Kids may feel homesick at camp at first
If your child is going to camp this summer for the first time, you may want to prepare yourself for the possibility that homesickness will be part of this first experience. Don’t be surprised if you get letters complaining about the food, the bugs, other campers or the weather.
Most children adjust to camp as they get to know other campers and the staff. Their involvement in the activities during the day will usually divert their attention away from homesickness. The tough time often comes at night when the child has time to think about family, pets and friends back home.
Early letters from the homesick camper often contain messages that can upset parents and make them reconsider their decision about the child going to camp.
Examples of such messages are: “I cry myself to sleep every night because I miss you so much.” “I’m so homesick I could die.” “This is the worst time I have ever had.” “Please send pictures of my room and pet.”
Most camps do not encourage or even permit visitation by the family until the end of the camping term. There are many good reasons for this, including the message to the homesick camper that they need to become involved in camp and forget about being “rescued” at the end of the first week.
Following are some ideas for parents who may need help in dealing with a homesick child this summer:
• Don’t be surprised if your camper gets homesick during his first or even second year of camp. Some children sail right through the experience without any problems, while others experience separation anxiety.
• Write your child at camp, be positive and acknowledge your child’s feelings. Let children know that you want them to have a good time and that you are confident things will improve for them. Obviously, be available if the camp staff needs you, but don’t bother them with lots of letters and phone calls expressing your doubts about their care of your child.
If your child exhibits such difficulties as not eating or sleeping, prolonged agitation, crying spells, persistent withdrawal and detachment, then perhaps the camping experience is not suited for your child, at least at this stage in his or her life.
• Send mail and packages as often as camp policy permits. Have close friends and relatives drop your child a note as “mail call” can often help dissipate the homesickness to some degree.
• Don’t berate or belittle your child in your letters or after the camping experience is over. This may send the message to the child that the homesickness indicates failure on their part, which of course it does not.
Try to view this experience as a passage in your child’s development. The experience may be good for both you and your child as parents often become quite homesick for their children. Don’t be surprised if one of the first sentences uttered by your child when you pick them up at camp is “I can’t wait until next year.”
Copyright c 1998 Harold H. LeCrone, Jr., Ph.D.
