HOW TO PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR THEIR FIRST SLEEPAWAY CAMP

It’s Not Just Nerve-Wracking for Them

Sending your child to sleepaway camp for the first time feels like a big deal, because it is.

Sleepaway camp is such a cool opportunity for your kid to grow, make friends and memories, try new things, and figure out who they are away from home. But it’s also about you trusting someone else to look after them, and that's huge.

So it's not as easy as packing their bags and sending them off!

My son's first sleepaway was just nerve-wracking for me. Yes, he might have felt a bit anxious, but he was also excited. Maybe it was more nerve-wrecking for me than for him. He was away for only four days, but my heart was in my throat throughout those four days. I felt like I was the one doing the growing up!

It's not just about the checklist they give you, but it has a lot to do with emotional prep as well, for both. I mean, this is the first time they're away from you, and you away from them.

You want your child to be able to feel safe and excited, and not overwhelmed.

You want them to enjoy the experience, but you also want to make sure they're prepared and feel confident going.

To help both of you prepare, here are 21 straightforward things you can do to help your child (and yourself) get ready for their first ever sleepaway camp. No BS. Just practical tips that work.

21 Tips to Prepare Your Child for Their First Sleepaway Camp

Start Talking About Camp Early

Talk about the sleepaway camp way before the camp. Talk about all the fun things that they'll be doing, the kinds of kids they'll be meeting, and even what the camp will look like. Include it in our day during school drop off, bedtime, or even during dinner.

This way it gives your child ample time to process and get used to the whole idea and even ask any questions or uncertainties they may have, rather than being overwhelmed by it all at once.

Look Up The Camp Website Together

Most camps have photos, videos, and their camp schedules online now, so it'll be easier for you to take your child on a virtual tour on the website. Show them everything so they can get a feel of what to expect.

If there are videos of past campers, that'll be so helpful. Your child will feel more reassured when they see other kids enjoying the camp and the experience.

Go Over The Camp Packing List

Most camps will give you a basic packing list. Go through it one by one with your child and explain to them what each item will be for. This will help them understand what they're bringing and why.

Some packing lists are extremely basic, so you might want to review them and add things that you think your kid might need, which is fine. But don't overdo it. You don't want them to be overwhelmed by everything you've packed.

Let Them Help You Pack

I know that letting my son help me pack for his first sleepaway made things a lot more easier for him. He was familiar with what he had in his bag and where it was. So when he needed something, he knew exactly where to find it.

So, though you might want to do it all yourself because it's easier, have them help you pack their bag, even if it takes a little longer.

Include Comfort Items from Home

Even if your child is the most independent of kids, they can get a little homesick at times. A small something from home, like a stuffed animal or a family photo, can bring them some comfort when they're feeling homesick. Keep it small. Something they can quietly keep away if they don't want to have it out on display.

It's not about making the miss home more, but it's about having something familiar in a new place.

Don't Pack the Fancy Stuff

Stick to old, comfy clothes. Skip anything your kid's super attached to because camp activities can just wreck their nice clothes. Pack their normal sneakers and t-shirts that they love but don't mind if they get ruined or dirty.

Put Their Name on Everything

Label every single thing your kid's taking to sleepaway camp, like socks, clothes, shoes, towels, water bottles, flip flops, toothbrush, everything. Use a Sharpie or those stick-on name tags. It'll be easy for them if they misplace their things and get their things mixed up with the other kids' stuff

Use Ziplock Bags for Each Outfit (especially for younger kids)

I know I'm saying a lot about packing, but it's important, so hear me out!

A little organization will save a lot of stress and hassle for kids when they're getting dressed. I pack each outfit, t-shirt, shorts, and underwear in one gallon-size Ziplock bag, or you could use packing cubes.

Especially if your kids are younger or if your kids get overwhelmed easily, doing this lets them get dressed faster without having to think too hard about it.

Always Pack Extra Socks and Underwear

Kids can go through these faster than you'd think, especially if there's water, hiking, and mud involved. Pack more than you think they'll need. Wet or dirty socks can lead to blisters, and extra underwear gives them a bit of flexibility just in case.

Explain the Camp Rules to Them in Advance

Normally, camps have rules around curfews, electronics, behavior, and personal boundaries. Take the time to go these rules with your child way beforehand and explain the whys. You'll have to let them understand that it's not about the camp restricting and being strict with them, but more about making camp safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Explain How You'll Stay in Touch

Check the camp's rules on how you can stay in touch with your child. It can be letters or a call, some days (or every day) after dinner. If you'd like them to get a letter at camp, you might want to send it even before they leave so they'll actually get it. Because if you send it after they leave, there's a possibility that they'll return without even receiving the letter.

Hopefully the camp lets calls even if it's only for a couple of minutes. You can literally hear everything you need in their voices. The burst of excitement, the anxiousness, if any, and sometimes, maybe a little sadness, but it's perfectly okay and normal. Just don't be the one crying on those phone calls!

Have Practice Sleepovers

Doing this is especially helpful if your child has never slept away from home. Arrange for sleepovers at their grandparents, friends, and with their cousins to see how it goes. Ask them how it went. Did they sleep okay? Were they worried about anything?

Your kids might surprise you with how much more independent they really are without you around!

Teach Them How to Share Their Space

Being at a sleepaway camp means having to bunk and live with other kids. Talk to your child about keeping their stuff tidy, being quiet when others are sleeping, and about sharing and compromising. Practicing these at home will make it easier for them when they're amongst other kids at camp.

Explain to Them How the Camp Shower Works

Tell them how the camp shower works and show them photos so they truly understand, because it might come as a surprise to them. Let them know they'll likely need to wear flip-flops and bring their own shower caddy for shampoo and soap.

You'd want to explain to them that they have to make their showers quick so that the other kids can use them, unlike the time they take in the shower at home.

Further to that, you might also want to talk about wet towels and swimsuits. Where can they hang them? How can they keep their things from getting smelly?

These may seem like small things, but knowing what to do will help them be more prepared.

Go Over Personal Care Beyond the Basics

Brushing teeth and washing hands are just the start. Being at a sleepaway camp does come with extra personal care responsibilities that your child may not have had to do on their own before.

Things like sunscreen and bug spray are important, especially if they'll be spending a lot of time outdoors. SO show them how much to use, where, and when to apply them.

Also, talk about what they can do if they feel sweaty or get dirty between showers. Some kids can get really uncomfortable (and maybe a bit moody) when they're sweaty. A quick change of clothes, using body wipes, or even just washing their face, neck, and underarms can help them feel better.

Help Them Practice Asking For Help

Some kids have difficulty speaking up, especially around people they don't know. Explain to them the importance of speaking up in certain situations. Play them out with them: What would you do if you lost something? If you were scared at night? If you didn't understand something? If you fell down and got hurt? What if feel sick?

Practicing a couple of scenarios and possibilities with them can make it feel easier for them to speak up and ask for help if ever something comes up.

Talk About Missing Home

One of the most important conversations you can have with your kid is about being homesick. It's a big deal for most kids and it's better to talk about it before they go than hope that it won't happen.

Sit with them and explain that being homesick is normal and is part of being away from home for the first time. Let them know that it's okay to feel sad or lonely at sleepaway camp.

The goal is to normalize homesickness without making it sound like a dealbreaker. And don't brush it off with, "You'll be fine!", but don't dwell on it either. Instead, say something like, "Lots of kids miss home at first, and that's okay. You're going to have so much fun at sleepaway camp that you might not even think about being homesick." This way, they'll know that they're not alone, and they'll be more prepared instead of being scared.

Validate All That They Are Feeling

It's normal for your kids to be conflicted about how they feel. They can be both terrified and excited at the thought of going away to sleepaway camp, and that is completely understandable and okay.

Say things like, "It makes sense to feel nervous about new things, I feel that way too," or You can be really excited about the zip line AND miss your bed at home. Having both feelings is okay".

Once you validate whatever they're feeling, it will help them not feel guilty about any fears they have. And they won't feel as if they have to hide their anxiety to protect your feelings.

Be Honest about the Ups and Downs

Explain to them that it's okay to not love every moment of camp.

There will be fun times, but there might also be times when they feel bored, or even times when they feel out of place. Being upfront with them will help them see those moments as normal when they go through them.

Help Them Meet Camp Friends Beforehand

If they don't already have friends going to the same sleepaway camp, see if you can connect with other parents whose kids are going to the same camp. You can try setting a meet-up for the kids to get to know each other before camp starts.

Having a familiar face in an unfamiliar environment always makes it way less scary.

Lastly, Keep Your Goodbyes Short and Sweet

This one's going to be tough for moms. You might feel emotional at drop-off, you'll want to cry, but try not to; instead, try to focus on how proud you are of them (that's probably going to make you cry too!) Well, just try to be positive and keep it short.

Hanging around longer than you should will make it harder for them to settle in, so help them unpack, give them a big hug, and head out.

You're Letting Go but You're Not Letting Down

Sending your child to their first sleepaway camp is a big moment, for both of you.

You're probably feeling proud, nervous, and everything in between.

Just remember that sleepaway camp is about more than just a summer experience. It's a carefully structured opportunity for your child to discover they're capable of more than they (or you) realized. The 'challenges' they'll be facing, from making new friends to handling being homesick, and having to take care of themselves, are exactly what make it a valuable and important experience for them.

They'll make friends, try new things, and come home with stories you'll be hearing about forever. I can bet that your kid's going to surprise you with how much they grow at sleepaway camp!

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