What to Do While Your Child is at Overnight Camp
It’s a question for the ages: What are parents supposed to do with all that free time when their kids head off to an overnight summer camp? If you’re one of the legions of parents across the country who sends your kid(s) off to overnight summer camp this summer, this is your once-a-year chance to do something completely different, something just for you.
In case you need some ideas for things to do – or even not to do – here are a few helpful tips:
Things to Do While Your Kid is at Camp
The tech is all yours.
From the TV to the laptop, from the iPad to Alexa, you can do what you want when you want without having to share or worry about what kind of an example you are setting for someone else. Yes, this is the time when it’s okay to do as you do and not as you say!
Do what you like, not what you hate.
Yoga? Tennis? Catch up on reading? Take a long, long walk listening to your favorite tunes for a change. This is that rare time when dishes, laundry, and other chores can wait – and you don’t need to feel guilty about it.
Go nuts in the kitchen and indulge your inner Food Network star.
Make that Thai dish you love without having to worry about making it too hot. Try that pasta recipe with all the veggies. Master your favorite adult beverages. Make your own sorbet – and who cares if it’s not ready until midnight? You can sleep in tomorrow!
Take a trip.
You don’t have to arrange for childcare, pick anyone up from school or even make dinner. Scheduling life around bedtime, playdates, sleepovers, and lessons is out the window. Go somewhere. Anywhere. Just go!
Don’t go anywhere.
Kids away at camp can give the idea of a “staycation” a whole new meaning. When was the last time you just kicked back at home, binged watched your favorite new undiscovered show, slept in, spent time in your garden, had adult friends over to swim or just took a really long shower? Think of this as your chance to get away from it all by looking at home in a whole new light… focused on you.
Go to a movie in the late afternoon/early evening.
Theaters are open again and you are kid-free. What better way to treat yourself to some quality “you” time than slipping into a movie theater with some popcorn during what is normally the craziest time of day? Popcorn? Milk Duds? An “R” rating? The possibilities are endless.
Get a massage.
Never underestimate the restorative powers of a great massage, facial, mani-pedi, or whatever. Now multiply that by two because not only are you returning home relaxed, you don’t have to referee a fight, shuttle anyone to violin, clean up a spill or worry that dinner won’t be ready on time. Nope. None of that matters because you get to stay relaxed and consider doing it all over again tomorrow just because you can.
Catalina Island Camps
Our southern California sleepaway camp, Catalina Island Camps, encourages campers to explore their independence through our experiential activities! Sending your child to a resident camp can be nerve-wracking, so take a look at the answers to some frequently asked questions!