How to Prep My Anxious Kid for Summer Camp
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Summer is officially underway, and I know some kids and parents have seen a tough first few weeks of adjustment. The experience of day camp or sleep away camp can be a challenge for some kids and a blessing for others. Especially for neurodivergent children or children with differences, the transition into unfamiliar territory can bring on a wide range of emotions…excitement, fear, sadness, eagerness, worry.
And all of that, my friends, is perfectly expected.
Have your kiddos been feeling anxious about being at summer camp? Or perhaps you’re the one feeling a bit nervous and stressed with them being away from home? Whether your child thrives in new environments or struggles with transitions, whether they’re at camp this summer or mulling it over for next year, here are 6 action items that can support you and them through the experience:
Preview camp before they go. Take some time to look at the camp together online through their website or social media, or any marketing materials they may have given you. Showing them pictures of the camp and an overview of the activities they offer gives them a chance to scope out the environment in their mind with you by their side. You can do a picture walk of the website and ask your child what they notice, see, or feel. This helps to alleviate that overwhelming fear of uncertainty when they finally head out to the camp. Simple, clear, slow and calm communication will help neurodivergent children to understand what they can expect and what is going on during this transition.
Name their feelings. You can ask your kid to write, draw, or name their feelings about going to camp. You can even use the free Kimochis printable! Talk through each emotion they name. Make sure that they feel heard in their worries and fears. Do this in a place they feel comfortable and remind them it’s normal to feel fear when they are going into unknown situations.
Start a send-off ritual. For kids who have a hard time separating or transitioning to a new activity, send-off rituals can help! This can be as simple as a secret handshake or you can jazz it up with positive mantras, a silly dance or kisses in their hand for later. Involve your child in developing their send-off routine and watch their confidence soar.
Share your own camp stories. Get them involved in your excitement and past fond memories, be honest about your experiences of anxiety or homesickness but show them that those feelings do pass and there are ways they can handle those moments.
Keep your child involved in the preparation. It’s important that they have a voice in where they go. Giving them options and keeping them actively involved in the prep process can help them build excitement for the event. These prep activities can include buying new clothes, packing their bags, looking at the camp itinerary, and discussing the scheduled events with them. Create a fun “Camp To Do” list on a whiteboard or a colorful paper on the fridge. Involving your kids in the prep process helps to provide them a sense of control and also allows you to identify any trouble spots so you can create an action plan before they leave.
Put your Brave in front. Don’t dismiss the hard feelings - yours or theirs. However, you can remind them of the skills they have, the coping strategies you've practiced together, and the action plans you've developed when tricky situations pop up. You can role play how to ask for help with counselors or adults so they feel more confident in what to say. Empowering your child to be able to name their feelings and advocate for their needs is a true gift. And the more you stay genuinely uplifting and joyful about the event, the more you help to decrease their stress and role model that it’s not something to be scared of. You can acknowledge their fears, hear them out, and give them as many tools or perspective shifts as needed to help prepare them to handle their fears on their own if they resurface when they’re away.
If you are the one who is feeling hesitant or worried about your kids being out in the unknown without you by their side, these reminders might be the soother you need.
Your kids are SMART! While we can’t bubblewrap them from every pain in life (as much as we wish we could), we can do our best to provide them with the inner and outer tools to build resilience, strength, compassion, and courage. The more you trust their inner compass, the better you will feel about the upcoming space!
Do your research and trust your own gut on where to send them and when. Every kid is different, and only you can know at what age is the right time to send your kids out for a solo adventure or what environment would be best suited for them.
Remember to focus on the good. Camp is meant to be fun and they’re likely going to have a lot of it. Challenges are part of childhood so trust that they can take tough moments with the fun ones and come out smiling on the other end of summer.
Whether their send-off to camp was smooth sailing or a rocky road, there are still ways you can support your little ones from afar and soothe your own worries too.
Reframing this experience both for your child and for yourself as a wonderful adventure that will give them a bite-sized taste of life can help ease your family into these uncharted waters.
You can rest easy knowing you’ve done your due diligence as a parent and can feel secure in where they are going and who will be watching over them. Beyond that, just like when we send them off to school or to visit a friend’s house, we have to be able to trust our kids and know that they’ve got this.
Eager for more advice that’s unique to your unique child? Consider a coaching session!