Prepare your Child:

For most children (including those who have been to camp before), missing home is something they experience at camp. Parents/guardians can play a big role in helping their child to overcome homesickness before and during camp.

Develop Realistic Expectations:

Developing realistic expectations about camp is very important. Parents can sometimes over-glamorize the camp experience. ("Honey, you’re going to have the best time of your whole life!" or "You’ll make the greatest friends you’ve ever met!") Going away to camp will be fun and worthwhile, but it is important to make sure your child understands it may not be fun every minute. There may be problems to solve, feelings of worry or sadness to overcome, and/or insecurities to work on and these problems and feelings are normal.

Go ahead and talk about the fun they’ll have, but also discuss rainy days; about liking some people more than others (both campers and counselors); about making choices at camp; and how it can be tough to not get your way when a group is making decisions together. Talk about spending the night outside with their cabin group sleeping in the woods. Discuss worries they might have about not being "good" at an activity or about making friends. By doing this you help children understand their feelings, so they are better able to recognize and cope with them.

Visit Camp Early:

Many children fare better at camp if they are able to see where they will be staying. Consider taking a trip to visit camp during an Open House, so your child will have an opportunity to see the cabins and other facilities. While you are at camp, discuss what it will be like. Cautious children especially need to know: what a cabin looks like inside (where they will sleep, put their clothes, etc); who else will be in the cabin; where the bathrooms are; where the Dining Hall is and how they’ll get food.

Consider Camp as a Learning Experience:

This is an opportunity for your child to explore a world bigger than his/her neighborhood and a chance for you and your child to practice "letting go." Letting go allows children to develop autonomy and a stronger sense of self, make new friends, develop new social skills, learn about teamwork, be creative, and more. This time also allows parents an opportunity to take care of themselves so that they will feel refreshed when their child returns home.

Prepare for Camp Together:

Decisions about camp — like where to go and what to pack — should be a joint venture, keeping in mind your child’s maturity. If your child feels a part of the decision-making process, his/her chances of having a positive experience will improve.

For More Information:

Additional resources regarding preparation for camp and reducing feelings of homesickness are available on the American Camp Association website, www.campparents.org.

By YMCA Camp Collins

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