There Is A First Time For Everything
By Julia A. Keirns
(This article was published at ChildrensMall.com in August, 2001)
Sleep-away camp is a great experience that every child should have the opportunity to enjoy. Here is how to make your child’s first experience a positive one…
My youngest son is only 8-years-old, just finishing second grade and he wants to go to church camp for the first time. My older two children did not go away to camp until the end of third grade, at the age of 9. So naturally I was caught a bit by surprise when he said he wanted to go so early. We have decided to go ahead and let him go. It will only be for two nights at his age, and three of his friends will be there too. But are some of the reasons why I feel he is prepared enough to go to his first sleep-away camp. We have done (or are going to do) all of these things for him. Maybe some of them will help you prepare your child for their first sleep-away camp too…
- First of all, he is the youngest of three children. I think this point plays a big part in determining a child’s readiness. There is no way my firstborn would have been ready this early. He didn’t have the opportunity to see any older brothers and sisters go away and come back home totally thrilled, happy, and talking about how much fun they had with their friends. Whereas, the youngest has been hearing it from both of the older children for the last five years, ever since he was three. He is finally ready to go and find out for himself just how much fun it really is.
- He has spent the night several times with both of his grandmothers. He also has gone to the lake a few times with family and relatives for a whole weekend. He loved it and did not have any issues. He has also spent the night with a friend already. I think the first step to actually preparing a child to go to a sleep-away camp is to make sure they have already successfully spent the night somewhere other than home before. They need to get used to doing that first, and know that being away from their parents is okay for a night or two.
- He has three friends going to the same camp with him and we have requested that they be cabin mates. Sending them away with a friend ensures that there will be someone there they know and will be a great comfort to you. It will make their stay more fun. Friends are key.
- We don’t talk about camp much or make a big deal about it. We especially don’t talk about missing him, or ask him if he will miss us. I think if parents make too big of a deal about it, and bring the subject up too often, they will plant subconscious fears in the child and cause them to worry about missing home. This will give the child anxiety and that is the last thing you want.
- Camp is just around the corner and he has already picked out some photos that he wants to take with him. I even got him a small frame to put one of them in so he can set it up by his bunkbed. If your child has a favorite pet or something, then let them take a photo of the pet. Any photos would be good, even more than one is okay. Give them one of those small photo albums for $1 at the dollar store and let them fill it up with photos they want. If they do start missing you, they can easily see you in some of their favorite photos.
- I made a list way ahead of time and I will double check and triple check it to make sure I don’t forget to send anything. To a child away from home for the first time in a strange place, forgetting something as simple as a toothbrush or toothpaste can be traumatic and embarrassing. Make sure they have everything they might need and maybe even some things they might want. Better to over-pack a little and be sure they have everything than to under-pack and forget something like a swimming suit. Then everyone else gets to swim but him. But of course, if you are limited on space, just be wise with what you pack. Just don’t forget anything important.
Do all you can ahead of time to make sure your child will have a wonderful experience their first time at sleep-away camp. It is something they will most likely enjoy and will never forget.