Summer is finally here, and before long, kids everywhere will be headed off to camp. Whether a day camp or overnight camp, your kid will need to bring some items with them. For the best results, you should do the packing together. That way, your child will feel more involved and more comfortable at camp with the items of their choice.

Overnight camps usually involve more extensive packing than day camps. Camp administrators should provide you with a list of the items your child will need beforehand. If they don’t, ask for it and then follow it to the letter. If the list says your child will need tennis shoes, insist they pack a pair of tennis shoes, not their favorite sandals. There is a reason behind everything on the list-tennis shoes, for example, may provide more protection over the campsite’s rocky terrain than sandals. Explain this to your child and make sure they comply with the list.

Camp administrators have run the camp time and time again and know exactly what campers need to bring for the best experience. Don’t usurp them or your child. Keep tabs on what your child is setting out to ensure it complies with the list but leave the actual choosing to them. Remind them that camp can be rugged and then let them decide whether they want to pack their gray tennis shoes or their black ones. It won’t matter as long as the shoes are in good condition, fit right and provide ample support.

Should your child make a questionable choice at any point, let them know gently. Explain to them that bringing their expensive camera might not be in their best interest as it could wind up missing or broken. Camp can be a busy place, and the potential for items to get lost, stolen or damaged is high. It is not a place for valuables. Encourage your child to leave their digital camera at home and take a disposable camera instead.

Should your child require medication, get in touch with camp administrators and let them know. Most camps have procedures in place regarding the administration of medication to campers. Find out what they are and make sure you follow them.

Once you have checked off everything from the list, you will need to label it. This is important should something turn up lost later. If your child accidentally leaves their beach towel at the pool and someone else finds it, they will know whom to return it to if it is labeled. Grab a permanent marker and label everything your child is taking to camp, from the tag on their baseball cap to the soles of their tennis shoes. Don’t forget about the carrying case as well.

You will need something to pack everything into. This could range from a small totebag to a large backpack to a suitcase or trunk. Whatever you and your child choose, make sure it is sturdy and in good condition-the hardier, the better as it will be exposed to a rugged environment. As with the contents, do not choose anything valuable. Leave Grandma’s antique trunk in the foyer where it belongs and pull out that old beat-up suitcase stashed in your closet.

When you are ready to begin packing, grab some plastic bags and use them as needed to help your child stay organized. Bag up their bathroom supplies, for example. That way, they can take the bag with them whenever they need to rather than lugging their whole duffel bag around. Bag up their hair accessories, stationery supplies and whatever else you can to think of to make it easier for your child later on.

When you have completed the packing, don’t forget the final touch — a card or note from you. Even if your child has attended camp dozens of times before, they will still appreciate knowing that you care. Wish them well at camp and let them know how much you will miss them. They may be miles away, but they will always feel close to home with just a few words from you!