How to Fight FOMO When Your Kid Attends a California Overnight Camp
As fantastic as California overnight Camps are, they can cause a very specific type of anxiety in some kids and teens: FOMO – or “Fear of Missing Out”. Even when headed to an amazing experience like attending an idyllic California overnight camp, many kids (and adults too) will let FOMO give them pause.
Why Do People Get FOMO?
Kids experience FOMO for a number of reasons. They may feel that their friends will get together and have experiences and make memories without them. They also may worry that they will be somehow left behind or forgotten while they attend a California overnight camp. Kids and teens can also experience FOMO as part of a withdrawal from social media and screen time – because they won’t be keeping up on the latest memes, texts, video games, etc while at a California overnight camp.
How Can You Help As a Parent?
Parents can help minimize FOMO by addressing it rationally, discussing it with kids, and taking some specific steps to mitigate their camper’s fears.
Focus on what will be gained when they attend a California overnight camp, rather than what will be missed. It’s unlikely that all your kid’s friends will be having identical, group experiences all summer long. Shift the focus of the discussion to all the things that your camper’s friends will be doing individually over the summer. Then focus on what your camper is looking forward to doing individually, and with new friends. Discuss how they will share their experiences with their friends after, and how their friends may have exciting stories to share as well. Create anticipation for a future reunion and sharing of stories.
Make plans with at-home friends before/after overnight camp. Set up specific times that your camper will get together with at-home friends before and after camp. Create a plan for keeping in touch, via letter writing or by swapping “texts to a friend” style notebooks to share at the end of the summer.
Catalina Island Camps
Your child’s FOMO will disappear when they get to overnight camp at Catalina Island Camps. Learn more about all the fun they’ll have at our summer camp and register your child today!