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| Preparing for Summer Camp |  Teens like to rest at summer camps. That’s why parents face with two problems: the first one is to choose a summer camp and the second is to prepare your teen for summer camp. The second one is more disturbing because parents worry about their children. There are lots of questions that disturb parents, for example: Who will keep track of my child’s belongings? Who will supervise his or her medicaments if necessary? How will my child manage when he or she is feeling a little homesick or has had a tough day?
These are natural questions, but there are also natural answers for each of them. All you have to do is to spend some time for researching and evaluating the camp options for you. In case your teen has special needs (emotional or behavioral problems), you have to pay more attention to both your child’s behavior away from home and the camp staff’s ability to provide your child with the emotional support he or she needs to deal with the challenges and adventures a good camp provides.
Fortunately, if you are going to send your teen to a camp that created to service special needs kids, you are already a step ahead. This is because staff members of such camps are prepared to answer all your questions. Besides they also are accustomed to handling and administering necessary medications and they are able to counsel teens through the occasional bout of homesickness.
You have to make sure that the camp is well-prepared to help your teen by providing camp counselors, therapists and other staff members with as much relevant information about your son or daughter as possible. You have to understand that this is not the time to withhold information. Don’t be afraid to share your teen’s social, behavioral and emotional background with the necessary staff members. Due to this your special needs camps will be more than accommodating for children with all kinds of concerns, and you will only be making their job easier.
To crown it all, make sure you provide corresponding contact information and invite the staff to make good use of it. Staff members have to know that you are available when they need you. This is another good way to help ensure a worthwhile camp experience for both you and your teen. It is also great idea to provide your teen’s doctor or therapist with the relevant contact information in case of emergency.
You have to communicate closely with staff members of the camp on the run-up to your child’s session as well as with your child. Your teen may harbor some concerns about being away from home, making new friends, or tackling new experiences. That’s why you have to learn to listen to your child. When your teen tells you that he or she wants to go to the summer camp, offer him or her your full attention, find out his or her concerns and take the time to share both your own concerns and your enthusiasm.
You have to realize that as a parent you are the initial link between your teen and the camp. That’s why you have to provide as much information as possible to the camp administration, and spend as much time as possible talking with your teen about his or her expectations of summer camp.
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