Reply To: Ten Things Your Child's Counselor Wishes You Knew

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#953433
writersoul
Participant

I just got confirmation that I will be going back to my job from last summer, so I’m going to bump this thread. Please read it and add to it, folks— maybe even forward it. It contains things people really do need to know.

I’ll repeat the main points here and maybe add some:

If your child is autistic, please TELL THE COUNSELOR (yes, this really happened to me). —me

If you can’t tip, I understand. Please just don’t ignore me. Mention briefly that money is tight or something, and write a cute note about how you appreciated what we did the whole summer. Otherwise I’ll think you just weren’t happy with how I did. (One of the best tips a friend of mine got, from a family who was experiencing financial difficulties, was a bag of homemade cookies.) —me

Even if you do tip, I love to get notes. Trust me, I will keep the note long after the tip money is spent.

DON’T POP IN!!! Please! Your child will be FINE. He just got used to being in an unfamiliar environment away from Mommy. We’ve got your number if anything goes wrong. If he sees you, I’m the one who’s going to suffer. (Especially prevalent in bungalow colonies.) —me

We are not responsible (and in fact are not allowed to) dispense medicine. If your child is sick, he or she should not go to camp. Period. —me

If you don’t want your kids eating sugar, then YOU provide an alternative. Otherwise your child WILL receive the standard lollies. —me

When your child says “I hate daycamp….” understand that that’s just what they say and (hopefully :)) don’t mean it-usually they don’t. —blabla

Know that your child’s counselor and camp director work hard to provide fun, exciting and thoughtful activities. They love it when the parent gets excited about the activity too- as this excitement comes right back to the directors and counselors the next day in camp the moment the kid walks in… —ambush

Do not expect us to single-handedly toilet train your kids. If they are not at least in the process, don’t send them to camp unless they are in a toddler bunk. We are not responsible for doing it for you. —me

Also, don’t come in on the first day and tell us to take away the kid’s pacifier. You want him to hate us even more? —me

also, if your child is a bedwetter…you are better off being up-front about it. The (sleepaway) counselor is going to figure that out pretty quickly anyways. —shrek

Please read this, comment, pass it along, etc etc.