Karyn Rossacci, Chief Nursing Officer for MiraVista Behavioral Health Center and TaraVista Behavioral Health Center, advises parents that anxiety before summer camp is a normal part of emotional growth. She recommends normalizing these feelings and practicing independence to help children build confidence and resilience when spending time away from home for the first time.
For many children, the transition to summer camp represents a primary milestone in independence. While the experience is often associated with adventure and new friendships, it frequently triggers anxiety for children facing their first extended period away from primary caregivers. According to Rossacci, these nervous feelings are not obstacles to be removed, but are instead tools for emotional development.
Rossacci states that summer camp allows children to discover they can navigate unfamiliar situations and uncertainty, ultimately emerging stronger. She encourages parents and caregivers to resist the urge to eliminate every anxious feeling before the camp session begins, arguing that the goal is to help children discover they are capable and resilient.
Strategies for Building Child Confidence for Summer Camp
Preparing a child for the emotional demands of camp requires a balance of encouragement and practical experience. Rossacci suggests several specific methods to reinforce a child’s growing independence before they depart.
One primary recommendation is the use of “practice” independence. This includes arranging sleepovers with grandparents or other relatives and organizing day trips with trusted adults. By encouraging children to make age-appropriate decisions on their own in low-stakes environments, caregivers can build the foundational confidence necessary for a camp setting.
Rossacci also emphasizes the importance of how parents frame the conversation around camp. She suggests focusing on the positive aspects, such as potential friendships and specific activities the child will enjoy, rather than focusing on the absence of the parents.
To provide emotional security, Rossacci recommends allowing children to pack a small reminder of home. Examples include a favorite stuffed animal, a family photograph, or a handwritten note. These items serve as transitional objects that can provide comfort during the initial adjustment period.
Managing the Transition and Departure
The moment of departure often determines a child’s initial emotional state at camp. Rossacci notes that children frequently take emotional cues from the adults around them. A calm, confident farewell communicates to the child that the adult believes in their ability to succeed.
She advises that goodbyes should be kept warm, loving, and brief. Prolonged or overly emotional departures can inadvertently signal to the child that the environment is unsafe or that the parent is anxious about the separation, which may increase the child’s own distress.
The process of building confidence continues after the camp session ends. Rossacci suggests that caregivers celebrate the courage the child displayed. Recognizing the bravery it took to spend the first night away from home or to try a new activity, such as a climbing wall, reinforces the child’s identity as someone who can handle difficult things.
Distinguishing Normal Jitters from Clinical Anxiety
While pre-camp nerves are common, Rossacci cautions that caregivers must distinguish between normal apprehension and persistent anxiety. According to guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics, separation anxiety is common in early childhood, but it may require professional intervention if it becomes developmentally inappropriate or interferes with daily functioning.
Rossacci notes that adults should seek guidance from a pediatrician or a mental health professional if a child’s anxiety becomes overwhelming, persistent, or begins to interfere with their daily life. In these instances, clinical support can provide the necessary tools to manage the transition without causing undue distress.
According to Rossacci, some of the most significant growth in confidence comes from the realization that a person can endure discomfort. She asserts that camp often becomes a lifelong memory not because the child was never nervous, but because they found the courage to continue despite those feelings.
Parents monitoring their children’s mental health as the summer season approaches should maintain an open dialogue about emotions and observe behavioral changes. For those seeking further support, behavioral health centers such as MiraVista provide resources for managing childhood emotional transitions.
Readers are encouraged to share their experiences with childhood transitions or ask questions regarding pediatric emotional health in the comments below.