Anxiety and Summer Camp

What parents can do and say (and not do/say) to prepare their kids for a great camp experience

Summertime is coming up and it is such a great time to refresh from a year of school! Many of my clients have been telling me that they are most excited for their time coming up at camp! Not all kiddos feel this way though! On one side, camp can seem lonely, scary, isolating, and completely out of their comfort zone. On a more positive note, camp can be stretching, fun, silly, and a safe haven for kids to look forward to every summer. Summer camp is a special for kids experience because it is their own experience. Likely, parents aren’t there and they aren’t coming home at night. What a Time to discover more about who they are as individuals and grow in being more independent.

Here are some ideas to ask your kiddo to challenge some of those nervous and anxious feelings about summer camp:

• Have them make a list writing down the BEST things that could happen at summer camp
• Provide them with something special from home
• Prep a worry letter (or a few) for your kid to read while they are away
• Help them to focus on the activities that will happen at camp! Maybe they are camping or having a swim day! The fun is endless!
• Remind them that no feeling is final- their worry will likely not stay the entire time they are at camp, it will come and go! And they will feel other feelings like happiness, joy, and calm!
• Camp is about fun! It’s play 24/7! Pretty much the opposite of school!
• Trying new things can feel stressful, but if you don’t try, you might miss out on something awesome! Remind them of a time they were brave and tried something new!

When change happens, most people have hesitancy. As your kid puts 1 foot in front of the other, and joins in on all the fun, likely, these worries will melt away! Summer camp is a step in the right direction for kids as it provides leadership, skills, new friendships, challenges, and some of the most fun you’ll ever have! I often say things that are harder often worth doing. Camps is absolutely one of those things!