Managing Your Mental Health When Your Child Goes to Overnight Camp
Sending your child to overnight camp is a pivotal experience for you and your child. It’s natural for a parent to feel a mix of pride, excitement, worry, and uncertainty. Acknowledging and managing these emotions can help make the camp experience enjoyable and meaningful for everyone.
Common Emotions While Your Child is at Camp
1. ANXIETY You might worry about your child’s safety, happiness, or ability to manage without you, often driven by a sense of losing control and uncertainty about how they’ll handle being away.
2. LONELINESS Your daily routine might feel emptier without your child, especially if much of your time has been focused on their needs and activities.
3. GUILT You might worry that sending your child away means you’re neglecting your role as a caregiver, missing important milestones in their life, or that they’ll feel abandoned.
4. SADNESS Separation can bring about a sense of loss, especially if this is your first significant time apart.
5. FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN Uncertainty about how your child will handle challenges, build friendships, practice self-care, or cope with homesickness can create concerns about their emotional well-being.
These emotions and concerns are completely understandable. The best way to enjoy your summer and embrace your child’s growth and positive experiences is by practicing effective coping strategies.
Coping Strategies While Your Child is at Camp
1. ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR EMOTIONS
• Accept feelings of anxiety, sadness, or guilt as a natural response to your child being away at camp.
• Practice grounding techniques like deep breathing, mindfulness, or journaling to ease your thoughts.
• Seek support from a professional if needed—it’s perfectly okay and completely commonplace.
2. STAY POSITIVE
• Focus on the skills your child will gain at camp, like independence, confidence, and resilience.
• Remind yourself that camp is a gift to your child, offering them growth and fun experiences.
• Reflect on the times your child benefited from your encouragement to try new things.
• Seek reassurance from other parents; hearing their positive experiences can ease your concerns.
3. RECONNECT WITH YOURSELF
• View this time as an opportunity to recharge and focus on your well-being.
• Create a list of personal goals, explore hobbies, take up new interests, or tackle personal projects you’ve been putting off.
• Practice self-care, whether it’s exercising, meditating, or catching up on sleep.
• Schedule time with friends or loved ones to maintain your social connections and emotional support.
• Volunteer or join a local organization or community group to stay engaged, find purpose, and build meaningful social connections.
4. STAY CONNECTED IN HEALTHY WAYS
• To feel involved and support your child, schedule regular times to write letters, and if permitted, send small care packages.
• In your letters, ask open-ended questions about your child’s new activities and experiences; be encouraging and remind them of their strengths, helping them feel supported from afar.
• Collaborate with camp staff: To maintain healthy boundaries, if concerns arise, communicate with the camp staff rather than with your child directly.
• Communicate with camp staff ahead of time, especially if your child takes medications during the school year, so they can be well-prepared to support your child.
5. TRUST THE PROCESS
• Let go of control and remind yourself that camp is designed to provide a safe and nurturing environment, with trained staff who are well-equipped to support children and ensure their well-being.
• Celebrate your child’s bravery and recognize that children are often more adaptable than parents realize; this is an opportunity for both of you to grow through this experience.
• Avoid overchecking updates or fixating on camp photos, as they capture only brief moments and can lead to unnecessary anxiety if your child isn’t featured or looks serious. For instance, your child might not be smiling because they’re busy wondering if lunch is mac and cheese or quesadillas!
• Remember that your child is gaining invaluable experiences at camp, even if you’re not physically present; you’re fostering independence by trusting in the process.
You’ve prepared your child well for this adventure and selected a camp that aligns with your child’s needs — now it’s time to let them thrive!
www.noshameonu.org
www.noshameonu.org.