Comments on: Survey http://american-family.org/2009/11/05/survey/ Thu, 24 May 2012 00:31:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Phoebe http://american-family.org/2009/11/05/survey/comment-page-1/#comment-131156 Phoebe Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:54:07 +0000 http://american-family.org/?p=2420#comment-131156 My kid will not be ready for sleep-away camp at 7. (My kid will not overnight with grandparents, or with friends, because "I miss my parents too much." My kid woke up at 1am and re-opened her door to the bathroom that connects her room to ours, "just in case I needed it later" last night. My kid is in my bed when I wake up in the morning about 50% of the time.) Her preschool offered overnights a couple times a year, and she was totally fine with those. But she loved preschool, and camp would be a brand-new environment. She hates brand-new environments. My kid will not be ready for sleep-away camp at 7. (My kid will not overnight with grandparents, or with friends, because “I miss my parents too much.” My kid woke up at 1am and re-opened her door to the bathroom that connects her room to ours, “just in case I needed it later” last night. My kid is in my bed when I wake up in the morning about 50% of the time.)

Her preschool offered overnights a couple times a year, and she was totally fine with those. But she loved preschool, and camp would be a brand-new environment. She hates brand-new environments.

]]> By: Annie http://american-family.org/2009/11/05/survey/comment-page-1/#comment-131045 Annie Sun, 08 Nov 2009 01:49:40 +0000 http://american-family.org/?p=2420#comment-131045 As a former camper and camp counselor I'd have to say it is very rare that a seven year old would be ready for camp. It's a very different environment full of challenging activities they've never tried, people they've never met, weird food and strange beds. And seven days is a long time. Even three days is too much for many kids that young. However, once in a while I've seen a seven year old thrive at camp. BUT that's rare. As a former camper and camp counselor I’d have to say it is very rare that a seven year old would be ready for camp. It’s a very different environment full of challenging activities they’ve never tried, people they’ve never met, weird food and strange beds. And seven days is a long time. Even three days is too much for many kids that young. However, once in a while I’ve seen a seven year old thrive at camp. BUT that’s rare.

]]> By: Elaine http://american-family.org/2009/11/05/survey/comment-page-1/#comment-130900 Elaine Fri, 06 Nov 2009 06:58:20 +0000 http://american-family.org/?p=2420#comment-130900 I vote no. I spent many summers as a camp counselor. The youngest kids we had were 8 year olds and that was for what we called "Mini-Camp" of, I think, 3 days. That was always the worst week of camp. One kid would get homesick and start crying and then the whole damn cabin would be in tears and shrieks, even the kids who were happy to be there. And the regression peeing in their sleeping bags. Yikes. But hey, maybe your kid is more grown up than these were. I vote no. I spent many summers as a camp counselor. The youngest kids we had were 8 year olds and that was for what we called “Mini-Camp” of, I think, 3 days. That was always the worst week of camp. One kid would get homesick and start crying and then the whole damn cabin would be in tears and shrieks, even the kids who were happy to be there. And the regression peeing in their sleeping bags. Yikes. But hey, maybe your kid is more grown up than these were.

]]> By: Lisa http://american-family.org/2009/11/05/survey/comment-page-1/#comment-130880 Lisa Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:50:15 +0000 http://american-family.org/?p=2420#comment-130880 I think it depends on the kid, but in general, I would say yes! I started summer camp at age 7. My sister was there too, she was 3 years older. But we went for a whole month. In my job, I work with kids who are eligible to go to those special Paul Newman camps for kids with chronic illnesses. These camps are week long. There is always a lot of stress on the part of the parents as to when a kid is ready for this type of camp (6 is the youngest they will take). I had a pair of 7 year olds go this year (they were not friends before hand, but are now) and they had a fantastic time! They both want to be counselors when they grow up now. I think it depends on the kid, but in general, I would say yes! I started summer camp at age 7. My sister was there too, she was 3 years older. But we went for a whole month. In my job, I work with kids who are eligible to go to those special Paul Newman camps for kids with chronic illnesses. These camps are week long. There is always a lot of stress on the part of the parents as to when a kid is ready for this type of camp (6 is the youngest they will take). I had a pair of 7 year olds go this year (they were not friends before hand, but are now) and they had a fantastic time! They both want to be counselors when they grow up now.

]]> By: D. http://american-family.org/2009/11/05/survey/comment-page-1/#comment-130853 D. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:08:48 +0000 http://american-family.org/?p=2420#comment-130853 As everyone has already said, I think it's heavily dependent on the kid. I'm not sure I would have been ready for overnight camp at that age, and I'm not sure I'd be ready to send a 7 year old off to camp, but that's me being over-protective mama bear. A friend of mine and I went to summer camp together when we were...13 maybe, and I had been to the camp before (although she hadn't) and I was fine and she was a WRECK. She had a terrible case of homesickness that made her miserable the entire time we were there. Now that I think of it, I'd love to be able to go to summer camp again. Why don't they have things like that for adults? As everyone has already said, I think it’s heavily dependent on the kid. I’m not sure I would have been ready for overnight camp at that age, and I’m not sure I’d be ready to send a 7 year old off to camp, but that’s me being over-protective mama bear. A friend of mine and I went to summer camp together when we were…13 maybe, and I had been to the camp before (although she hadn’t) and I was fine and she was a WRECK. She had a terrible case of homesickness that made her miserable the entire time we were there. Now that I think of it, I’d love to be able to go to summer camp again. Why don’t they have things like that for adults?

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