For home – based professional parents, summer can pose a challenge as far as balancing your work schedule with family activities and things for the kids to do on their own. For many home – based professional parents, camps are an important part of summer. They provide your child with a fun and interesting experience while providing you with a block of time in which you can get a bunch of work done. There are so many types of camps available, from sports to theater and everything in between including the classic outdoorsy type complete with cabins or tents and s’mores around the campfire.
As ready as you may be to help your little explorer pack his or her bags to head off to camp, it is important to make an honest assessment of your child’s readiness for camp in advance of signing them up for it. Some kids seem born ready to go off to camp, and can successfully attend a week of overnight camp at six or seven years old. Others are apprehensive about leaving home to go to camp, even into their pre – teen years.
What kinds of things determine whether a child is ready to attend overnight camp? One important factor is how accustomed they are to spending time away from you. If they have enjoyed weekends away with grandparents or friends, those outings have helped them to gain a comfort level with being apart from you for a few nights. Another thing to consider is how easily your child makes friends. If they are naturally gregarious, they are likely to be eager to get acquainted with the other campers. Kids that are shy can also be successful at camp, even if it takes them a little longer to warm up to the other campers, provided that they are comfortable with the experience in general. Other things that indicate that your child is ready for camp include being able to clearly communicate to adults what his or her needs are, being able to work collaboratively as part of a group, and a willingness and ability to learn rules and follow them.
If you find that your child does not seem ready for overnight for camp, or is ready but is not interested in attending camp, do not despair. Overnight camp is just one type of summer fun. There may be day camps or other activities that your child would enjoy more. Also, consider reaching out to other home – based professional parents, especially if they are the parents of your child’s friends. You may be able to work out an arrangement where each of you entertains the kids on specific days or on whatever schedule you choose. Grandparents and other relatives may also be eager to entertain visitors for a few days or a few weeks and your child might really enjoy visiting them.
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