Is Your Child Struggling with Summer Camp Anxiety? Signs They May Need More Support

May 25

Summer camp can be exciting.

It can also be incredibly overwhelming - especially for kids with anxiety, ADHD, sensory sensitivities, difficulty with transitions, or big feelings.

Some nervousness is completely normal.

But when distress becomes intense, persistent, or disruptive, parents often start wondering:

“Is this typical nerves… or does my child need more support?”

Signs Camp Transitions May Be Especially Hard for Your Child

You may notice:

Sometimes kids say:
“I hate camp.”
“I’m never going back.”
“You HAVE to stay.”
“My stomach hurts.”

And sometimes they can’t explain what feels hard at all.

Camp combines a lot of stressors at once:

For some children, this creates a nervous system response that feels overwhelming.

Behavior often communicates distress before kids have the words to explain it.

Parents often receive mixed messaging.

Some hear:
“They’ll adjust.”

Others worry:
“Am I making it worse by pushing?”

The answer is usually somewhere in the middle.

Children often need support learning how to tolerate hard feelings—not immediate avoidance, but not shame either.

That balance can be hard to navigate alone.

Play therapy helps children process emotions in developmentally appropriate ways.

Children don’t always communicate stress verbally the way adults do.

Instead, they may express it through:

Through play therapy, children can build:

Parent support is also an important part of treatment.

At Weinman Wellness Center, I provide in-person play therapy for children navigating:

If your child seems stuck in distress around transitions, camp, school, or separation, support is available.

Free 15-minute parent consultation available.

Alyssa Weinman