Summer Camp for Kids: Is Your Child Ready for an Overnight Camp?

Overnight summer camp for kids is an awesome opportunity for them to interact with other kids. They can swim, hike, bike, commune with nature, learn new skills and build lasting friendships. Who knows? They may even mature a little in the process. Is your child ready for an overnight camp? Not every kid relishes the idea of being away from home for an extended stay. Is your child mature enough to handle peer pressure, camp rules and interaction with camp counselors on their own?

Who's idea was summer camp? Chances are, if it was your child who brought the subject up, they're ready. On the other hand, it might sound like a good idea until they get there. If your child calls you to pick them up from sleepovers at friends houses, overnight summer camp for kids might not be right for them. Some kids are raring to get out into the world beyond Mom and Dad. Not all have the skills needed to handle it yet. Don't worry, they'll get there. Maturity takes time.

Does your child work and play well with others? Summer camp for kids involves the use of social skills. If your child is just a little shy, it might just bring them out of their shell. I used to literally hide behind my Mom's skirts until I went off to Girl Scout camp. After that, I couldn't wait to get out of the house. Severe social anxiety is another story. So is simply being too young to be away from home. Don't push it, giving your child nightmares is no way to endorse overnight camp.

Does your child have sweet dreams or scary nightmares? If your child suffers from night terrors, bed-wetting, sleep apnea or other sleep related disorders, overnight camp won't be much fun. Likewise if they're always crawling into bed with you. Day camp might be a better choice. Look on the bright side, it's also much less expensive. Your child can enjoy summer activities like swimming, playing softball, having relay races and much more. When the day's over, they can come home and sleep in their own bed. It's a win win situation.

Give kids a choice of summer camps. When I was a kid, there was only one kind of summer camp. Now there are so many choices, you may not know which to go with. There are still the typical summer camps. Then you have Science camps, music camps, math camps, art camps and much more. What's the best camp for your child? Just ask them. They'll be more ready for overnight camp if they have a choice in the matter. Don't expect them to go to the same kind of camp every year, either. Kids are exploring their options. Give them the freedom to search for their hearts desires freely.

Start getting your child ready for overnight camp early. Encourage them to be social with other children. Have them spend the night at friends homes, or with grandparents. Think of sleepovers and pajama parties as practice runs. Talk to them about your positive youth camping experiences. Find out how your child can stay in touch with you from their camp of choice. Get some brochures. Talk to kids about typical summer camp activities. Once they have some experience under their belt (and know what to expect) they'll be ready for anything overnight summer camp can throw at them.

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Source:

Personal experience