Test Your Knowledge

Homesickness is a natural emotion, and it cannot always be prevented. People who are homesick can help ward off their feelings by keeping busy and by talking to others about what they are feeling. Meeting new people and making friends is one of the best ways to prevent homesickness. For example, immigrants from other countries may find comfort in local communities that include people who share their cultural heritage. 

Although people of all ages can experience homesickness, it often takes its greatest toll on children. Parents can take several steps to help reduce the level of homesickness that their child is likely to feel when separated from home. Children may experience homesickness when the family relocates to another city or when the child attends sleepaway camp.

Tips that can help ease a child’s homesickness include:

• Involve the child in the selection process. Let the child help decide when to go to camp, what type of camp to attend and for how long. When moving, allow the child to participate in looking at new homes. Provide them with plenty of information about where they are going and what they will be doing when they get there.
  
  
• Talk to the child about what is expected during the move or separation. Parents are urged to explain why the change is either necessary or desirable, and should ask the child about any fears or concerns. Keeping this conversation focused on positives and offering reassurance can make a big difference.
  
  
• Plan practice separations. Encouraging the child to spend a night away from home or having the child attend a day camp can help the child build up to bigger separations.
  
  
• Prearrange communications. If the child is attending camp, parents are urged to find out ahead of time about the camp’s policies on phone calls so there will be no surprises to the child. If the child is going away to spend time with a relative or for another reason, a calendar of pre-established calling times and frequencies should be established. When moving, make sure that children can still contact or visit their old friends.
  
  
• Visit the place where children will be staying. A child’s fears may be allayed by seeing the place where they will be staying, as well as seeing areas such as the bedroom, bathroom, etc.
  
  
• Alert adults to possible homesickness. Parents are urged to discuss the potential for homesickness with camp counselors or teachers in a new school. This will help them prepare for such an eventuality and to better address it should it occur.
  
  
• Allow the child to bring familiar items with them. A favorite pair of pajamas, pillow, stuffed animal or other belonging can help children feel more comfortable in an unfamiliar setting or during a move, when most of their items are packed away. A care package from home can also remind children that loving parents await them upon their return.

Parents are urged to maintain a cheerful attitude. It is important not to bribe children, or to make unrealistic promises if things do not go well. This sends the message that the child will be unable to handle the separation.

Despite good preparation, children sometimes still experience overwhelming feelings of homesickness. This is most likely to occur during the initial days of separation. It is important for parents to encourage the child to stick things out. Parents are urged to remain calm, to listen to their child, and to offer feedback that is positive and encouraging.

In some cases, a parental visit to the child may help soothe a child’s fears. However, if this does not work – or is not feasible – parents may have no other choice than to bring the child home. Children who suffer when away from home are doing themselves no good, and might actually be doing themselves harm.

When children need to come home, it is important that they not feel like failures. In such cases, parents are urged to remind children that future opportunities to try again will exist when the child is ready.