Tips For Parents Sending Their Children To Summer Camp For The First Time

Let's talk about summer camp.

For many children, summer camp is their first taste of independence. The first time they'll be away from home without their family and experience life outside of their hometown and comfort zone.

Both sleepaway camp and day camp are great ways to help shape your children. These few weeks will be a brand-new experience for them—meeting new friends and counselors from all over, exploring new environments, developing new skills, and building character. It's also a welcome break from technology and a chance to experience the great outdoors in a way they may not be able to at home.

Much like sending your child to daycare or school, sending your child to camp for the first time can be scary. Some parents will have a more difficult time adjusting than others—and that's okay!

Name Bubbles is filled with parents who've been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt. So we wanted to take a few minutes to provide some sage advice that will hopefully ease those nerves.

Be Prepared!

The first step is to make sure your child is prepared to head off to camp. We don't mean, "Is your child ready for camp?" You don't often have to worry about that because chances are they are very excited. We're talking directly to you as the parent.

Camps will often send requirements and recommended supplies that each child should bring with them. It's essential to make sure you have everything purchased and packed as far in advance as possible because you don't want to be running around the night before trying to find the right sunblock or sleeping bag. That's just going to add to your stress levels.

The next step is to label anything that is going to camp with your child.

Labeling your child's belongings before heading off to summer camp has always been important. It's easy for mix-ups to occur with so many children in one place bringing many similar items with them. Not to mention, no one likes sifting through those mountain-like lost-and-found piles (that statement goes for children, parents, and camp counselors, by the way).

However, given today's environment, it's even more important to keep your child's belongings labeled. Camp counselors will work hard to prevent mix-ups, but parents need to do their part as well.

You'll want to make sure anything your child brings in their luggage arrives at camp labeled. This is especially important for items that come into contact with your child's eyes, mouth, nose, and ears. These include water bottles, goggles, glasses, food containers, sleeping bags, pillows, toiletries, and more.

Simply put, you don't want other children using your child's supplies.

Since our Camp Labels Pack includes labels for just about everything your camper brings, we've got you covered. A standard Camp Labels Pack comes with 73 personalized labels in five different sizes. For parents sending children to sleepaway camp, who will likely have even more belongings to label, we recommend our Sleepaway Camp Labels Pack. This larger pack includes 167 personalized labels in seven different sizes. (Wow, that's a lot of labeling!)

Our labels are printed with eco-friendly ink on durable, long-lasting vinyl. These labels are waterproof, sunscreen-resistant, bug spray-resistant, and ready to withstand just about everything summer camp throws at them. Best of all, they'll last all summer long and beyond!

Separation Anxiety

Homesickness is a normal part of camp for many children, but be prepared to manage your own feelings of separation too, especially if this is your first time.

It's important to stay active in both mind and spirit. Sitting around worrying about your child doesn't do anyone any good. Instead, use this time to catch up on projects around the house, spend extra time with your other children, or enjoy some quality time with your spouse.

Seriously, take a load off—you've earned it!

Try not to constantly check your phone or feel the need to check in. If your child needs to reach you, the camp staff will make sure you're contacted.

Instead, use this opportunity to rekindle the lost art of letter writing. Send your child to camp with pens, paper, envelopes, and stamps so they can write home. They'll tell you about the activities they're enjoying, the friends they're making, and everything they're learning. It's a wonderful way to practice writing skills while creating keepsakes your family will treasure for years to come.

While this may be an emotional time for first-time camp parents, we have every confidence that you'll handle it like a champ!

We'd love to hear how you prepare yourself for sending your children off to camp. Share your stories with us on Facebook and Instagram.

Thank you for joining us for a few minutes today. We'll see you again next week on The Weekly Bubble!