Going to Camp
Question: My 7-year-old is asking about going away to camp, but I'm not sure that he's old enough. How old should kids be and how can I be sure that he'll have a good experience?
Answer: There is no magic age at which kids are old enough to go to camp, but there are signs of readiness to check for as you make this decision together.
First, is your son comfortable being away from home overnight? Has he spent the night at the home of a friend or relative without becoming frightened or homesick?
Does he express his needs and feelings clearly to others? Camp counselors may not always pick up on subtle cues, so it's important that kids speak up when they need something. (You can teach and encourage this skill prior to your son's first camp experience by letting him know that it's OK to tell someone if things are not going well.)
Is your child relatively at ease around new people? This is not to imply that a shy child should not go to camp. But if a child is reserved around new people, you may want to be especially careful in choosing a camp and preparing your child for the experience.
Is your child interested in the adventure of going to camp? (It sounds like your son is, because he initiated the topic.) As with many childhood activities, camping generally goes best when the child feels it is his choice rather than his parents'.)
Once you decide that your son is ready, there are several steps that you can take to help him prepare. (A first camping experience can set the tone for years to come, so getting emotionally ready is important.)
First, involve your child in choosing the camp. Camps vary as to location, activities, whether they are co-ed or not, and length of stay. Involving your son in the decision makes the experience truly his own.
It may be a good idea to lead up to camp by practicing separations from home. This might mean arranging overnight visits to a friend's house, participation in a day camp, or even a two-night camping experience as offered for younger children by some camps.
Talk with your son about what to expect at camp. Get all the information you can about the daily schedule, rules, and activities. Look at pictures of the camp and, if possible, arrange for your son to talk with a counselor or former camper.
Make a homesickness plan! Even for the best prepared camper, homesickness often strikes. Let your son know that this is common, and talk with him about what he can do when he feels sad and lonely. Be sure you know camp policy about such things as phone contact with parents, then talk with your son about what he can and can't do if he is homesick.
Finally, help your son pack a little bit of home to take along to camp. A familiar pillow or blanket or a picture of the family might help him feel closer to home. And don't forget to slip into his bag a few surprise notes from you, and to mail postcards to him in advance, letting him know how glad you are that he's having this new adventure.
Editor's note: Dr. Martha Farrell Erickson, director of the University of Minnesota's Children, Youth and Family Consortium, invites your questions on child rearing for possible inclusion in this column. You may fax them to (612) 624-6369 or send them to Growing Concerns, University of Minnesota News Service, 6 Morrill Hall, 100 Church St. S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455.
