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Mendo Lake Family Life

7 Tips for Getting Your Kids Amped for Preschool Camp

By Cheryl Maguire

“Who’s excited about camp?”

My twin toddlers looked up at me with perplexed expressions. They had no idea what I was talking about. Perhaps you know what I mean. There are ways to get preschoolers interested in camp. Here’s what worked for me.

Go to the library. Check out every video and picture book about camp. Also look on YouTube for camp videos or songs, or stream videos through your library. Talk about your own camp experiences, too.

Hit the stores. With a list of camp supplies in hand, go to the mall. My kids loved picking out towels, bathing suits, and sunglasses. I even let them buy a new backpack just for camp. While we shopped, we discussed the different activities they would be participating in, such as swimming and other sports.

Teach your kids how to make friends. When you are playing games like Candyland with your kids, talk about things like taking turns and how to have conservations with new people. You can ask questions like, “What are some things you can talk about with kids your age?” or “What are some ways to make new friends?” Also read books or watch movies about friendship.

Play camp games at home. Set up different types of races, like relay races, as part of a mini Olympics. Or create a scavenger hunt with camp-related items, such as a backpack and water bottle. After you are done, cook up some s’mores.

Go swimming. When they first take swimming lessons, a lot of kids fear going into the water, especially when there are tons of kids splashing around. If you take your children swimming before camp starts, you will ease some of their anxiety. Discuss water safety and reinforce that swimming is fun.

Schedule a visit. Most camps offer an open house or orientation to help children understand what camp will be like. This is a perfect time for kids to ask questions, and meet counselors or other campers. If possible, set up a pre-camp play date with some kids that are going to be at the camp. Drop-off will be easier if there are some familiar faces.

Create a countdown. My kids love to countdown the days until Christmas, vacations, and camp. Use a countdown calendar or app to keep track of the number of days until camp starts. Another option is to create a paper chain, tearing off a link every day. 

After I did all of the above, I again asked my twins, “Who’s excited about camp?” They both jumped up and down with glee. And when they actually went to camp, they loved it.

Cheryl Maguire’s writing has been published in the New York Times, Washington Post, and many other publications. Find her on Twitter @CherylMaguire05.