1.  Normalize the anxiety.

• Telling your child that going to camp is “nothing to worry about” can actually increase their stress. Let your child know that you understand and sympathize with their fears by normalizing their anxiety.  Instead, tell your child it’s completely normal and understandable to be anxious in a new situation, and that most children feel the same way.

2.  Manage your own anxiety. 

• Parents can be even more anxious than their child is about the transition to camp.  Children are incredibly perceptive and very attuned to their parents’ emotions.  You want to impart to your child your confidence in their ability to manage this summer camp experience.  Focus on your child’s strengths and remind them of those positive qualities to help boost their self-esteem.

3.  Reduce the uncertainty.

• If your child is able to verbalize the source of their anxiety, help them make a plan.  Children can often spend a great deal of time wondering, “What if…What if I get sick?  What if I am homesick?” Walking through possible challenges and identifying steps for your child to take can be a great source of comfort.

4. Speak to camp personnel.

• While some parents are often hesitant to share concerns about their child’s anxiety and/or tics, informing camp personnel can be incredibly helpful. The more informed the staff is about your child, the better equipped they will be to provide individualized, appropriate support to help ease their transition and help maximize your child’s summer experience.

5.  Go through “rehearsals.”

• If your child is going to day camp, taking a walk through the new environment a few days before camp begins will often help your child feel better prepared to manage their first day.  Local camps are usually amenable to working with families of anxious campers to do whatever is necessary to help a child feel more comfortable, including letting families come by for a “dry run.” If your child is anxious about going to sleep away camp, speak with the Camp Director to see if you can connect your child with a specific “go-to person” prior to their departure. Children are often fearful of separating from their parents and/or caregiver, and a familiar adult in a new surrounding can greatly help reduce anxiety.  Being homesick is perfectly normal for children as they adjust to life away from home, and should be expected, especially in anxious children.  Helping your child develop coping strategies, including seeking the help of a comforting adult if they are feeling sad, can help empower them.

6.  Keep the goodbyes short!

• Saying goodbye to your child on their first day of camp can be very stressful for children and their parents.  Make sure not to arrive at the bus stop too early as the waiting can often increase anxiety.  Try and keep the goodbye quick and expect that there may be tears.  Crying is perfectly normal when children separate and embark on a new adventure, and is not a sign that your child will not be a successful camper.

Lastly, remember that summer camp is an opportunity for your child to develop a strong sense of self and a newfound independence.  The adjustment to a new environment may take some time for anxious children, but the positive changes and growth that you can see in your child at the end of the summer can be extraordinary.

Jill Conway is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been working with children, adolescents and families for the past seven years.  She specializes in treating children and adolescents struggling with anxiety, OCD and Tourette Syndrome and is trained in both CBiT (Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention for Tics) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). For more information about CBiT and her private practice located in Rye, NY, you can contact her at jconwaylcsw@gmail.com, (914) 714-1969