Summer Camp
What does a summer camp experience offer kids?
- Summer camp can provide a chance for your child to unplug from the digital world they usually inhabit.
- Camp can be a great place to develop emotional intelligence—meaning self-awareness, self-control, empathy, the ability to wait (delayed gratification), the ability to listen, cooperate, share, and work well with others.
- Summer camp can enhance social development, including social skills and resiliency.
- Camps can foster self-reliance
What are some factors to consider when choosing a summer camp?
- Signing your child up for summer camp? U-M camp health expert offers tips and a checklist
- Healthy campers are happy campers U-M camp health expert explains national guidelines
How do I prepare my child for summer camp?
What about homesickness and separation anxiety?
- New thinking needed on helping kids avoid or cope with homesickness. A recent clinical report from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) gives children’s doctors and parents specific guidance for helping kids deal with separations and homesickness. This press release highlights tips for parents and includes links to helpful resources.
- Read the full AAP clinical report for a thorough discussion of preventing and treating homesickness, including useful tips for parents.
- Sleepovers and Sleep-away Camp: Helping Children with Separation Anxiety (also in Spanish, Chinese and Korean)
- Opening Day Blues
- For kids: Homesickness (also in Spanish)
- For teens: Homesickness
What are some resources for kids and teens?
- For kids: Going away to camp
- For kids: Camping and Woods Safety
- For preteens: Summer camp—Get ready, get packed.
- For teens: Camping Basics
Are there any good books on kids and summer camp?
The Summer Camp Handbook: Everything You Need to Find, Choose and Get Ready for Overnight Camp—and Skip the Homesickness, by Christopher Thurber and Jon Malinowski.
The authors are psychologists and former campers/camp counselors. The book guides parents’ in choosing the right camp for their child, preparing for it, preventing homesickness, and helping their child get the most out of the experience, and even has a special section for kids.
What about kids with special needs?
- YourChild: Children with Chronic Conditions offers many summer camp resources (see the section on “strategies for coping”, then go down to the bulleted section on supporting friendships and activities with peers).
- The Federation for Children with Special Needs' Summer Fun 2009 Directory is packed with camps and resources on over 100 pages. (View sample pages from Summer Fun 2009) The Summer Fun 2009 Camp Guide is available in two formats:
- downloadable/printable PDF document for $5.00 or;
- softcover book for $10.00 each including shipping and handling.
- Summer Camps for Children with Disabilities—from NICHCY, the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities.
- Sleep-Away Camps for Children on Medication
Where can I find more resources?
- YourChild: Summer Safety
- YourChild: Parenting over Summer Break
Compiled by Kyla Boyse, RN. Reviewed by faculty and staff at the University of Michigan.
Updated May 2009
U-M Health System Related Sites:
U-M Pediatrics
