Sleepovers and Sleep-Away Camp

Sleepovers and Sleep-Away Camp
By Anne Marie Albano, Ph.D.
NYU Child Study Center

Why does my child become anxious about sleepovers or going to camp?

Anxiety is a normal feeling for children about to start sleepovers or leave for camp, whether it will be the first time or even if they have done these things several times before. This uneasiness or apprehension can occur for many reasons. For the majority of children, it is a mingling of excitement and a little fear of the unknown. These children usually are easily reassured and attend a sleepover or enter camp with minimal upset. For other children, the "fear factor" is larger than the excitement, and tends to take on a life of its own. In this situation, the child could be questioning everything about the upcoming separation experience: "What if I get sick?" What if no one likes me?" "What if the (other parents) counselors are mean?" "What if something happens to you (Mom and Dad) while I'm gone?"

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