How Do You Know if Your Child is Ready for an Overnight Camp?

Some kids are going to be ready to attend an overnight camp at an earlier age than others. There are factors that will affect when a child is ready. To many kids, the idea of an overnight camp at one of the best summer camps in New England sounds like the best way to spend the summer. While your child might think he is ready to spend a few weeks away from mom and dad, there are a few things that you can consider to determine if he is really ready or not.

How Independent Are They?

You may have sent your child to spend a night or two at a grandparent’s house, but going to camp is different. It isn’t always easy to predict how they are going to react to being away from home and parents for an extended period of time. Chances are, if they do well staying at a grandparent or friend’s house, they will adjust to staying at an overnight camp.

Prepare Your Camper for a Unique Learning Experience

Attending a sleepaway camp is often the first time a child spends the night away from their family. Being able to successfully handle the situation is a big achievement. Camp provides a unique learning experience in which kids are able to learn how to solve problems and work collaboratively with other kids and adults. Through this experience, kids learn self-reliance, which can provide long-lasting effects.

Find the Right Camp for Your Son

There are many resident camps around the country. You can select one that specializes in a specific sport, performing arts, or another specialty. Talk to other parents and find recommendations for camps that your child might be interested in attending. If possible, take a trip to visit the campsite and take a tour to see if that would be a good fit for your child to learn and grow in a fun and safe environment.

Anticipate Homesickness

For first time campers, homesickness does unfortunately happen. But that is one of the best things about camp because it teaches kids to face their fears and adjust to being away from home. Kabeyun camp counselors are trained to handle homesickness and have ways to get campers involved to shift their focus away from their worries. When campers have a packed schedule, full of fun activities that they choose, they are going to be so busy having fun that they won’t have time to miss home.

When you send your child to one of the best summer camps in New England, they will have so much fun they won’t want to come home. They will also be in an environment that promotes personal growth, friendship, and independence. You’ll likely find that sending your son to an overnight camp is the best way for them to spend their summer.