How Parents Can Deal with Young Children's Separation Anxiety at Camp: Advice from Queens Camp Directors

By Julie Revelant March 4, 2010

When it comes to raising your kids, you want the best advice out there, which is why we turned to the experts.

Will this summer be your little one's first camp experience? His first time away from home and his family? Prepare for separation anxiety at camp by reading the advice we've compiled from some of Queens' experienced camp and summer program directors.

"How should parents deal with young children's separation anxiety?"

"As a theater dance camp, part of what we do is plan an audition, which gives children a sense of what camp will be like. By including the students in the process, it makes them part of the equation. Plus, getting right into activities and not letting nervousness boil over helps."

-Robert Laconi, Director, Theater Arts Center, Bayside, Queens, and PA

"We let parents come in and stay for awhile, but when it's time to leave, we tell them to leave. We also have an open phone policy and open door policy so parents can call or come in whenever they want."

-Carolyn Shadek, Director, Sensational Kids at Our Lady of Hope, Middle Village, Queens

Also see advice on separation anxiety from camp directors in:

Nassau County, Long Island

Suffolk County, Long Island