Dear Parents,
All losses during this time are hard and require sensitivity and care. As parents, you are tackling so much during this time, and now, you're being asked to listen to your child as they mourn yet another loss, the loss of summer camp. Below are a few suggestions of how to approach this situation with your child.
1. Listen to your child, provide empathy, and acknowledge the difficulty of this situation. Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, author of "The Yes Brain" and "Whole Brain Child" explains these ideas in a fabulous video she created to help guide parents in responding to their child's loss of summer camp this summer:
2. Pray with your child, and let them express all their feelings in prayer. God can handle our every emotion, even the uncomfortable ones. Here's a prayer to get you started:
We praise you, because you are our solid rock. You never fail us. You never leave us. And the wind and waves still know your name. In Christ's name we pray, Amen."
3. Do things to remember camp and bring some camp activities to your home such as having a campfire, spending time outside, having a morning devotion before breakfast, taking a rest after lunch, worshiping as a family, putting on silly skits and family talent shows, cooking a favorite camp meal, and singing silly camp blessings. Your child may not be ready to engage in these activities upon the first few days of finding out that they won't be able to go to camp, or go to camp in the same way, so offer it as an idea, but do not push them to move away from any negative emotions they are feeling. Encourage your camper to consider other options provided by camp this summer.
We are thinking about you and praying for you during this difficult time. We look forward to being together again soon.
- The Full Time Staff at Camp Don Lee