My 5 Year Old Son Suddenly Refuses to Go to Summer Camp

You don't remember as a child just becoming fed up with something? That the things our parents chose for us to do and thought we'd enjoy were actually tedious and not nearly as fun as they thought? Maybe your son reached that point.

If you're presenting it as, "You're there because we think it's fun for you and you'll enjoy it" then that might not be the way to go. You may have to tell him that you need him there because it's daycare and there isn't any kindergarten during the summer. He does need to understand that it's daycare and there isn't really a choice in his attendance, but he does have a choice in his attitude and approach.

Buy the book "The Kissing Hand." It's about a baby racoon who doesn't want to leave his mom to go to school. Read it to your son, kiss his hand in the mornings and off he'll go. It does work. My GD used it when she had to be hospitalized. Nurses said she would be sad, then she would run her "kissed hand" over her cheek and next thing they knew, she was smiling!

I would try something like reading The Kissing Hand with him. My DD has done well with getting a "kissing hand" when starting something different or going through a phase.

If changing camps is not an option, and he's just going through a phase, I would work with him. When he says that he'll miss you, try to be encouraging. I also told my DD that I missed her, too, but I had to work and she gets to have an adventure and then we'll tell each other about our days. I think finding out that I missed her (vs was ditching her) helped. Do you think it would help your son to know that adults sometimes feel the way he does?

4/5 is also an age where they can become more emotional. I was just talking to friends this week about our daughters and they're all hitting a phase where things are SO DRAMATIC. So I don't think it's just you.

Is he starting K in the fall? Is that new for him or is that a school he's familiar with? My DD was nervous about K because she didn't know what to expect and I told her what I knew and said we'd figure it out together.

Both of mine went through this, and usually I have to do some digging to figure out why. With my daughter, her teacher had switched to a different room and I didn't know it. With my son, sometimes there is an activity that he doesn't like and wants to avoid. Once it was because he didn't like swimming because the pool was loud. Recently it was because they were going in a rock pond and his swim shoes hurt his feet. Each time I had to really pull it out of them. I think your son has probably told you what the issue is. He doesn't like the lack of structure. Maybe you could talk to the teacher about having some more structured activities for him. He could also be very tired in the afternoons.

It's great he's in a summer camp program. Mine complained too at first (I send them so they are active and busy this summer) but they always have fun. School starts soon...sounds like your little guy will like that better.

Think...phase. Happens a lot but it'll pass, and quickly at that age.