Letters to Camp

Continuing yesterday’s post (with advice from camps and camping organizations) , following is additional expert letter-writing and summer camp advice from parenting experts as well as a variety of parenting websites.

We’ve included a lot of different opinions – and is always the case with parenting, some advice will conflict – but that’s OK.  Pick and choose the advice that works for you.  Either way, you’ll come away with a variety of great perspectives on camp letter-writing.

Advice from the Experts

• Chris Thurber, The Summer Camp Handbook and www.campspirit.com — Dr. Thurber says, “A good letter from home is newsy, upbeat, and encouraging. Your goal is to say a cheerful hello and give a positive report about what’s been going on. You want to instill confidence and support your child’s growing independence. Avoid mentioning sad things that your child can’t do anything about.” Read more on the Camp Wayne (Virginia) website.
• Michael Thompson PhD, author of Homesick and Happy — Dr. Thompson offers tips that will help you make sense of homesickness on the PBS website.

Advice from Parenting Blogs & Websites

• Loosen the leash says Ayun Halliday In The New York Times Motherlode blog — Laugh out loud advice on how to avoid letter Armageddon: Don’t micromanage your kid, don’t overanalyze camp pictures, don’t use pet names (for your kid), send separate letters to separate kids, and avoid bad news (like pets passing away).
• Clever letter ideas, from Sunshine Parenting — Top 10 lists (I LOVE this!), letters from pets, stories based on camp pictures, and more.
• Kids don’t care what you write, says Jen Zupek on her Genuinely Speaking blog —That’s right, they don’t care… so just write! And she also offers great ideas such as sending funny cards, writing funny stories, drawing pictures and more.
• Start collecting ideas before your camper heads off, says eHow — Include sports scores, puzzles, family updates, and jokes. Also, check out their blog post on how to write a funny letter
• Don’t be sad and do be funny, says Renée A. Schuls-Jacobson — When she writes to her son, she tries to entertain herself while simultaneously torturing her son.  Not a lot of other advice but this alone is worth considering.
• Hide letters in your camper’s sleeping bag, shoes, etc, says Barb of the RiteWhileUCan blog — She reminds parents that they can help kids beat homesickness by keeping their own emotions in check – great advice!
• Vary your correspondence, says the MomTini Lounge – Send letters, cards, goodies, and more. Lots of other great advice on this page.
• Maggie McMahon provides 5 great letters anyone can write on the Up Parenting Creek blog — including I’m proud of you, goals for camp, and nothing new at home (exactly!) letters.