sleep away camp: what is the right age?

[Anonymous]

how do you know if they are ready for it? son is 8, turning 9 in June.

[Anonymous]

Omg way too young.
Good way to get molested.
Yes people on this website do it but i don't know anyone irl who did that.

[Anonymous]

It really depends on the kid's maturity level rather than their physical age. I grew up in NY, where tons of kids went for eight weeks straight starting anywhere between 8-10 yrs old.

These days people seem to send their kids to one and two week camps. Why don't you ask your kid if he wants to go?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omg way too young.
Good way to get molested.
Yes people on this website do it but i don't know anyone irl who did that.

Tone down the dramatics, PP. And stop the scare tactics. OP, one of my good friends has been sending her daughter to sleep away summer camp since she was 6. Another friend tried the same, and her kid just wasn't ready, and still isn't ready at 10. Only you know your kid and how independent your DS is. Will he be able to handle it? Is he okay being away from you? If he is good about sleepovers and overall good about being independent, then yes, he's ready at this age. If he's not, then no, you should wait.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Omg way too young.
Good way to get molested.
Yes people on this website do it but i don't know anyone irl who did that.

seriously, i can't believe someone would post such an inappropriate response.

[Anonymous]

Our son at age 9 was not ready, but a lot of his friends were. It really depends on the kid and the comfort level of the camp.

[Anonymous]

I started going to a 7 week camp when I was 8. I turned 9 shortly after camp ended and was going into 4th grade. I loved it and went back every summer until I was too old

[Anonymous]

My DD like her older sister went for a week last year at age 7-loved it and returning this year for 2 weeks.

[Anonymous]

My 9 year old son went to a 1 week sleep-away camp last year. He loved it, but was a little homesick. (First time away). I asked him if he wants to go back this year (10) and if he wanted to do 1 or 2 weeks. YES and 2 weeks was his reply.

It is a camp I was a counselor and I first introduced the idea at age 7. We watched the camp video at age 7 and age 8 and at age 9 he decided he was ready to try this camp.

[Anonymous]

My son will be 10 this summer and he's not ready. He's actually never slept away from home at all.

I, on the other hand, was thrilled to go to sleepaway camp at age 10.

lol "I" am ready to send him for a week this summer, though. But we'll wait.

[Anonymous]

DS was ready at 8. DD was ready at 7. Each started with a one week session. The following summer's they went to weeks. Both loved it. If they didn't they wouldn't of gone. You have to know your kids.

[Anonymous]

My son went for nearly a week when he was 8 and loved it. He has gone for 2 weeks for the past few years and this summer he will go for 28 days. He will be 12.

[Anonymous]

I did a one week camp at age 8, and was definitely ready. It was a scouting camp and was pretty low key and only had other girls in and around my age. Could have probably done the summer before. Starting at age 9, I spent 3 weeks at camp every summer. That one was a true camping kind of camp, and highly respected. I've looked into it for my own son and they now offer a 1 week "mini camp" for kids as young as 6 that's designed to get kids ready for the real thing. I think they keep the 6 and 7 year olds separate from a lot of the regular all-camp activities.

[Anonymous]

I agree that it depends on the kid. My friend sent her daughter to a 5 night one at 7 and she loved it. My son is the exact same age and he would have a panic attack if I sent him away for a few nights.

[Anonymous]

My dds at age 7 went to Girl Scout camp for 5 days. By 9, they were ready for two weeks. I don't really want them gone longer than two weeks, but a lot of the other campers do 6-8 weeks at that age.