It’s normal for parents to feel anxious when they sign their child up for summer camp for the first time, since it may be the first time they’ve been separated from them for an extended period. Most worry because their child has never been away from home before, and they’re unsure whether their child will adjust well, miss the family, be well cared for, or eat properly. The list of fears for “first-time” parents is long and varied, and it always leads them to think that their children will have a hard time at camp and will want to come home as soon as possible.
The first thing to clarify is that, in practice, it’s usually the parents who have the hardest time with the separation. By the age of 8 or 9, children are ready to spend a few days away from home without their parents and meet new people outside their family circle. Of course, regardless of age, the most important thing is that the child wants to go to camp and that the parents see that they’re ready to take the plunge.
Separation During Camp
At these summer camps, children are constantly engaged in activities and having fun, spending time with peers their own age and exploring new places. Attending one of these camps helps children discover their own independence, learn to resolve conflicts without their parents’ help, and begin to mature.
It’s normal for children to feel homesick and have a hard time during the first few days of camp; they’ve never been away from home alone before, and the situation is completely new. It’s also possible that the child will call home to tell their parents they want to come back and that they don’t like being there.
In these cases, the best thing for parents to do is reassure the child and encourage them to stay, reminding them that after a couple of days they’ll start to adjust, make new friends, enjoy fun activities, and have a great time.
Parents should always convey a sense of security and calm to their children, and remember that throughout the camp, they will be supervised and cared for by a team of professional counselors who adhere to strict hiring policies and are fully trained and qualified to look after the children 24 hours a day.
To avoid any anxiety, it is highly recommended that parents familiarize themselves with the camp’s organization, the plans and activities it includes, and the qualifications of its counselors. It is also very helpful to know the camp’s counselor-to-child ratio; the ideal is one counselor for every 15 to 20 children. Additionally, in case of any questions, problems, or emergencies, parents have access to a 24-hour emergency number where they can contact their children.
How do you get to the camp?
Another major concern for parents is whether their children will travel alone to the camp location. It is becoming increasingly common for children to travel alone, which is why most airlines and train companies offer escort services for children under 16, ensuring someone looks after them throughout the journey.
In addition, camps usually provide a transfer service where a camp counselor picks up the children at the destination airport and accompanies them to the camp facilities, both on the way there and back. In the following video, we explain what services are available so that children don’t have to travel to camp alone if their parents can’t take them:
As you’ve seen, not being able to accompany your children to camp isn’t a problem, and the solutions offered are safe. To take advantage of the transfer and child escort services, you don’t have to go to great lengths—at Ertheo, we have all the tools to help you; just ask us.
Food at Camp
Every year, many moms and dads ask us about food at camp—for example, the typical child who doesn’t like vegetables, or the one who struggles to eat enough to keep up with all the daily activities.
As a general rule, the camps are equipped to accommodate children of all kinds and with any special needs, but parents must communicate any such requirements—such as specific dietary needs or medication—well in advance so that the organization can adapt accordingly.
After all, food will never be an issue at camp, since, as we mentioned in the video, all meals are healthy, and the counselors will always be keeping an eye on the dining halls to ensure that all students eat as well as possible throughout the weeks.
Communicate all necessary details before completing the reservation
You may have other specific requests, such as having several children who know each other share the same room. In many cases, having several friends, cousins, or even siblings attend the same camp reduces parents’ worries and helps the children adapt much better to the new environment they’ll be living in. Having them all share a room is usually not a problem if the camp is notified in advance and has rooms available for this purpose.
We always emphasize that parents should communicate any requests they have before completing the reservation, so that our customer service team can pass them on to the camp organizers and ensure no issues arise during the children’s stay.
Camps have become the perfect opportunity for parents and children to spend time apart and for the youngest members of the family to gain independence outside the home environment.
Parents’ concerns are common, but the most important thing is for them to relax about the separation and enjoy all the new experiences they’ll share with their child, such as buying the things they need, packing their suitcase, talking about how much fun they’ll have, saying goodbye, and welcoming them back with all their love when they return from camp.
The minor risks involved in signing up for summer camp will be more than made up for by the wonderful vacation your child will have.