What should parents NOT do about homesickness?
According to Brown and Wood, there are a few things parents should not do when preparing a child to avoid homesickness:
- Do not send your child to overnight camp if you are certain he will be homesick.
- Do not remind your child about things she will be missing at home.
- Do not tell your child that you will pick him up if he isn’t having a good time.
Brown cautions parents to tread carefully when talking about homesickness. She also urges parents to examine their own feelings. “Some parents want a camper to be homesick to prove the value of their love and the love at home,” she says.
If you’re feeling a bit of your own parental separation anxiety, don’t tell your child that you will be lonely without her. A simple “I love you, and I’ll miss you while you’re gone” is sufficient. If you overdo it, she’ll worry about leaving you alone.
Who can help with homesickness?
Few people have more experience dealing with homesickness than camp professionals, so it’s not surprising that Wood encourages parents to ask camp staff members for help if the need arises before or during camp.
“Counselors are trained to watch for homesickness and work with the camper to help him or her adjust,” he says.
Cick next below for six risk factors for homesickness at camp
