My daughter is involved in Girl Scouts and it is time to start signing up the girls for camp. The camp is a 2 night, 3 day camp that has many activities I think she will benefit from. However, my daughter is hesitant to spend the night somewhere where she is unfamiliar with her surroundings and I am wondering if I should sign her up anyway. Is this something you "force" them to do so that they can get over their irrational fear of spending time away from their parents? Or, do I wait another year or two and try to encourage her to participate when she is older?
Thank you to everyone who responded and offered their advice on the situation. I have decided not to register her for the overnight camp this year. We are going to wait and see if this is something she is more comfortable with next year. She is going to go to one of the day camps instead. Thank you again! :-)
Why don't you try day camp this year? And you can sign up to be a volunteer at the camp and help with one of the activities. My daughter loved day camp, loved me being a volunteer. And she loved overnight camp a year later and she didn't want me there! They grow up!
A.
Have you considered going along as a parent volunteer? Maybe if you went this first time, then if it came up again in the future your daughter would feel more comfortable with the situation. I would never force her to do something that is meant to be fun. I sit and talk to her about what her concerns were and try to reassure her that her leaders and friends will all be there, but if she still feels strongly about not going and you are unable to accompany her them I would wait on camp. Good luck with your decision. I was a girl scout for many years and went camping twice a year every year I was in girl scouts and I loved it so hopefully you are able to work something out with your daughter.
When my child was this age, she was scared yet she wanted to, once she got there at camp she loved it.
I've been involved with scouts and watched kids do the same, yet some was so scared that we had to call home..
We always suggest that the parent send a stuff toy that they love and has the scent of mommy with them to camp. that helps.
Make sure they have #'s to reach you in case they do need to call you to come for your child. Just remember right now they are scared for it a new expereince and we all go thru that no matter what the age is.
I feel you are the best judgement on if you should send them or if you should wait.
I always LOVED summer camp. I was also a very outgoing child. Maybe just try letting her stay the night with friends or grandparents or something a few times before she goes. Be sure to talk to her about all the fun things they'll do, and let her know that you'll be just a phone call away. I know that they sometimes need supervisors for those type of things, is there not a way that you could go with her?
My parents were youth pastors, so I started going to church camp at a very young age, but I also always had them with me. That might be an awesome compromise so that she can go and get the benefits from it, but you'll be close by.
-A.
I spent many summers as an RN at a day/overnight camp. The kids were eligible for overnight camp at 8/0 (after 3rd grade). Most of them were miserable. By the time they hit Jr High they did much better.
D.
My daughter was in Girl Scouts last year and she was 7 years old. They had a camp but you don't have to go. I personally didn't know the leaders that were going so therefore I wasn't comfortable in letting my daughter go. Some other parents felt the same and didn't let their kids go either. If I had known the leaders I would have unless my daughter didn't want to go.
I don't think you force her to go, but I do think that you should ask her why she doesn't want to go. Sit her down and talk about her concerns. I think once she got there with the other girls her age, it wouldn't be as big a deal. There are times I wish I had been pushed a little more because I did miss out on things the other girls did and it kind of put me outside conversations about things they did at camp.
Either decision is not the wrong decision as long as you let her decide in the end and you support her.
Good luck!
Jodi
Why make her grow up before she's ready? And, anymore, her fears aren't irrational. The world is a big place and I'd wait until she feels more confident about handling herself in it. Good luck!
Andi
I am no expert however I have a 16 year old who went through all this and now a 2 year old going to come up to it within a few years and I would have to say I would let her decide, some kids just are not ready to be away from home and that is OK and I feel as though when they are ready you will know, can parents go along and maybe if so you could be a volunteer this first time, 7 is still a little young to be away for 2 nights! Good Luck!
I wouldnt push it. 7 is so young. Put her in twilight camp, it offers great activities but they go home at 9 or somewhere around then.
If you force her now while she is so young two things could happen: 1) She would realize her fears were not so bad after all and have a great time. or, 2) She could be terrified the whole time and end up not trusting you so much in the future when you try to encourage other ventures. The 2nd scenario would be enough for me to not force my child to go. I was scared to do things like this when I was that young - my parents never "made" me go anywhere that I wasn't comfortable at. Lo & behold, I just needed to be a little older and then I was asking to go. Every child is different - if it were me, I would just take my cue from my child. Some people thought I was ruining my son b/c up until this past year, he slept with us. Lo & behold again, "he" told us he wanted to sleep in his room and has been fine ever since. Do you know the counselors/chaparones really well? That would make a big difference to me as well. As sad as it is, I wouldn't send a child that young for o/night anywhere unless I was extremely confident of the adults there b/c you just never know who you can trust these days, even when it's a great organization like girl/boy scouts or even church related activities. Good luck!
I'm so glad you decided not to send your daughter. Let her be attached to you and home as long as possible because she will be gone before you know it. Our children's young years pass so fast and life is so unpredictable, we need to savor every moment they WILL spend with us NOW! Believe me, I've been there and done that.
God bless you and yours.
