Your Child's First Year At Overnight Summer Camp

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(No Transcript)
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Sending your youngster off for his first summer
away at sleepaway camp is a huge event for many
parents.
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How will your little one ever survive without
your protection and guidance?
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The answer is, probably very well after a bit of
initial homesickness.
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Camp counselors are well trained in the art of
making kids at ease with new friends and in
unfamiliar surroundings
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and while youve been suffering the pangs of
parental anxiety at home your camper has been off
swimming, sailing and giggling around the
campfire.
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Relax and make the big step easier for everyone
by following a few helpful hints.
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Start With a Sleepover
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If your youngster hasnt spent overnight time
away without you, schedule a sleepover with a
good friend or with a relative he hasnt stayed
with before.
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This will get him a bit more comfortable with
staying overnight in less familiar surroundings
and also help you realize hell be fine away from
home for a while.
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Just dont pick him up if he calls in the middle
of the night!
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Make A List
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Make a list of summer camp essentials with your
new camper, making sure to include a few little
luxuries (not too pricey) like the latest trendy
socks.
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It will make your youngster feel well prepared
and also cool enough to fit in.
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Once you know what you need, go shopping!
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Kids love to spend your money and can have fun
picking out things theyll be using on their new
adventure.
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One real ice-breaker on a hot day is a hand-held
water misting fan, sure to draw in lots of new
friends in sweaty weather.
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Realistic Expectations
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Have an honest talk with your new camper about
expectations.
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Most parents tell kids theyll love overnight
summer camp, which is more than likely the truth,
but its good to address the fact that there
might be a bit of an adjustment.
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Let her know some homesickness is perfectly
normal and try to brainstorm some ways they might
work around it, like staying extra-busy or
talking to her cabin counselor.
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If kids are expecting to be perfectly happy right
off the bat, the first hint of longing for home
may send them into a tailspin.
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The Short Goodbye
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Once youre at the big drop-off, make your
goodbyes short and sweet.
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You may be feeling teary-eyed and emotional, but
keep your feelings in check until youre back in
the car and on the way home.
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While you may think a few tears will make your
child feel loved, it may actually just serve to
make him feel guilty about leaving you alone and
miserable without him.
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Give him a hug, tell him to have fun and above
all, do NOT tell him youll come and get him if
he doesnt like it
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that just sets your camper up for taking the
path of least resistance leaving if he feels
homesick.
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News from the Home Front
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Kids at sleepaway camp love letters from home,
and youll treasure their often entertaining
epistles.
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Hopefully, youve packed them some stationary,
pens and self-addressed, stamped envelopes so
they have no excuse not to write!
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Letters should ask lots of questions (and not
things like are you lonely? ) and make home seem
pretty quiet and normal
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its not the time to let them know in on news
like a new puppy that may make home seem more
exciting than camp.
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Let them know youre glad they have the chance to
have this amazing summer experience
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but dont make them feel guilty by rattling on
about how lonely the house is without them.
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Remember, summer camp is an amazing experience
for your child, offering incomparable
opportunities for making friends
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enjoying new experiences, growing emotionally
and socially and creating magical memories that
will last a lifetime.
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And youll be just fine for a month or two
without him!
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If you're considering sending your child to an
overnight summer camp, be sure to visit our site
to learn about Camp Walt Whitman.
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Located in the White Mountains of New Hampshire,
Camp Walt Whitman offers a safe, nurturing
environment in a beautiful mountain setting.
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Our camp is a coed sleepaway camp, with separate
areas for boys and girls.
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The kids have a blast, and make friendships that
can last a lifetime.
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www.campwalt.com
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CAMP WALT WHITMAN
1000 Cape Moonshine Rd Piermont, NH
03779 603-764-5521 cww_at_campwalt.com