Coping With Camp

For thousands, the camp experience has been a long-standing family tradition. For others, the camp experience seems almost counterintuitive. Send your child off to camp for maybe weeks at a time? Why?

"As parents, recognizing that you and your child are growing and learning on a journey together is key to adequately preparing yourself and your child for any type of separation, including going to camp for the first time," states Peg Smith, executive director of the American Camp Association (ACA).

Following are helpful tips to consider as you ask yourself, "Who's going through separation anxiety, me or my child?"

• Know that separation is a part of growing up. Find opportunities to give your child independence in safe, structured surroundings with caring adults such as the camp environment. Understanding that healthy separation prepares your child to be a confident, productive adult sometimes makes the process more successful.
  
• Understand that growth and change are natural and necessary. Remember your baby's first crawl? The first time your child stepped onto a school bus? The overnight at a friend's or relative's? These memories are all important developmental phases you and your child successfully encountered. Each successful separation gives your child confidence for the next challenge. Recognize and expect success.
  
• Communicate every step of the way. Help prepare you and your child have a smooth transition to camp by making decisions together, talking about concerns, and encouraging your child to have a reasonable and realistic view of camp.
  
• Ask the right questions. Inquire about the camp you are choosing for your child and be sure to match your child's interest and age to the appropriate camp atmosphere. Gathering information about the camp will make you feel better about your decisions.
  
• Acknowledge your own feelings. Recognize that separating from your child may be just as difficult for you as for your child, maybe even more so. By examining your reaction to the separation, you can begin to appreciate the time you DO have with your child even more.
  

Opportunities for children to experience healthy, successful separation help them discover who they are and recognize their strengths. "As children prepare to eventually leave home permanently, I often wonder who is being prepared during each separation experience throughout a child's life—the growing child or the maturing adult," comments Smith. "I think it proves learning is a lifelong process."

Reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association; © 2005