Do parents really start their kids in sleep away camp at 8 years old?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s the age we noticed a lot of our kids’ peers started sleepaway camp. I recall one friend from my son’s class who went for the entire summer before 2nd. The parents did the same with the older sibling and insisted they loved it. It seemed over the top but that little boy came back happy as could be. He still attends the same camp but is now a counselor as a rising senior. Personally, I would have really missed my young kids if they went away that long but it seems to work for some families so I try not to judge.

Don’t tell me, let me guess. The parents travelled in Europe while the kids were at camp.

NP. Maybe, but not this parent. My then 7yo went for a half week, at 8 went for a week, and this year at 9yo went for two weeks. I did not go to Europe. I, a single mom, stayed home and worked to pay for said camp (which was a reasonably priced GS camp)

[Anonymous]

Started DS at 7 at a 5 day tester. Then at 8 did 2 weeks. He has been doing 2 weeks. Next summer at 11, thinking 4-6 weeks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s really sad. I imagine they are better off at camp than at home, though, if parents ship them out like that. Probably in boarding school, too.

There’s nothing sad about it. My teens have been going away to camp since they were 9. They are screen-free for 4 weeks and are active all day, doing sports, swimming in the lake, arts and crafts, cooking classes, learning camp songs and dances, etc. They love their camp friends, who they stay in touch with throughout the year and can’t wait to see. It’s a nice way for them to build independence in a safe environment and a very healthy break from being parented and from parenting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s the age we noticed a lot of our kids’ peers started sleepaway camp. I recall one friend from my son’s class who went for the entire summer before 2nd. The parents did the same with the older sibling and insisted they loved it. It seemed over the top but that little boy came back happy as could be. He still attends the same camp but is now a counselor as a rising senior. Personally, I would have really missed my young kids if they went away that long but it seems to work for some families so I try not to judge.

Don’t tell me, let me guess. The parents travelled in Europe while the kids were at camp.

Dp, but heck yeah I have. 2 weeks in Norway and Sweden.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s the age we noticed a lot of our kids’ peers started sleepaway camp. I recall one friend from my son’s class who went for the entire summer before 2nd. The parents did the same with the older sibling and insisted they loved it. It seemed over the top but that little boy came back happy as could be. He still attends the same camp but is now a counselor as a rising senior. Personally, I would have really missed my young kids if they went away that long but it seems to work for some families so I try not to judge.

Don’t tell me, let me guess. The parents travelled in Europe while the kids were at camp.

Dp, but heck yeah I have. 2 weeks in Norway and Sweden.

Enjoy! The kids are happy and well cared for, and having time for you to do your own thing is important and healthy.

[Anonymous]

It’s awful. 9 years old is way too young.

Enjoy your kids while they are still kids. They’ll be off on their own soon enough.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The immense majority of people I know do not, OP. The one exception are the children of my Jewish neighbor, who sends his kids to the same camp he attended when he was a child. Apparently it's a tradition. Maybe like the Texas Mystic camp for Christians.

Yep, I went to camp in the Poconos that was like 80% Jewish and kids started at 8. It had 3 week sessions. The 8-9 year olds were quite heavily supervised and stayed with their entire bunk and counselors the whole day, unlike the older kids who picked their own activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The immense majority of people I know do not, OP. The one exception are the children of my Jewish neighbor, who sends his kids to the same camp he attended when he was a child. Apparently it's a tradition. Maybe like the Texas Mystic camp for Christians.

Yep, I went to camp in the Poconos that was like 80% Jewish and kids started at 8. It had 3 week sessions. The 8-9 year olds were quite heavily supervised and stayed with their entire bunk and counselors the whole day, unlike the older kids who picked their own activities.

Same here. I worked as a counselor there every summer in college and it was great! I loved being at camp, as a kid and as a counselor.

[Anonymous]

I started at age 8 with two separate weeks at camp each summer. Up to 4 weeks split into two week increments when I was 12, then the full summer from 15-18. Absolutely loved it, have lifelong friends (from all different places and walks of life - a great life lesson compared to the narrow picture I got at school), and learned independence early on. I can’t wait to send me own kids.

[Anonymous]

For Jewish families it's a thing to start going at age 6 or 7. I think it's odd. I loved camp.as a kid but was 10 or 11 when I started going.

My 10 year is asking to go next year, rising 6th grade, which seems like a good age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s the age we noticed a lot of our kids’ peers started sleepaway camp. I recall one friend from my son’s class who went for the entire summer before 2nd. The parents did the same with the older sibling and insisted they loved it. It seemed over the top but that little boy came back happy as could be. He still attends the same camp but is now a counselor as a rising senior. Personally, I would have really missed my young kids if they went away that long but it seems to work for some families so I try not to judge.

Don’t tell me, let me guess. The parents travelled in Europe while the kids were at camp.

Dude, people work. My kid is in day camp and before/aftercare at camp, because I'm at work. Yes I enjoy seeing my kid at dinner, and no I personally would not send them to sleepaway camp all summer, but the actual difference between the two is small.

I think the people who get shirty about sleepaway camp must be imagining some 1950s summer where the kids all ride bikes and then go home for lunch with their SAHM. That doesn't exist for most of us.

[Anonymous]

I started my kid at 7 and he loves, loves sleepaway camp. He would stay even longer if we let him. Yes both DH and I miss him but it’s a great break that we use to recharge, get things done around the house, travel just the 2 of us or even all 3.

Total win, win for both kid and parents.

[Anonymous]

I just read the thread about the ASA/ local swim team photographer arrested for horrible sexual abuse of children this age.

I really want to send my DD9 to sleepaway camp but don’t know how I can take the risk. It’s exactly where a predator would choose to work.

[Anonymous]

A lot of those kids at the Texas camp were 8, so clearly it’s a thing.

[Anonymous]

Are a lot of his friends Jewish? This is definitely a big thing in the Jewish community in this area, there are two major summer camps that all of my kids' Jewish friends go to. They start with one or two weeks after 1st grade, I think.