It’s perfectly normal for campers (and their parents!) to miss home at some point during the camp session. Before camp begins, you can help prepare your camper with a few strategies recommended by the American Camp Association:
- Encourage independence throughout the year. Practice short separations, such as sleepovers at a friend’s house.
- Involve your camper in the process of choosing a camp. The more your campers owns the decision, the more comfortable they will feel at camp. Look at pictures of camp, and let your camper pack their suitcase.
- Talk candidly with your camp director about any anxieties that you or your camper may have.
- Discuss what camp will be like before your camper leaves. Consider role-playing anticipated situations, such as using a flashlight to find the bathroom.
- Our camp has a no-phone-calls policy—honor it.
- Pack a note ahead of time for your camper to have on the trip.
- Acknowledge that you will miss each other in a positive way. For example, “I am going to miss you, but I know you’ll have a great time at camp!”
- Pack a small personal item from home, such as a stuffed animal.
- Don’t bribe. The reward for a successful stay at camp should be your camper's newfound confidence and independence, not a material object.
- Don’t plan an exit strategy. If a “rescue call” comes from your camper, be patient and help put the timeframe into perspective. Avoid the temptation to bring your camper home early.
- Don’t feel guilty about encouraging your camper to stay at camp. For many children, camps are the first step towards independence and play an important role in their growth and development.