ROSWELL, Ga. -- Despite your best efforts to keep your little chicks close to the nest, nothing can keep your kids from their firm desire to stretch their independence and attend a sleep-away summer camp.

While you might not be able to imagine more than a night away from your child, you also know that a sleep-away camp experience is a rite of passage your kid deserves. He or she needs to try, even if those weeks while away will have you nervous with longing and anxiety until his or her safe return.

Conversely, many kids are tentative about going to summer camp away from home. Portraits of camps showcase sun-splashed children playing sports and swimming. Not pictured is any sign of anxiety, a natural reaction to a new adventure and separation. All children experience a mixture of excitement and nervousness when summer camp approaches. For most, excitement trumps nerves, but some children develop anxiety serious enough to get in the way of what should be a fun experience. Summer camps can hone skills useful for future success - (resilience, self-reliance, and social adaptability). The camp experience—being away from home among peers—help kids develop social skills and cultivate independence; and camp activities can help them build confidence by demonstrating mastery.

If you are a parent ready to let your child take the sleep-away-camp plunge, below are some helpful tips to help you and your child get over the pre-camp jitters. (Remember first to acknowledge your child’s feelings and give him/her tools to help tame them.)

Let your child feel a sense of ownership over the experience. Involve him/her in picking the summer camp; familiarize him with the camp environment and teach him about camp activities so he can form expectations.

Help your child get excited about camp by taking him/her shopping for a new sleeping bag. Focus on fun things about camp that he/she can anticipate.

Let your child bring “something” that gives them comfort and reassurance – like a cozy sleeping bag (or stuffed animal). Even if they are sleeping in bunk beds (which is likely), their “own” sleeping bag will give them a more comforting feeling while away from their own bed. If he/she does not have a sleeping bag, search for one at Cricketzzz.com to find the perfect sleeping bags for kids and teens. These sleeping bags are unique in that they come with a pillow, open flat to top a bed, and are ultra-soft for the best summer camp sleep away experience. LAST, let your child pick the style, so it will be extra special to him or her when it is taken to camp.

Don't trivialize his/her concerns or offer casual reassurances. "There's nothing to worry about!" or "Everyone loves camp!" may discourage your child. Instead, show that you have empathy and acknowledge his/her concerns.

Reflect on your own formative experiences away from home and share positive aspects of them with your child. Show that you are willing to talk about the new things he'll be doing, whether it's eating new food, sleeping in a bunk-bed, getting along with cabin-mates, or coexisting with insects.

Rehearse, by spending a sleepover or a night at Grandma's to make it easier for your child to be away from home.

Keep the goodbyes short, as delaying just causes more mixed feelings.

Try not to communicate your own anxiety; your child can pick up on your feelings even if you don't verbalize them. What you want to share is your confidence in your child and the summer experience.

Help your child formulate realistic, goal-oriented plans for making friends or roasting the perfect marshmallow or passing a swimming test. The thrill of completing these plans can give your child a feeling of success and take his mind off his anxiety.

If your child has any special needs, don't keep them a secret. Make sure the staff and counselors know anything they need to know to head off problems and maximize his/her experience. Is she anxious about water? And let your child know that counselors are there to support her, whether she has a simple question or a larger problem.

For parents who are anxious about sending kids to summer camp, remember that the cost of a good camp includes much more than arts and crafts; it includes a team of professionals and counselors committed to fostering social learning in your child.

Summer camp is a unique experience where your child engages with a large community of peers and learns how to interact socially in a less-structured environment than school. This is a time for him to actively make decisions for himself and develop a sense of self-reliance. Though you may be concerned and wish to intervene, your supportiveness will give your child room to take ownership over the experience all by himself.

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