Most kids love going to summer camp. They see it as a time to play, socialize with their friends, and learn new things.
Summer camp is a lot of fun for kids and a relief for parents since they don’t have to worry about where their child is going to be while they’re at work during the summer. But what do the counselors think of camp? The Washington Post broke it down for us.
First, some camp counselors believe that preparedness is key. If your child isn’t prepared for the day, they’re going to have a hard time doing everything they wanted to do. For example, if it’s time for your child to go swimming but they don’t have their swimsuits, they’re not going to be able to participate in that day’s activities. It puts a lot of stress on the camp counselor because not only do they have to worry about the kids in the pool, they also have to worry about your child who has to sit out. They either have to find something else for them to do or be responsible enough to watch the kids who are in the pool as well as your child.
Another thing some counselors wish people knew ahead of time is that it’s extremely important to label everything your child brings with them each day. For example, taking a piece of masking tape, writing your child’s name on it, and sticking it to their backpack or lunchbox can help eliminate confusion and lost items. Some children are extremely forgetful and tend to leave things all over the place. If you send your child to camp with a Tupperware container full of vegetables, there’s a chance they might not make it home with them. So if you have the container labeled, everyone at the camp will know who it needs to get back to.
Camp is all about making friends and trying new things. But if your child is afraid of meeting new people, it’s important to encourage them to go out on a limb and try to make some friends. Most of the time, kids will go to camp and not know anybody at all. If they don’t know anybody and are uncomfortable with reaching out, they’re going to have a really bad summer. Find a camp for your child that is focused on an activity or subject your child loves. For instance, if they love theater, send them to theater camp where they can be around people who share the same interests as them. It’ll be much easier for them to make friends in that situation over another.
Each year more than 14 million children and adults attend camp in the United States, so that’s a lot of people for camp counselors to keep track of. Doing what you can to help your child prepare for their days at camp will not only help you and your child, it can also make the situation a lot easier for camp counselors.
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