Wait until your child is at least 7 before sending her packing. And remember, “sleep-away camp is not for everyone,” says child psychiatrist Elizabeth Berger. If you or your kid is extremely apprehensive about camp, you may want to hold off until next summer.
Schedule practice sleepovers (like an unchaperoned visit to Grandma’s; she’ll be thrilled). Just make sure to enforce standard camp rules–no phone calls, e-mails or smoke signals. Instead, have Junior send you postcards from the slumber party, so he’ll get in the habit of letter writing.
Shop together for camp supplies like soap and sunscreen. And look over camp brochures as a family. When it’s time to pack, help your child pick one favorite object to take along–like a stuffed animal or pillow. As for your own separation anxiety? Just try not to cry when the bus pulls away.
