My three year old daughter is in day camp and is going on a trip tomorrow and I was asked to chaperone. I have went on every school trip during the school year and didn't really want to go on her camp trips. I feel it is better for her to be with her friends and not be with me on her camp trips. But my daughter wants me to go and her clinginess is already starting. She is already telling me that she wants me to sit with her on the bus. I don't like that. I want her to sit with her friends. This is the exact reason why I didn't want to go on the trip to begin with. I am wondering if anyone has ever chaperoned their child's camp trip. This just isn't the camp experience I wanted my daughter to have. I am a big advocate of independence at this age. But I already told the head counselor that I will go, so I'm going.
She is 3 years old, and behaving normally and appropriately. Part of true independence is choosing. This time, she chooses you. Be proud.
She is three years old not 13, she wants to be with you, what's wrong with that? I did not even know there were camps for three year olds!
aw = she's 3!!! That's so young. She wants her M. there and is excited for you to be there. Go with it. It'll change before you know it. It really will. Time flies. Lots of 3 year olds don't even go to camp but are with M. all day every day. I know I was. So she's not being too dependent. She's being normal.
She gets to do camp daily with her friends. It's seldom that she gets to do camp with her mother. She is three, oblige her request to sit next to her. I don't think this undermines her independence.
Good luck to you and yours,
F. B.
