How to Know if Your Kid is Ready for Sleepaway Camp

Sleepaway camp will provide your child with the opportunity to gain important life skills, from independence to resilience. But how do you know if your child is ready for sleepaway camp this summer?

3 Ways to Tell If Your Child Is Ready for Sleepaway Camp

When thinking about overnight camp for your child, parents want to consider the following:

Your child is mature enough to spend the summer at sleepaway camp.

Age is certainly a factor, but each child is different. While one child might be ready for sleepaway camp at age 7, another child may not be ready until age 9. There is no right age to begin camp—your child’s maturity is a bigger factor than age.

Your child has had experiences to prepare them for a sleepaway camp.

Oftentimes, parents just know when their child is ready. Other times, parents may feel their child is ready, but their child isn’t so sure. Ask yourself the following questions as a starting point to help determine readiness:

• Does your child have successful sleepovers with relatives and friends?

• Does your child enjoy staying busy with activities all day?

• Is your child able to take care of basic self-care, such as showering unassisted, brushing hair, and brushing teeth?

Answering “yes” to these questions is a good start. If your child is hesitant about the idea, don’t push it. However, positive messages and encouragement can help your child overcome any nervousness about the new experience.

Your child shows interest in or starts asking questions about sleepaway camp.

Your child might start asking questions about overnight camp because a friend or older cousin is going. Looking at a camp’s website, attending a virtual camp fair, setting up a zoom call or backyard visit with the camp director, or going on a social-distanced camp tour with your child can be helpful in deciding whether your child is ready for camp as well as if the camp is a good fit for your family. Pay attention to what your child says while watching the camp video or the questions they ask during the backyard visit. You’ll also want to notice your child’s body language and what that tells you. It’s normal for a child to be nervous about any new experience, so having open and honest conversations about what camp is like will help your child visualize what a summer at sleepaway camp will be like.

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