So you’re going to summer camp! Are you excited? You should be! Camp is a great experience, where you’ll meet new friends, do cool stuff, and make memories for the rest of your life. But being away from home for the first time can make some people nervous. We asked Maggie Labban, LCSW, a behavioral health consultant with Children’s Wisconsin, to share some ways to get ready:
Do a Practice Run
Overnight camp is a whole lot easier if you’ve had a few sleepovers first. Talk to your parents about scheduling a trial run at a trusted friend or family member’s house – it’s good practice for being away from home.
READ MORE FROM MILMAG MINI HERE.
Break Your Routine
You might not expect it, but one of the weirdest feelings at camp is your routine changing. Do you get up at the same time, eat dinner at the same time, always watch TV at the same time? If so, try changing things up before going to camp. That way it won’t feel so strange.
Enter the ‘Uncomfortable Zone’
It’s important for everyone to get outside their comfort zone and feel uncomfortable sometimes, according to Maggie. Trying new things and doing things that challenge you helps you become braver and more confident. Camp is great for that. You don’t have to do anything that makes you too scared, but try some things that seem difficult – maybe that’s canoeing or archery or climbing ropes. You might find that you enjoy them!
Know the Golden Rule
You meet lots of new people at camp. Maybe you love that, maybe it makes you nervous. Either way, Maggie says, the most important thing is empathy – understanding other people’s feelings. “When you walk into a room full of kids you don’t know, think, ‘How do I want these people to treat me?’ And then do that for other kids.” Would you want someone to ask you to play with them? Yes? Then try asking someone else.
Talk it Out
If you ever don’t feel good – maybe you miss home – talk to a counselor. They help kids talk through their feelings all the time, and they can help you!
Ground Yourself
If you feel really nervous, Maggie recommends “grounding.” Use all five senses to calm down – look at five different things around you (try looking for five things that are your favorite color); feel four different objects; listen for three sounds; smell two things; and if there’s a snack nearby, taste one. Using all five senses can help you feel more relaxed!
