is a time for him
to actively make decisions for
himself and develop a sense of
self-reliance. Though you may be
concerned and wish to intervene,
your supportiveness will give your
child room to take ownership over
the experience himself.
When should you worry that
a child’s pre-camp anxiety is
something problematic? You might
be concerned if she demonstrates
physical symptoms of fear: cold
or clammy hands, butterflies,
faintness, headache, or nausea.
Excessive tearfulness and hiding
are also signs that something
out-of-the-ordinary is going on. A
child might have nightmares about
separation or ask questions like,
“What if something happens to
me or you when I’m away?” If a
child’s reaction is so severe that it
interferes with normal functioning,
it might be time to consult a
mental health professional.
Halifax Humane Society
6, 1 WEEK CAMPS - AGES 6-12
Register at
www.HHSPawsCamp.org
ANIMAL PRESENTATIONS:
Dog Obedience
Cat Care
The World of Birds & Bees
Max and Bentley Visits
My Angel with Paws
K-9 Police Dog Demo and more!
DATES:
6/8 - 6/12
6/22 - 6/26
7/13 - 7/17
6/15 - 6/19
7/6 - 7/10
7/20 - 7/24
Summer camp is a unique situation
where your child engages with
a large community of peers and
V O L U S I A parent M A G A Z I N E | 11