At What Age are Children Ready?

What is the Best Age for a Child to Start Overnight Summer Camp?

We find that most camps recommend children be at least seven before spending a week or more at an overnight summercamp. Individual children vary widely in their maturity levels so age alone should not be the sole deciding factor in judging a child’s capacity to tolerate seperation from home, family and friends.

As a parent you are likely the best judge of your child’s personality and capabilities so we’d say trust your instincts and make your child an active participant in making the decision as to when they are ready to attend overnight summer camp.

It’s important for you to inquire about the range of ages as well as the age distribution of children attending the camps you are considering. It’s important because ideally there should be many campers roughly the same age as your child as this will likely indicate activites and programs will be targeted to that age group. If most of the campers are much younger or older than your child then your child is at risk of not getting the attention you expect and they deserve.

Tip for Parents

If your child has limited experience spending time away from home you can help prepare them by planning an overnight or weekend stay at a friend’s home. Alternatively you can arrange an extended visit with relatives for your child.

This type of experience will give the child a better idea of what to expect being away from home and any homesickness issues can be acknowledged and addressed. We recommend an open dialogue when your child returns to reveal and address any problems they may have encountered. A few stays like this away from home should help in transitioning to the longer duration of camp.