Summertime is filled with opportunities for fun, food, vacations, and camping! Some of that fun can be in your own backyard, at your next door neighbor’s house, or grandma’s. Summer fun can also be farther away from home, away from mom and dad, for a day or longer.
Sending our children away for more than a day at a time can be a difficult bridge to cross for many parents. I know years ago when my son wanted to go to a big scouting event called National Jamboree across the country for two weeks, it was a lot to consider. He had been on plenty of camping trips with his dad (a few times with me) and trusted scout leaders, but letting him go across the country with two scout leaders whom we did not personally know left too much to consider. We went to several meetings, asked questions, talked to people we trusted, and finally decided that it was a safe once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Granting our children permission to go to camp or enjoy their summer away from home, away from us, overnight, can be especially difficult since we are living in a time when parents have legitimate and deep concerns about keeping their children safe and secure.
– Protected from possible danger.
– Protected from people who will hurt them.
– Protected from their personal fears and their own troublesome feelings.
The first two possible threats are outside of our children. However, the third one lies inside their minds and hearts. How do we protect our children from what goes on inside them? The current reality is that depression and anxiety are at an all time high among today’s youth. Currently, words like anxious, overwhelmed, depressed, stressed out, and panic attacks are a normal part of many children’s and parents’ everyday vocabulary.
So, what if all external conditions are good. How do we know if our children’s internal circumstances are good to go? How do we know if our children are ready to venture out to overnight camps and be happy campers? Here are some signs:
1. They can tell you how they feel. Having the ability to tell what someone feels and why they feel that way in any given moment is a crucial skill.
2. They do not have to get their way all the time. The ability to allow others to get what they want, to take turns, and share is a beautiful quality.
3. They can make at least one new friend. Some people need bunches and bunches of friends, their social circle is big! Others are content with one good or two good friends. There is no right or wrong here, it is simply what each child’s preference is for their social circle.
4. They can adapt to new situations. This encompasses everything from eating new food, sleeping in uncomfortable situations, like sleeping bags on the ground, and taking cold showers.
5. They have the courage that allows them to be open to new experiences – Camps can be filled with new activities from bows and arrows, to crafts, and canoeing. The more our children can participate in these new activities, the more they will learn about themselves.
6. They challenge themselves and take healthy risks. Some camps have skits, talent shows, karaokes, and this can be a wonderful opportunity for our children to showcase their talents or discover a gift they did not know they possessed.
7. They know how to ask for help and what they need. This is an essential skill for life!
8. They have already experienced day camp. Many day camps put on amazing programs that leave our kids wanting more wonderful camp experiences.
9. They do not need you around every time they do something new. Parents, it is easy for our feelings to get hurt when our children do not seem to need us. Stay strong. They will need us down the road. Be proud. We are doing a good job.
10. They tell you they want to go to camp! I know this is obvious. This is a great sign that our children are moving towards independence. After all, is not this the ultimate goal, self-sufficient, independent youth who will one day be self-sufficient, independent, adults? This is the dream!
If they are not ready for overnight excursions without us, how do we get our children ready to be happy campers?
– Attend day camps
– Sleep over at a family member’s house
– Sleep over at a trusted friend’s house
– Set up a tent in the backyard and sleep outside
– Listen to their fears and stay calm
– Dismantle worries or fears, using logic and reason
– Offer reassurance
– Talk about the fun experiences that are unique to camp
– Work/volunteer for the organization that is holding the overnight camp
– Realize that overnight camp is not for all children.
Remember mom and dad, children mature and grow at different rates. He/she may not want to go to an overnight camp this year, but may be ready next summer. Be patient and know, when the time comes, our children need to be happy campers and so do we.
