Will My Kid Survive Camp Without Their Phone? Here’s Why They’ll Thrive
At some point, almost every parent sending a child to sleepaway camp asks the same question: How will my kid cope without a phone? It’s a completely fair concern. In a world where phones are part of nearly every aspect of daily life - communication, entertainment, photos, even comfort - the idea of sending a child away without one can feel unsettling.
But what if stepping away from their phones doesn’t feel like a loss, but actually helps kids build new skills and reconnect in a deeper way?
At a recent Tri-State American Camp Association conference, Catherine Price, the world-renowned author of How to Break Up With Your Phone, shared a powerful insight:
For many kids, their time at sleepaway camp is the longest stretch in their lives without a phone.
Think about that for a second. No notifications. No scrolling. No constant digital stimulation. Just real life. And while it might seem like your child will be missing something, they’ll actually be gaining much more: learning to adapt, reconnect, and often thrive.
📊 The Reality of Screen Time Today
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, kids ages 8–18 spend an average of 7½ hours a day on screens (not including schoolwork)—almost a full-time job.
And it’s not just about time. Excessive screen use has been linked to sleep disruption, increased anxiety, decreased attention span, loneliness, and lower self-esteem. In many ways, constant digital connection has become the default setting of childhood.
So when a child suddenly steps into a completely screen-free environment at camp, it’s natural to wonder how they’ll adjust. But here’s the key point: camp doesn’t just remove screens. It replaces them. And what replaces them is where the real transformation begins.
🎒 Smart, Screen-Free Alternatives Kids Love
🎨 Creating Instead of Consuming
Everyone needs quiet time to unwind, reset, and simply be creative. But when a phone is within reach, that same quiet moment often turns into passive scrolling—consuming content that can leave us feeling more drained than rested. At camp, that dynamic naturally shifts. With fewer digital distractions, children often rediscover the simple joy of creating, whether that’s painting, crafting, drawing, or making something with their hands.
🃏 Learning Life Skills Through Play
When kids at camp replace games on their phone with traditional board and card games they end up practicing important life skills in a simple, low-pressure way: taking turns, handling winning and losing, thinking strategically, cooperating with others, and learning how to navigate social dynamics in real time.
What looks like a game is often something much more meaningful—a space where kids build confidence, patience, and resilience.
✉️ Rediscovering Letter Writing
Letter writing has become something of a lost art, especially for the younger generation. In place of quick texts or emails, a child at camp sits down to write home and often rediscovers the simple beauty of putting thoughts on paper and expressing themselves without screens or shortcuts.
Many families find that packing fun stationery sets and pre-filled address labels helps make it easier for children to stay in touch in a more intentional way.
📸 Capturing Memories (Without the Distraction)
Instead of using a phone camera, many campers now use simple, distraction-free cameras like the Camp Snap Camera, which allow kids to focus on the moment while still capturing memories. When they get home, they can download their photos and enjoy reliving those moments - without the distractions that come with a phone.
🎧 Music Without the Noise
Music is a big part of camp life, but it doesn’t need to come with constant notifications. A dedicated MP3 player like the Fyrfly Camp MP3 Player keeps things simple and screen-free. Kids can bring their favorite playlists with them—whether from Spotify, Amazon Music, iTunes, or more—and enjoy their music without the distractions of phones, apps, or constant notifications.
🔥 The Original “Group Chat”
At camp, group chats don’t happen on a screen, they happen around a campfire: Real conversations. Real laughter. Real connection. And instead of sending a 😊 emoji, kids can really smile at each other and laugh together.
📖 Staying Connected the Old-School Way
Do you remember a time before friends were just names in your phone, when you actually knew their numbers by heart? At camp, kids often rediscover a more old-fashioned way of staying connected - exchanging details through handwritten address books rather than digital contacts.
❤️ Bringing Some Camp Mindset Home
The impact of camp doesn’t have to end when summer does. Many of the lessons children experience there - stepping away from constant screens and engaging more fully with the world around them - can be gently brought into everyday life at home.
Sleepaway camp gives children something rare: a chance to step away from the digital world and reconnect with real life in a meaningful way. And once they experience that, it’s something they tend to carry with them long after camp is over.
About the Author
I'm Gaby Fachler and I spent most of my youth at camp as both a camper and staff member - experiences that shaped how I think about childhood, independence, and life away from screens.
I am the co-founder and CEO of Pack for Camp, an online store that helps families prepare for camp with everything from soft trunks and bedding to toiletries, storage, clothing, and more.
More recently, I’ve made a conscious effort to take back control of my phone - starting with turning off notifications and being more intentional about how I use technology.