Ten tips to heal homesickness

July 3, 1:09 PMLA Parenting ExaminerRebecca Lacko

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10 Easy steps to help a homesick child

Summer camp is a wonderful time of exploration, learning new skills and making friends. But the truth, for many kids, is that absence really does make the heart grow fonder. Research indicates that it is common for campers to feel a tinge of homesickness at some point during the camp session. So, how can parents help?

1. Encourage your child's independence throughout the year. Practice separations, such as sleepovers at a friend's house, can simulate the camp environment.
2. Involve your child in the process of choosing a camp. The more that the child owns the decision, the more comfortable the child will feel being at camp. 
3. Discuss what camp will be like before your child leaves. Consider role-playing anticipated situations, such as using a flashlight to find the bathroom.
4. Reach an agreement ahead of time on calling each other. If your child's camp has a no-phone-calls policy, honor it.
5. Send a note or care package ahead of time to arrive the first day of camp. Acknowledge, in a positive way, that you will miss your child. For example, you can say "I am going to miss you, but I know that you will have a good time at camp."
6. Don't bribe. Linking a successful stay at camp to a material object sends the wrong message. The reward should be your child's new-found confidence and independence.
7. Pack a personal item from home, such as a stuffed animal.
8. Avoid the temptation to take the child home early. If a "rescue call" comes from the child, offer calm reassurance and put the time frame into perspective.
9. Talk candidly with the camp director to obtain his/her perspective on your child's adjustment.
10. Don't feel guilty about encouraging your child to stay at camp. For many children, camp is a first step toward independence and plays an important role in their growth and development.