Camp Squared - Should Camp be a Sibling Experience?

  Camp can be a beneficial, fun, life-changing experience for every child, but if you have two or more children in your household, the biggest decision looking ahead to this summer may be: “Do I send one or all of them to camp?” Even if your children get along famously and enjoy many of the same activities, ask yourself the following questions about each of your children individually:

• How old is your child? Keep in mind that kids under age 7 may not readily adjust to being away from home.

• Does your child show an interest in attending camp?

• Has your child had positive overnight experiences at friends’ or relatives’ homes, or are sleepovers a source of anxiety?

• What activities does your child expect to do at camp, and are those expectations positive and realistic?

Siblings Sleeping Away

   If, after careful thought and talking to your children as a family, you decide all the siblings in the house are ready and equipped for camp, the next consideration may be: “Do I send them to the same camp, or do I separate them?”

   There are pros and cons to both choices. Siblings who are close in age and interests and consistently get along with each other may find camp even more enjoyable if given the opportunity to experience it together. And when the camp experience is over, the siblings can reminisce and engage jointly in any new hobbies they picked up over the summer. Keep in mind, however, that camp also helps attendees develop better social skills and encourages independence and healthy risk-taking. If your children are too focused on each other, they could miss the opportunity to make new friends and spread their wings.

   If you think your children’s photos ought to appear by the term “sibling rivalry” in the latest child psychology textbook, consider sending them to different camps. You don’t want unhealthy competition to color what ought to be a fun-filled experience.