Staying in Touch with Your Kids at Sleepaway Camp: 6 Tips
The kids are away for the summer—or at least part of it—and suddenly, you’re experiencing withdrawal. No one to feed, no one to remind (for the hundredth time) to clean their room or brush their teeth. The moments you once spent pushing them out the door for school are now your moments.
And yet, instead of fully embracing the peace and quiet, your thoughts drift to what they’re doing in their summer home.
So, how do you stay connected without hovering? Here are six great ways:
1. Snail Mail 📬
It may feel old-fashioned, but nothing beats a handwritten letter at camp. Many parents even start writing a week before departure so their child has mail waiting upon arrival.
🚨 Warning! Keep it light and positive. No tales of how much you miss them or how lonely the house feels. Instead, ask questions about their activities, friends, and camp adventures.
2. Emails 💻
Most camps now offer email services where you can send a message that gets printed and delivered like a letter. It’s a quick and easy way to check in.
🚨 Same rule applies! Don’t send emails filled with sadness or guilt—keep it upbeat and engaging.
3. Cell Phones (Or… Not) 📱
Some parents can’t bear to part with their child and ingeniously pack two phones—one for camp confiscation, the other for secret use. But here’s the reality:
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Cell service is terrible at most camps.
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Camps know this trick—and your child will lose the second phone.
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More importantly: LET. THEM. GO.
4. Scheduled Phone Calls ☎️
Most camps offer at least one scheduled call per session. Your child is escorted to a phone bank at a set time to chat with you.
Lower your expectations.
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Some kids barely say a word.
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Others might burst into tears, claiming they miss you terribly—only to hang up and immediately run off to play.
Pro tip: Prepare a few light questions in case they need help getting started.
5. Visiting Day 🚗
For full-summer campers, Visiting Day is a thing. It’s less of a reunion and more of a junk food festival, where kids submit their snack requests and parents show up with enough treats to feed the entire cabin.
Enjoy the day, soak up their excitement, and see camp life in action!
6. The Camp Paparazzi 📸
Today’s camps hire professional photographers and videographers to capture kids in action—primarily to satisfy parents who demand updates.
Be warned: Some kids dodge the cameras, leading to panicked parent phone calls: “Why isn’t my child in any photos?! Is something wrong?!”
Relax. If they’re not in a picture, they’re probably just too busy having fun.
Final Thought: Let Them Go
It’s wonderful to stay in touch, but don’t forget the main reason for camp: building independence. Give them space to grow, and use this time to do something you love.
Because before you know it, they’ll be back—and your peaceful moments will be gone. 😉