Braiding Hair For Camp
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Anonymous
I went to sleepaway camp at 7 & there were several other 7-year-olds there. So that part of the OP's post isn't really not a big deal, imo. |
Anonymous
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op here. Egads! Her hair is brushed right out of the shower. She yearns to do it independently, but after 10-15 minutes, I have to take over or we would be late to school! We have assorted water and detangler bottles if it has dried in the meantime.
Her hair would look adorable in a single layer short cut. Maybe bob isn't the right term. Her dads hair fros. Hers won't. And, finally, yes she occasionally wets the bed. Her dad did it until age 10, so we are not concerned. She's extremely self assured and social and I have no doubts about her and camp. Her older cousins have all gone since this age and, across the board, love it. |
Anonymous
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My kids are grown now, but we were and are a "camp" family, big-time. My in laws ran a summer camp for their whole career. I was a camp counselor for years, and so were my kids. They were also campers for years. There was a program for 7-8 year olds for 10 days at the camp where we all were. It was part of a longer camp season, but the youngest kids came for a shorter time. Most 7-8 year olds did great.
That said, the few kids who struggled did so because they were not independent with self-care and it made them uncomfortable and then anxious. Other kids noticed, which added to the anxiety. I wouldn't worry about the hair. That will be fine, whatever happens. However, the bed-wetting would be an absolute deal-breaker and the cause of much anxiety (leading to homesickness) for a kid. A child who wets the bed may not want to go back the next summer. Kids will remember that kid. Wait until your DD is fully dry at night before sending her, even if her cousins went at age 7. The camp will reassure you that they can deal with this just fine. The counselors will do their best. But please take my word that this is a BIG deal. At home, she may wet the bed twice a month. At camp, it may be every night, because of the stress of a new environment. |
Anonymous
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I think it is child abuse to send a 7yr old away to sleep-away camp. Honestly, I do. What grade is she? 1st. Why do camps even allow this age? She has her whole life to go to camp. Why would you send her away if she still wets her bed and can not manage her hygiene? She is too immature to go off on her own for 10 days. Does she even fathom the time frame?
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Anonymous
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Op here again. Sorry I even mentioned the bedwetting. I'm a pediatrician, and the aafp's statistis is that close to 15% of 7 year olds still wet the bed more than once monthly. There's a large genetic component, and considering her dad did past age 9 (while still enjoying camp) means I have about zero concerns.
She's a mature, independent first grader who will be in a cabin full of 7-8 year olds, including her cousin and best friend. The reason I wrote about her hair is that it's the only true worry I have about her experience there. |
Anonymous
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Op don't worry about the bed wetting. I never went to camp, but I know a lot who did at that age and loved it. It's 10 days, not a whole summer, and certainly not akin to child abuse!
But...forget the brushes. Garnier fructis has a leave in conditioner in a squeeze bottle that may be easier for her to apply than a spray de tangler. Have her squeeze into her hand and then get it through like conditioner or shampoo. Then finger comb it, then lean to each side and "poof" the curls upwards with her hand, then lean to the other side and do the other side. No brush should be needed. Have her practice at home by herself from now until camp comes and I'm sure she'll be fine 
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Anonymous
| +1 on the no brushing. Get a wide-toothed comb (aka, shower combs) and teach DD to use it with a lot of conditioner in the shower. Rinse out the conditioner after combing. No need to brush hair afterwards. Just gently towel dry. |
Anonymous
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I am the pp who comes from the "camp family."
I do understand that 15% of seven-year old kids wet their beds. That is not a big deal. It really isn't. I know several kids who wet their beds until age 9 or 10. She will outgrow it. It's fine. What IS a big deal is sending her to camp as a bed-wetter. It won't matter that her cousin and best friend are there. They aren't going to prevent her from wetting the bed, and they won't be able to control the comments by others. They will be affected by the comments of the other girls when this happens, as well. So the bed-wetting will indirectly affect their experience, and it will directly affect your daughter's experience. Situations that bring social shame can stay in a kid's memory for years to come, even if the adults think it's no big deal. The camp and counselor and your daughter will tell you everything was "fine" when this happened while your DD was at camp. Chances are it really wasn't fine. |
Anonymous
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Folks, OP has questions about hair care not the bed wetting. Move on.
OP, I would do several braids. Teach DD how to comb through hair while wet with a wide tooth comb and leave in conditioner. Infusion 23 make a really good one. Put in plaits/braids hair band on the ends to secure. |
Anonymous
+1 And as a pediatrician, I would never recommend sending kids away for 10 days, especially with these issues. |
Anonymous
Then why bring it up? |
Anonymous
THIS IS A CULTURAL DIFFERENCE. Stop. This is common in Europe, the former USSR, and in the American Jewish community. I worked at a Jewish summer camp for years, and the youngest kids were 6. They were fine. |
Anonymous
Have you seen this thread? http://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/325901.page |
Anonymous
+1 Also, you should never brush curly hair. |
Anonymous
Get over yourself. Can you even fathom that people do things differently from you and that doesn't mean they're wrong? |