Sending kids to summer camp can be awesome and worrisome at the same time. First time camping tips and tricks for beginners staying overnight is drafted to help you prepare your little one in most conducive ways. Summer is here and all our plans for enriching our kids through the summer camp, are just around the corner. Let us proactively put together some tricks that will ease our kids, and help them in attending the summer camp for the first time.
[Read: Benefits of summer camp in formative years of a child]
It is an incredible experience both for the child and parent, to attend summer camp. Great job done already, for you have opted the most enriching and learning experience for their life. Let us now go through some checklist to make most out of this invigorating experience. It is now time for checking the emotional and mental make up of our child too. If it’s the first ever sleepover then some more detailed tips would be needed. Make sure to discuss all the details with your child from a month in advance. Show them pictures or website about the camp, what to expect and how will it proceed. This will help in making the child aware of most of the things in advance and avoid any on the spot anxieties.
First time camping tips and tricks for beginners staying overnight include:
[Read: Essential summer camp safety tips for kids]
1-Plan ahead:
Start planning and putting down things as and when you flash them. It is very important to have a blue print of how you will pack, what you will pack and how to prepare your child. Avoid last minute haste by scheduling your tasks in a systematic manner. Enlist, list and delist, for things you think about, you want to buy and you don’t wish to send or are barred by camp organizers.
2-Find out about the camp:
Most camps have regulations for food, items to carry and other details. Be sure to check and follow their instructions all through your preparation.
3-Try sleepovers:
Make your child emotionally prepared by organizing few sleepovers with some friends who would attend the same summer camp, if in case you have any common friend. Else just with friends, to help your child understand how staying away from parents work. Aunt or at Grandma’s house, but sleepover away from mom’s comforting zone is much needed. Make it fun and exciting so that child is looking forward to summer camp.
4-Go shopping:
Bring your child for the shopping expeditions, and let them choose their picks. This will help the child in getting involved and enjoy every aspect of preparation for the camp. Let the kids pick their toothbrushes, towels and other supplies as intricately as possible. Don’t let them miss any of their favorite character they wish to carry in their toiletries or other supplies.
5-Labels:
Print labels for all the belongings and make the kids mark them. This helps in better organization and also kids know what all stuff they are carrying. Use awesome camp labels extensively. This adds life and fun to the packing.
6-Put extra summer supplies:
Summer supplies like sunglasses, sunscreen, hats and others must be adequate and plentiful. Don’t let the heat take away the fun from your little ones. Ensure proper SPF sunscreen, seek advice from your healthcare provider for more.
7-BAG SIZE AND WEIGHT:
This will the most important aspect, do not over stuff the bags making it too big or heavy for your child to carry. Just the right size and weight your kid is comfortable carrying around. Make it more of a rucksack design which is easy-handsfree fun.
8-Independence skills:
Teach your child some independence skills for safety, health and hygiene. Make sure the child knows how to clean and wash themselves properly. How to arrange bed and clean space. Start independence skills at home from at least a month in advance. Make them take care of their own belongings and organize them on their own. Laundry and bathing are the most critical of it all. Teach them “how to” and “what not to”
9-Check for camp drop off policy and be sure to keep your child aware of it all:
Planning about the camp and actually dropping off at the camp are altogether different things. Make your child understand how you would drop them and pick them and how things proceed after you have left.
10-No contact of less contact policies:
Check cell phone and contact policies of the camp. Most camps do not permit cell phones and mostly few contacts are available for offsite settings. Be sure to check medical and emergency care facilities. Make all your contacts and emergency numbers listed on camp application forms.
11-Be optimistic and share with your child:
Keep discussing how great camping experiences can be and how wonderful you see the camp for your kid. Keep sharing all valuable and exciting details of the camp from at least a few weeks in advance.
12-Send notes and letters, also family pictures:
Sending notes for your little one as surprise, works wonderfully. It helps them stay calm and relaxed. Some kids get nostalgic and homesick, these little thoughts help children to be happy and enjoy at the camp. Do check the summer camp policy for the pictures.
13-Send extra supplies:
Some items like underwear, slippers and socks must be additional, for those accidents which happen unplanned. There must be ample for your child to not miss any important stuff.
14-Be patient and don’t let your anxiety spill around:
As a parent its natural to be anxious and impatient. But don’t let it open to your child. Cool it off and be as calm and excited as your little one is.
15-Smile at the drop off:
Most important part of the camping success. Do not let tears rolling out at the camp gate. The child needs your smiling face more than anything else. Make it a happy and enthusiastic drop off. Be sure to check all the items once again before leaving.
[Read: What to do if your child is being bullied at school]
First time camping tips and tricks for beginners staying overnight, is compiled to help you organize and enjoy every bit of your child’s first summer camp journey. Make sure to capture all wonderful moments and add to your child’s scrapbook. These are memories cherished for lifetime.
Have you still not registered for the summer camp, check campnavigator for wonderful and elaborate listings. Our comprehensive list and camp reviews are sure to help your decide the most optimal fit for your child.
By Minu Manisha
