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The Great News About Homesickness - 2005 |
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That’s right…there’s great news about homesickness! For starters, you should know that:
- Homesickness
(or “missing home”) is normal. In study after study, researchers found
that 95% of boys and girls who were spending at least two weeks at
overnight camp felt some degree of homesickness. Children at day camp
may also feel pangs of homesickness, but less frequently.
- Homesickness
is typically mild. Nearly everyone misses something about home when
they’re away. Some campers most miss their parents; others most miss
home cooking, a sibling, or the family pet. Whatever they miss, the
vast majority of children have a great time at camp and are not
bothered by mild homesickness.
- Homesickness
is something everyone can learn to cope with. In fact, research has
uncovered multiple strategies that work for kids. (More on that below.)
Most kids use more than one strategy to help them deal with
homesickness.
- Homesickness
builds confidence. Overcoming a bout of homesickness and enjoying time
away from home nurtures children’s independence and prepares them for
the future. The fact that second-year campers are usually less homesick
than first-year campers is evidence of this powerful growth.
- Homesickness
has a silver lining. If there’s something about home children miss,
that means there’s something about home they love, and that’s a
wonderful thing. Sometimes just knowing that what they feel is a
reflection of love makes campers feel better.
So
if nearly everyone feels some homesickness, what can be done to prevent
a really strong case of homesickness? Here’s a recipe for positive camp
preparation:
- Make
camp decisions together. Where to go, what type of camp to attend, and
how long to stay are all decisions your child can make with you. Also,
shop and pack for camp together. Involving children gives them a sense
of ownership.
- Arrange
lots of practice time away from home. Overnights at friends’ houses,
weekends with grandparents, and other time away from home teach
children to cope effectively with separation. It also gives them a
chance to practice the primary way they’ll stay in touch with you at
camp: letter writing.
- Speaking
of letter writing…If you want to get any mail yourself, be sure to pack
pre-stamped, pre-addressed envelopes in your child’s trunk.
- Share
your optimism, not your anxiety. Talk about all the positive aspects of
camp and share your concerns only with another adult, such as your
spouse or the camp director. Avoid giving your son or daughter a mixed
message by saying something like, “Have a great time at camp. I hope I
remember to feed your dog.” Giving your child something to worry about
while she’s away will only increase homesickness.
- Never
ever make a pick-up deal. Saying, “If you feel homesick, we’ll come to
get you” undermines children’s confidence and ensures they’ll be
preoccupied with home from the moment they arrive at camp. Instead of
making a pick-up deal, say, “I’m sure that if you miss home, you and
your cabin leader will be able to work together to help you feel
better. Camp will be a blast!”
OK,
then, what are the most effective ways of coping with homesickness at
camp? What advice can you write in a letter or e-mail to your son or
daughter if you get a homesick letter?
- Stay busy. Doing a fun, physical activity nearly always reduces homesickness intensity.
- Stay positive. Remembering all the cool stuff you can do at camp keeps the focus on fun, not on home.
- Stay in touch. Writing letters, looking at a photo from home, or holding a memento from home can be very comforting.
- Stay
social. Making new friends is a perfect antidote to bothersome
homesickness. Talking to the staff at camp is also reassuring.
- Stay
focused. Remember that you’re not at camp forever, just a few weeks.
Bringing a calendar to camp helps you be clear about the length of your
stay.
- Stay
confident. Anti-homesickness strategies take some time to work. Kids
who stick with their strategies for five or six days almost always feel
better.
Mom
and Dad, your help preparing your child for this amazing growth
experience will pay huge dividends. After a session of camp, you’ll see
an increase in your child’s confidence, social skills, and leadership.
And while your son or daughter is at camp, you can enjoy a
well-deserved break from full-time parenthood. Remember: Homesickness
is part of normal development. Our job should be to coach children
through the experience, not to avoid the topic altogether.
Reprinted from CAMP by permission of the American Camp Association;
copyright 2005 American Camping Association, Inc.
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