How Do I Help My Child Who Is Anxious About Summer Camp?

Summer is here!

The sun is out, the pools are open, and daily schedules start to change. For many families, summer also brings exciting new experiences such as day camp or overnight camp. While these opportunities can be filled with fun, friendship, and adventure, they also involve a lot of change.

For a child heading to overnight camp, almost everything feels different. They are in a new location, surrounded by new people, sleeping in a different bed, following unfamiliar routines, and spending time away from their parents. Even simple things like showering, eating meals, or getting ready for bed can happen in a completely different way. All of these changes can feel exciting but also overwhelming at the same time.

For some children, these changes are simply part of the adventure. For others, their mind begins preparing for every possible scenario. Questions like “What if I don’t make friends?”, “What if I miss home?”, or “What if I don’t know what to do?” can start to pile up. Even when these worries aren’t spoken out loud, they can create a sense of unease that may feel difficult to explain to others.

Anxiety often grows in situations that feel uncertain or unfamiliar. Your child may have many questions swirling around in their mind, but not know how to put those worries into words. Instead, they may simply experience a strong feeling of being overwhelmed, stressed, or unsettled.

Understanding Camp Anxiety

Think of a time when you have felt overwhelmed or anxious. What helped you feel better?

Maybe it was talking it through with someone, writing down your thoughts, or making an action plan? While these strategies may seem different, they all serve a similar purpose: they help take a jumble of worries that are bouncing around inside our head and organize them into something more manageable.

When children are able to identify and express what they are worried about, anxiety often becomes easier to understand and respond to. Instead of feeling like a giant cloud of stress, the worry becomes something concrete that can be explored, problem solved, and supported.

One of the challenges, around anxiety, for children and teenagers, is that they do not always know how to talk about their worries. Instead of expressing the questions running through their minds, they may just hold the emotional weight of the worries. The anxiety builds and may be misinterpreted as irritability, clinginess, tearfulness, or a sudden resistance to going to camp. You may find yourself wondering, “What happened? They were excited about camp a few weeks ago?” Often, the excitement is still there. It has just become buried underneath a growing pile of unanswered questions and uncertainty.

Camp could be aditionally challenging for children as they are forced to step out of their routine of what feels safe and familiar. Most of us can relate to feeling hesitant about trying something new, even when it is something we genuinely want to do. Children face this expereince going to camp, but they do it with fewer life experiences and coping skills to draw from. Routine and predictability provide a sense of safety for children. Even children who complain about school often find comfort in knowing what to expect each day. Camp brings many exciting opportunities, but it also removes much of that predictability. For a child who is already feeling nervous, the combination of excitement and uncertainty can create an emotional tug-of-war.

How to Help Reduce the Camp Anxiety

One of the most helpful things parents can do is create opportunities to talk about camp before it begins. Rather than focusing only on whether your child is excited or nervous, try getting curious about the specific questions or uncertainties they may have. Anxiety can feel like one big overwhelming emotion, but when we slow down and identify the worries underneath it, we can more readily manage each small fear one by one.

As your child shares their concerns, help them come up with a plan around their own worries.  If they are worried about not knowing anyone, discuss how they might introduce themselves or join an activity. If they are worried about getting lost, talk about who they could ask for help. If they are worried about missing home, discuss ways they can stay connected to memories of home while also engaging in camp activities. The goal is not to eliminate every possible challenge, but to help your child develop confidence in their ability to handle challenges if they arise.

It can also be helpful to remind your child of other times they have successfully navigated something new or difficult. Whether it was starting school, joining a sports team, attending a birthday party, or sleeping away from home, these experiences can serve as evidence that they are capable of coping with unfamiliar situations. Anxiety often focuses on what might go wrong, while parents can help children remember what they can already do well.

Make sure your child knows where they can turn for support at camp. Talk about who they can go to if they have a question, feel overwhelmed, or need help solving a problem. Camp counselors are used to helping children adjust, answer questions, and work through homesickness or worries. Knowing that support is available can help children feel less alone with their concerns.

Most importantly, try to normalize the mix of emotions your child may be experiencing. It is possible to feel excited and anxious at the same time. In fact, many children and adults experience both when facing a new adventure. By listening, validating their feelings, and helping them prepare for the unknowns, you can reduce some of the uncertainty that fuels anxiety and help your child approach camp with greater confidence.

If your child or teen is experiencing anxiety that extends beyond camp and is impacting their daily life, reach out to learn more about our child and teen therapy services and how we can support your family.