It is hard to believe it but it is actually time to start thinking about summer camp for your kids. Whether you chose a day camp or a sleep away experience, by sending your child off to camp you are providing them with a valuable growing experience.
Every family has their own set of guidelines and comfort level, regarding sending a child to sleep away camp. Most camps will consider campers who are 7 and above for overnights, and some even younger. Developmentally, most kids are ready to be away from home at 8 years old, but again this varies depending upon personality and family dynamics.
The advantages to sending your child to an over night camp are many. Children have an opportunity to relate to adults without their parents present to help them navigate the interaction. They can make new friends and for some kids, reinvent themselves for a small time away from school and familiar social settings. This opportunity helps many children develop competencies that they have yet to develop at home or in school. Your child can build new skills, in a relatively short period of time, when given the opportunity.
Most parents report that their child returns from sleep away camp with a greater level of independence than they could have imagined gained, in such a limited amount of time. At camp there are expectations placed on kids, with regard to time and self-care, and often those things are managed more closely at home simply because of busy schedules. At camp, the days are a bit more leisurely (hopefully) and the stress level is low which is something most kids desperately need.
If just reading this article makes you queasy at the thought of sending your sweet little one away from home at such a young age, stop and think about why this is. Is your discomfort because of a past experience you had at sleep away camp or are you simply feeling that the world is too scary a place to allow your children to venture out on their own so young? These are valid concerns but shouldn’t dictate whether or not you take this leap of faith. Be very careful because your reluctance can be contagious and may be the reason your child is either resistant to the idea or outright objects to it.
By all means, do your due diligence when it comes to choosing a camp. Make sure they have a good reputation and ideally some longevity. Even better, get recommendations from friends or your child’s school or doctor. I don’t recommend ever forcing a child to attend summer camp, if they are adamantly against it, but if they show some resistance gentle encouragement is perfectly acceptable.
Summer camp may not be the right activity for every child but it is a wonderful experience for most. Homesickness and getting dirty are all a part of the package but the friendships, memories made, and the experiences gained can last a lifetim12
Every family has their own set of guidelines and comfort level, regarding sending a child to sleep away camp. Most camps will consider campers who are 7 and above for overnights, and some even younger. Developmentally, most kids are ready to be away from home at 8 years old, but again this varies depending upon personality and family dynamics.
The advantages to sending your child to an over night camp are many. Children have an opportunity to relate to adults without their parents present to help them navigate the interaction. They can make new friends and for some kids, reinvent themselves for a small time away from school and familiar social settings. This opportunity helps many children develop competencies that they have yet to develop at home or in school. Your child can build new skills, in a relatively short period of time, when given the opportunity.
Most parents report that their child returns from sleep away camp with a greater level of independence than they could have imagined gained, in such a limited amount of time. At camp there are expectations placed on kids, with regard to time and self-care, and often those things are managed more closely at home simply because of busy schedules. At camp, the days are a bit more leisurely (hopefully) and the stress level is low which is something most kids desperately need.
If just reading this article makes you queasy at the thought of sending your sweet little one away from home at such a young age, stop and think about why this is. Is your discomfort because of a past experience you had at sleep away camp or are you simply feeling that the world is too scary a place to allow your children to venture out on their own so young? These are valid concerns but shouldn’t dictate whether or not you take this leap of faith. Be very careful because your reluctance can be contagious and may be the reason your child is either resistant to the idea or outright objects to it.
By all means, do your due diligence when it comes to choosing a camp. Make sure they have a good reputation and ideally some longevity. Even better, get recommendations from friends or your child’s school or doctor. I don’t recommend ever forcing a child to attend summer camp, if they are adamantly against it, but if they show some resistance gentle encouragement is perfectly acceptable.
Summer camp may not be the right activity for every child but it is a wonderful experience for most. Homesickness and getting dirty are all a part of the package but the friendships, memories made, and the experiences gained can last a lifetim12
Every family has their own set of guidelines and comfort level, regarding sending a child to sleep away camp. Most camps will consider campers who are 7 and above for overnights, and some even younger. Developmentally, most kids are ready to be away from home at 8 years old, but again this varies depending upon personality and family dynamics.
It is hard to believe it but it is actually time to start thinking about summer camp for your kids. Whether you chose a day camp for a sleep away experience, by sending your child off to camp you are providing them with a valuable growing experience.
The advantages to sending your child to an overnight camp are many. Children have an opportunity to relate to adults without their parents present to help them navigate the interaction. They can make new friends and for some kids, reinvent themselves for a small time away from school and familiar social settings. This opportunity helps many children develop competencies that they have yet to develop at home or in school. Your child can build new skills, in a relatively short period of time, when given the opportunity.
Most parents’report that their child returns from sleep away camp with a greater level of independence than they could have imagined gained, in such a limited amount of time. At camp there are expectations placed on kids, with regard to time and self-care, and often those things are managed more closely at home simply because of busy schedules. At camp, the days are a bit more leisurely (hopefully) and the stress level is low which is something most kids desperately need.
If just reading this article makes you queasy at the thought of sending your sweet little one away from home at such a young age, stop and think about why this is. Is your discomfort because of a past experience you had at sleep away camp or are you simply feeling that the world is too scary a place to allow your children to venture out on their own so young? These are valid concerns but shouldn’t dictate whether or not you take this leap of faith. Be very careful because your reluctance can be contagious and may be the reason your child is either resistant to the idea or outright objects to it.
By all means, do your due diligence when it comes to choosing a camp. Make sure they have a good reputation and ideally some longevity. Even better, get recommendations from friends or your child’s school or doctor. I don’t recommend ever forcing a child to attend summer camp, if they are adamantly against it, but if they show some resistance gentle encouragement is perfectly acceptable.
Summer camp may not be the right activity for every child but it is a wonderful experience for most. Homesickness and getting dirty are all a part of the package but the friendships, memories made, and the experiences gained can last a life time.
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