summer camp for sensitive kids

Going to camp in the summer can be an exciting time for a child who easily adapts to new environments and experiences. There are new activities to experience, places to explore and friends to meet. For a sensitive and/or anxious child who has trouble adapting to new situations though, the whole experience can be quite scary and overwhelming. Camps come in all different shapes and sizes. What is best for one child, may not work for another. In this article I will be discussing how to choose the best summer camp for your sensitive child.

3 Steps to Finding the Best Summer Camp for your Sensitive Child

1. Determine your child’s interests

There is no shortage of summer camp options these days. While a traditional camp environment is still an option, it is not the only choice. More and more schools, businesses and organizations are offering summer camps that appeal to a wide variety of interests.

There are camps that focus on adventure, academics, art, education, and sports to name a few. Sometimes you may have to look a little harder to find them, but with a little effort you should be able to discover one that suits your child’s interests.

What type of camp environment would best suit their needs and interests?

Involve your child in the process if they are old enough. Have them make a list of things that they are interested in. What type of summer camp activities would they enjoy?

Often times preschools and elementary schools offer summer camps to students. If your sensitive child has had positive school experiences this is a great option. They are already familiar with the environment, so the adjustment is a bit easier. Plus they are typically run by teachers who know them. Your child is also familiar with the teachers, so this can help make the adjustment to camp a little less overwhelming and scary.

There are so many summer camp niches these days that one is likely to appeal to your child’s interests. Get access to a list of 55 different camp ideas in the resource library below.

FREE HIGHLY SENSITIVE CHILD RESOURCE LIBRARY

Including 55 summer camp options!!

Get access to cheat sheets, checklists, and other valuable resources to help highly sensitive children, as well as receive my weekly high sensitivity newsletter

2. Decide on the length and frequency of camp

Next, you have to determine the length and frequency of camp that you feel your child can handle. Are you looking for a half day camp to keep your child engaged in the summer, but only for one or two weeks? Do you need day camps for your kid throughout the summer while you are at work? Is your child wanting to do a sleep away camp?

If it’s their first camp experience, I recommend summer camps for kids archery starting slow with a camp that is offered for only a few hours each day. A full day of camp every day, can be very challenging for a sensitive child. If your work requires full time care in the summer, you may want to consider half day camps with an at home sitter in the afternoon.

Summer camps can run for as little as one week or as much ten weeks over the course of the summer. Typically parents can sign up for individual weeks.

Once you have determined the type of camp and length that you are looking for, you can then begin to explore the options that are available in your area.

3. Do your research

The next step is to research camps that are available in your area. Some good places to start include your child’s school, other schools in the area, town community centers, the YMCA, wildlife/nature centers, churches, synagogues, businesses that cater to kids- play places, art centers, etc.

Gather information from websites and brochures to see if they could be a good fit. Contact the camp to see if they are having any open houses and/or schedule a meeting to speak to the director of the camp.

Summer camps for kids can vary greatly, so you want to make sure that the program will be a good fit for your sensitive child. Some questions you will want to ask include:

What is the average camp session size?

Sensitive children are often overwhelmed in loud environments and crowds of people, so the smaller the group, the better.

What is the counselor to camper ratio?

It is important to know how many children each camp counselor is responsible for leading. This can vary greatly by camp and is a good indicator of how responsive they can be to each camper’s needs.

How do you support campers with different emotional or social needs?

If your child has specific sensory sensitivities or social difficulties that you foresee strongly affecting them at camp, be sure to mention these. Are they willing to work with your child to accommodate these challenges when able?

What does a typical camp day look like?

Is there a predictable daily routine? Is it the same staff and group of children each day? You want to look for a program with continuity for your child. Sensitive kids like to know what to expect. A camp that drastically changes it’s activities from day to day may be difficult for them. The more information that you can get, the better prepared your child will feel when it’s time for camp.

Are there opportunities to meet staff or visit prior to the start of camp?

Often camps for kids will host an open house or provide opportunities to meet the staff and tour the facility prior to enrolling. Allowing your child to explore the new camp ahead of time gives them a chance to familiarize themselves with the environment, ask questions and ease some of their worries.

Choosing a summer camp for your sensitive child can feel overwhelming, but by following the three steps discussed above you will be on your way to finding one that will be a great fit for them.

Have you found a camp that your sensitive child loves? Share it with us in the comment section!