How to prepare your child for sleepaway summer camp

As summer passes away into autumn, we reflect on the experiences of the last year. The time comes to ask yourself, “What has my child learned this summer? Did they get the most they possibly could out of this summer

Summer months provide kids with a huge variety of necessary learning experiences, even though they’re on a break from school! Summer is a great time for kids to develop social bonds with peers and mentors, have diverse and exciting life experiences that will aid their emotional development, and get in touch with nature, spending some time in the great outdoors.

Summer camps for kids can be a great way to guarantee your child the opportunity to learn and grow this coming summer. It’s never too early to start exploring summer camp options for your child. The more research you do, the more able you’ll be to send your child to summer camp with confidence.

Summer camp can be an extremely enriching experience for kids, but choosing the right summer camp to meet their specific needs is absolutely crucial. But don’t worry, Wondrfly is here to help!

Sleepaway Summer Camps for Kids

A sleepaway camp is exactly as it sounds, your child will sleep away from home. This is a big deterrent for a lot of parents, who hesitate to turn their kids over full-time to the summer camp staff. It’s also a deterrent for some kids, who may not yet feel secure enough to exercise their independence in this way.

However, sleepaway camps provide kids with unique life experiences and, often, deep, enduring friendships. If you select the right sleepaway camp for your child, they’ll likely carry the fond memories they create there into later life. Some kids who go to the same summer camp year after year will even work as counselors there when they get older, out of an attachment to the program.

Therefore, the most important consideration when enrolling your child in a sleepaway camp is trust: trust between you and your child and the camp you choose to enroll them in.

How Can I Tell If My Child is Ready for Sleepaway Summer Camp?

Before sending your child to sleepaway camp you need to ask two questions.

First, is my child mature enough to go to sleepaway camp? Your child’s emotional maturity level is a huge deciding factor in their preparedness.

Are they already successfully showing independence by completing daily self-grooming tasks and chores? Are they well socialized with a diverse group of their peers? Have they had positive experiences sleeping over at friends’ and relatives’ houses?

If they are unable or unwilling to provide themselves with some basic care each day, don’t like to sleep away from home, or don’t like packed activity schedules, they may not be ready yet.

Second, is your child interested in sleepaway camp? They are, after all, a major party to consult in assessing their readiness. Many children organically begin to take interest in sleepaway camps if they have friends or relatives who attend them.

If they don’t, perhaps broach the subject to them casually a few times and see how they respond. If your child doesn’t feel they are ready for sleepaway camp, they probably won’t get the best possible experience should they go.

You can gently encourage them with an explanation of all the fun activities they’ll be able to participate in, and all the new people they’ll be able to meet. Elaborate that it’s okay to miss their family, but the benefits of experiencing new things can often outweigh the scariness of separation. If they still don’t seem enticed after this, drop the subject for a while and see if it comes up again.

How to Choose the Right Sleepaway Summer Camp for Your Child

Sleepaway camps come in all different varieties. There are more traditional ones, with emphasis on organized outdoor activities, and then there are ones catered to kids with more individualized interests.

Consult friends and family on safe and trustworthy summer camps in your area. Read reviews. Call and ask questions if you need to. Do everything you can to assure yourself that your child will be safe and supported in the camp environment.

Most sleepaway camps are aware of the difficulties parents can have in relinquishing their child. They will often hold orientations, meet-and-greets, and give tours to prospective campers and their parents prior to the beginning of camp, which help to prepare both for the challenge of separation. The kids get to familiarize themselves with their new surroundings, and parents get to ask questions and get clarification on any worries which might be plaguing them.

I’ve Chosen a Summer Sleepaway Camp for my Kid, Now What?

One of the best ways to ensure your child is ready for sleepaway summer camp is to start out slow with a summer day camp or virtual summer camp. If they have a positive experience with this kind of structured, activity packed schedule day after day, they’re more likely to enjoy a sleepaway camp.

Once your child has completed a summer day camp or virtual summer camp successfully, the only hurdles in enrolling them in a sleepaway camp come from the distance between you and your child. Encourage them to write or call often, especially when they miss you!

Make sure you carefully search the camp’s website for vital information on how to prepare your child. Camps will often include packing lists online, or at least a detailed description of each day’s activities, so you can assess appropriate outfits and necessities to pack.

Sleepaway camp can be a fundamental experience in your child’s social and emotional development. If you’re looking for sleepaway camps, day camps, virtual summer camps, or really any activities for your child, you know where to look. Wondrfly is the best new resource for finding, reviewing, and researching kids’ activity providers. Search Wondrfly today to find the fun and fundamentally educational experiences your child deserves.