The Cure for Campitis
They’re over-stimulated, over-tired, and coming off that end-of-camp high. Plus, they’re used to all that 24/7 time with their bunkmates. But now that camp’s over, it’s back to the real (read: boring) world at home for our returning campers. So what's a parent to do?
I'll be talking about the cure for campitis on WNBC TV's "News 4 U" with Perri Peltz, tomorrow, Tuesday, August 14 in the 5:30 pm half-hour, so stay tuned! 'Til then, here's a preview of six proven campitis-curing strategies:
1. Go slowly.
It’s important to give your child some much needed time to chill out and relax. Pediatricians say they see lots of patients just home from camp who are worn out, over-tired, and plain old run down.
2. Don’t just jump back into the overscheduled whirlwind.
Ease your child back into a schedule slowly. Think haircuts, doctor’s appointments, and shopping for school supplies and clothing, interspersed with plenty of hang out and downtime.
3. Acknowledge that the transition can be difficult.
Some kids may be feeling sad that camp’s over and homework’s just around the corner. Most miss their camp friends. So don’t rush your child into seeing home friends right away if they don’t want to but gradually encourage them to reconnect, perhaps first on-line. If your child is nervous about making the “switch” to his home social life, consider holding a low-key pizza and video party for his school friends.
4. Ease your child back into the school routine gradually, a bit at a time.
Each night, move bedtime up 15 minutes earlier until an optimum school bedtime is reached. Don’t just wait for the night before school to get back into the bedtime routine.
5. Hang out at your house en famille.
Plan at home family dinners and game or movie nights to give your child time to reconnect with parents, siblings, and other relatives.
6. Encourage your child to read, read, read, whether or not they have assigned reading lists.
Model good reading habits and schedule family reading hours, indoors or outside.
Comments
Lots of kids view haircuts as welcome breaks from their summer jobs and look forward to having time off to spend their earned money on back to school shopping. Many see sleep away camp as a luxury and rather than being bored by their home environment, find their imaginations stimulated by it.
