Preparing First-Time Campers

by Silvana Clark

Remember the great time you had at camp, making crafts, eating sticky s’mores and singing goofy songs? Naturally you want your children to experience the fun and enriching experiences camp provides. But what if your son or daughter is a little hesitant about going to camp for the first time? Following are some tips to help your child ease into the camp experience.

Each camp has a distinct style and atmosphere. While most camps encourage children to participate in skits, activities, and crafts, some are more competitive than others. If you have a budding artist, a gung-ho competitive sports camp could be intimidating. Look at each camp’s website or brochure to get a feel for the camp. Phrases such as, "Campers learn soccer skills from former Olympic Soccer coaches" or "Spend four hours dancing each day in our state-of-the-art dance studio" give a clear picture of the camp’s philosophy. For some children, four-hour dance classes are sheer joy. Others, however, cringe at the thought of simply walking across a stage. For younger children, a camp offering "traditional" camping experiences is usually best. These camps encourage children to participate in a variety of activities. Your child will find herself making a clay pot, putting on a short skit and playing some crazy games…all in a low-key atmosphere.

As a former camp director, I know how difficult it can be to select a camp. I once overheard a mother looking over camp brochures with her 8-year-old son. She said, "Look Jake, her are some camps you can go to. Do you want to go to Super Science Camp? How about Happy Times Horse Camp? Look! You can go to Baseball Camp or even Wet and Wild Water Camp." Poor Jake was overwhelmed. He blurted out, "I don’t want to go to any camp!" There were just too many options for him. Narrow down your choices to two camps. Then let your child give input into which camp he prefers. This gives your child a feeling of ownership in selecting a camp without feeling stressed from too many choices.

Parents often cheerfully ask, "Would you like to go to camp? You’ll have a great time!" Young children often have difficulty understanding what "going to camp" means. Is it a five-hour car ride like going to Grandma’s? Will mom or dad be along? Set up a mini-camp at home to give your children a sense of camp life. Put a sign in the kitchen that says "WELCOME TO CAMP [Last Name]." Give yourself a silly camp counselor name like "Muffinhead." Sing songs before eating. Play hide-and-seek in the house. Collect all the stuffed animals and hide them for a "Wild Animal Hunt." Let your children finger-paint on the kitchen counter. They’ll get a taste of the camp experience (and wonder what happened to their normally sane mother). If the camp is an overnight camp, consider a trial run of letting your children spend the night with Grandma or a friend to make sure they can handle overnight stays.

If possible, drive by the camp to see the physical location as well as any programs going on. When your children see counselors dressed in silly costumes and campers decorating kites, they’ll be excited about going to camp when it’s their turn. If a friend or neighbor has been to camp, ask them to share their experiences with your children. Hearing, "We get to swing on a really cool rope swing at camp" from a peer, goes a long way in calming your children’s fears.

If children seem hesitant about attending camp, share facts with them rather than grandiose promises. Parents often gush, "You’ll have such a great time at camp and your counselor will be wonderful and you’ll make so many new friends and you’ll love going swimming, and blah, blah, blah." Children get a bit suspicious when parents try to "con" them into thinking camp is great. Instead, try saying, "You’ll have a choice of swimming in the pool or lake. Which one do you think you’ll do?"

Allow plenty of time to get ready for the first day of camp. Start the day as low key as possible so children feel relaxed. Tuck an "I Love You" note into your child’s pocket to look at if he or she feels sad during the day. Some children feel reassured taking along a picture of the family pet or a family member. Mention how you’ll be mowing the lawn or cleaning closets while your children are at camp. This makes them see they are better off at camp than possibly having to help you with chores. Then get ready at the end of the day to hear about your child’s messy, creative and terrific day at camp!

Silvana Clark is a professional speaker and author of 10 books, including 301 Bright Ideas For Busy Kids. Her presentation, "The Camp Counselor Style of Parenting," gives parents tips on raising children with humor and creativity. www.silvanaclark.com