Tips for Getting Kids Ready for Summer Camp

Summer is nearly here; that means summer camps. Kids First offers physicals for summer camps. Johns Hopkins Medicine offers some great tips and reminders for parents and caregivers to help kids “camp-ready.” The article is “4 Tips for Preparing Your Child for Summer Camp,”  by Patrick Mularoni, M.D., medical director of the Pediatric Sports Medicine program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, and Kate Connor, M.D., M.S.P.H., medical director of the Rales Center for the Integration of Health and Education at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.

• Provide Important Health Information to the Camp

• Equip Your Child with a Summer Safety Kit

• Teach Surrounding Awareness

• Discuss Worries and Homesickness

Provide Important Health Information to the Camp

Drs. Mularoni and Connor remind parents to get an updated physical for children and let camp staff know “about specific health issues your child may have.”  

If your child has a health condition that requires ongoing management or regular medication administration, the camp will likely require specific written orders from a health care professional. “This is particularly true for health conditions like asthma and food allergies that may require emergency intervention while at camp,” adds Connor. “Emergency plans — like asthma or allergy action plans — signed by your child’s health care provider are important to prevent or promptly treat flare-ups.

Finally, the doctors remind us that children should have an adequate supply of all necessary medications and to make sure that no medication expires while your child is at camp.

Equip Your Child with a Summer Safety Kit

Sunscreen, bug spray, watter bottles, and sun protection like hats and shirts are all things that kids can manage with instructions and practice. The doctors recommend working with your children to practice and learn when and how to use these great resources to keep themselves healthy and hydrated this summer. 

Teach Surrounding Awareness

It is likely summer camp might include water (lakes, ponds, pools). “Children attending camps that include swimming should have proper swimming lessons and water survival competency skills before taking part.” They also recommend teaching your child about safety around campfires and grills, and when walking on trails. 

Discuss Worries and Homesickness

Summer camp is a fun adventure and full of first-time experiences for many children. Being away from home and sleeping in a new place can be exciting and can also make some children nervous. The doctors recommend talking with your children and sharing as much information about the camp (pictures, videos, reading material) to help them start getting comfortable and familiar with camp. They also recommend discussing tools and coping strategies for homesickness.

The whole article is available here. Contact us today to see how we can help your family get “camp-ready.”

This article is informational and is not a substitute for medical attention or information from your provider.