Parenting the Home Stretch to Camp
We know it’s hard to say goodbye for both campers and their parents. Here are some quick tips to help make the process go as smoothly as possible:
- Show them you believe in them: it’s so important that our campers know that you trust that they are going to do great at camp. Have the boys help pack themselves so that they see that they are capable of handling every aspect of camp.
- Tell them you’ll miss them, but not too much: often we hear from campers that they are worried that their parents won’t be okay without them. You should of course tell them that you love them and are proud of them, but keep the attention on their emotions.
- Remind them what to do when there are challenges at camp: if there are specific concerns of theirs to address or you’re just responding to general anxieties, let them know that they can always talk to their counselors and the directors when anything is bothering them. And let them know there are no challenges at camp that they can’t handle.
- Make your goodbye concise and empowering: a big hug and kiss, an “I love you,” an “I’m proud of you,” and “I know you’re going to do great” sets the right tone for the start of their summer. They’re going to camp to make new friends and have new experiences, so let them get that started as soon as you arrive at the bus or at the airport. The longer the goodbye is prolonged, the more the doubt and anxiety creep in.
