Summer camp can provide opportunities for growth for children and hone
many skills like resilience, self-reliance, and social adaptability that are
useful for future success. Camps offer fun and engaging learning environments
that can help kids develop social skills (being away from home among peers),
cultivate independence and build confidence (through camp activities). All children
experience mixed feelings (excitement and nervousness) in the run-up to a
summer camp. But some children develop anxiety serious enough to interfere with
what should be a fun, formative experience.
Here are a few tips that can help your child get over pre-camp jitters:
1.
First and
foremost, acknowledge her feelings (instead of trivializing her concerns) and
provide her with tools to help her tame her anxiety.
2.
You can
ease the situation by involving your kid in picking the summer camp;
familiarize him with the camp environment and teach him about camp activities in
order for him to formulate positive and realistic expectations for the summer
camp.
3.
Help your
child get excited about the camp by asking him to accompany you in shopping for
a new gear for the camp. Propagate the idea that he/she will be able to explore
new interests or explore established interests like sports and arts, shift her
focus to the fun
things about camp that she can anticipate.
4.
Share
positive aspects of your own formative experiences away from home with your
child. Share interesting anecdotes about your experience.
5.
Help him
design realistic, goal-oriented plans for making friends or passing a swimming
test. The thrill
of these plans coming to fruition can make him excited and will take his mind
off his anxiety. He/she will look forward to gaining that experience.
6.
Rehearsals
in the form of a shorter-term sleepover or a night at Granny’s will ease him up
a bit.
7.
No matter
it is a day camp or overnight camp, be sure to go over age appropriate safety
and self-care measures. Equip your child with the necessary safety skills for
him to successfully thrive at summer camp. For example, encourage hydration if
your child is attending a sports program, and don’t forget to pack plenty of
sunscreen for outdoor activities. A personal first aid kit is a good idea for
anxious kids who want to be prepared for anything, at the same time prepare
them how to deal with any minor bumps and scrapes that they can be at the
receiving end of after a soccer match or rock climb.
New Generation Learning Center organizes summer camps
Morris County, NJ for ages 2 -4 and Summer Camp for ages 5-7 years old. We provide a fun filled
environment where your child will receive education and summer fun all in one!
