Why: If your child has never spent nights away from home, sleepaway camp may feel overwhelming.<\/p>\n
How:
\n\u2022 Arrange sleepovers with friends or family members to get them comfortable being away from home.
\n\u2022 Start with one night, then increase to a weekend.
\n\u2022 Encourage them to pack their own bag and sleep in unfamiliar places to mimic the camp experience.<\/p>\n
2. Let Them Help Pack Their Bag<\/strong><\/p>\n Why: Packing their own bag helps them feel in control and familiar with their belongings.<\/p>\n How: 3. Talk About Homesickness \u2014 and Normalize It<\/strong><\/p>\n Why: Most first-time campers experience some level of homesickness, and it’s completely normal.<\/p>\n How: 4. Encourage Independence Before Camp<\/strong><\/p>\n Why: Camp requires kids to do things on their own \u2014 from brushing teeth to making their bed.<\/p>\n How: Bonus Tip: Tell them, \u201cAt camp, you\u2019ll be able to do so many things all by yourself. I\u2019m excited to hear about it!\u201d<\/p>\n 5. Avoid Over-Communicating Before Camp Starts<\/strong><\/p>\n Why: Over-explaining or constantly checking in on how they feel can increase their anxiety.<\/p>\n How: Bonus Tip:<\/strong> Save your emotions for after they leave. They feed off your energy, so stay positive.<\/p>\n 6. Set Expectations Around Communication<\/strong><\/p>\n Why: Many camps have limited communication with home (like no phone calls). This can be surprising for first-time campers.<\/p>\n How: Bonus Tip:<\/strong> Keep your emails upbeat and don\u2019t say how much you miss them \u2014 it can trigger homesickness.<\/p>\n 7. Get Them Excited About Camp Activities<\/strong><\/p>\n Why: Building excitement helps reduce anxiety.<\/p>\n How: Bonus Tip<\/strong>: Have them choose one new activity they\u2019ve never tried before and set it as a goal.<\/p>\n 8. Stay Positive During Drop-Off<\/strong><\/p>\n Why: Drop-off is when nerves peak \u2014 for both kids and parents.<\/p>\n How: Bonus Tip:<\/strong> Most kids recover from homesickness within the first 24-48 hours once they dive into camp life.<\/p>\n Final Thought:<\/strong> Top 8 Ways to Prepare your Child for Sleepaway Camp Preparing your child for their first summer sleepaway camp is key to ensuring they have a positive, memorable experience. Here are the top 8 ways to prepare your child for sleepaway camp: 1. Normalize Being Away from Home Why: If your child has never spent […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":7563,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7517","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-summer-camp"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n\u2022 Give them a packing list (provided by the camp) and let them pack their own clothes, toiletries, and personal items.
\n\u2022 Label EVERYTHING with their name.
\n\u2022 Include a special comfort item like a stuffed animal, blanket, or family photo (if the camp allows it).
\n\u2022 Let them know they\u2019ll be responsible for keeping track of their things at camp.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/catalinaislandcamps.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/DSC03119-e1761934357834-768x818.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Talk about it ahead of time. Say something like: \u201cIt\u2019s totally normal to miss home sometimes, but it doesn\u2019t mean you\u2019re not having fun.\u201d
\n\u2022 Share your own stories of being away from home if you have any.
\n\u2022 Avoid saying, “If you don\u2019t like it, we\u2019ll come get you.” Instead say, “I know you\u2019ll have fun, and we can\u2019t wait to hear all about it.”
\n\u2022 Teach them small strategies to cope, like writing a letter, talking to a counselor, or staying busy with activities.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Have them practice basic life skills at home like:
\no Making their bed.
\no Picking out their clothes.
\no Showering without reminders.
\no Packing their backpack for school or day trips.
\n\u2022 Encourage them to solve small problems on their own before asking for help.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Keep camp conversations light and positive.
\n\u2022 Avoid saying things like, \u201cI\u2019m going to miss you so much\u201d or \u201cWhat if you get homesick?\u201d
\n\u2022 Instead, say: \u201cI\u2019m so excited for all the fun things you\u2019ll do at camp. I bet you\u2019ll make so many new friends!\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Learn and explain the camp\u2019s communication policy ahead of time.
\n\u2022 If the camp allows letters or emails, pack pre-addressed, stamped envelopes so they can easily write home.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Review the camp\u2019s website or social media together to see photos of activities.
\n\u2022 Talk about things they might enjoy like archery, sailing, or standup paddle boarding.<\/p>\n
\n\u2022 Keep your goodbye short and confident. Avoid long emotional goodbyes.
\n\u2022 Say something like: \u201cI love you, have an amazing time, and I can\u2019t wait to hear all about it.\u201d
\n\u2022 Fight the urge to cry or linger. Kids take cues from you \u2014 if you seem confident, they\u2019ll feel confident.
\n\u2022 Trust the camp staff to handle any homesickness.<\/p>\n
\nThe goal is to build excitement, independence, and confidence before they leave. Sleepaway camp is a transformative experience that helps kids build resilience, social skills, and independence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"