Homesickness

You expected your child to make friends at camp, explore the great outdoors, and fill those long summer days with fun. But within a couple days, your child is calling you on the phone, pleading to come home. What do you do?

It's hard for kids and parents to deal with homesickness. No parent wants to see his or her child unhappy, especially so far away from home. But most parents also know that if given time, the majority of kids do happily adjust. Trying to figure out what's right for your child in this situation can be difficult, so read on for some tips.

When Homesickness Strikes

Homesickness is a type of anxiety that children sometimes experience when they're away from home. It's extremely common: One study found that 83% of children who attended sleepaway camp experienced at least mild homesickness. And it's no wonder - separation from a parent or parents is one of the strongest fears that kids have.

Homesickness occurs in people of all ages and of either gender, but it does tend to lessen with age. As children get older and have more successful stays away from home, they are better able to put their feelings in perspective - and they also learn that missing home doesn't mean they can't enjoy their time away. This type of thinking is much harder for younger children, especially those who are away for the first time. For these children, going to camp or even spending a week with Grandma can be a little more difficult.

Once away, kids who are homesick tend to feel sad and depressed. They may cry, be unwilling to participate in activities, withdraw from others, find it difficult to sleep, or engage in attention-seeking behavior (for example, getting into trouble).

Some kids may also experience physical symptoms, even though there's nothing medically wrong with them. Common complaints include stomachache, sore throat, headache, nausea, minor aches and pains, or flu-like symptoms.

The Camp Experience

For many kids, attending sleepaway camp is their first real experience with leaving home, and they may greet the opportunity with excitement, fear, or a little of both. But other emotional reactions are also common. Younger children, for example, may view being sent to camp as a type of rejection - especially if they weren't included in the decision to go. That's why it's important to understand what your child thinks and feels about the impending separation before it actually occurs. If despite the preparation your child still objects to going to camp, he or she just might not be ready to make this step and you may want to come up with alternate plans.

Helping Your Child Cope

Some of the things you can do to ensure a smooth transition should occur well before your child leaves.

For one thing, make sure that your child actually wants to go. Don't send your child just because you think it will be a good way to overcome shyness or because everyone else in the family went to camp at that age. Remember, there's no right age to begin camp (if a child goes at all), and what's right for one child isn't necessarily right for another.