Parent Magazine Volusia April 2020 | Page 14

13 Tips for Helping Anxious Kids Enjoy Summer Camp How to clear the fear to make way for a formative experience From The Child Mind Institute P ortraits of summer camp showcase sun-splashed children playing sports, swimming, and getting freckles. Not pictured is any sign of anxiety, a natural reaction to a new adventure and a several- week separation. All children experience a mixture of excitement and nervousness when summer camp approaches. For most, excitement trumps nerves, but some children develop anxiety serious enough to get in the way of what should be a fun, formative experience. Summer camps hone many skills useful for future success: resilience, self-reliance, and social adaptability. The camp experience — being away from home among peers — can help kids develop social skills, separate in a healthy way from parents, and cultivate independence. Camp activities can help them build confidence by demonstrating mastery. Children are often ready for sleep-away camp around ages 10 to 12, although preparedness varies depending on age, experience, and temperament. Tools for taming anxiety The key to helping your child get over pre-camp nerves is to acknowledge her feelings and give her tools to help her tame them. 10 | V O L U S I A parent M A G A Z I N E