|
 This
summer, millions of children will get their first taste of independence
at a summer resident camp. For many, it will also be their first
experience with homesickness. But parents don't have to feel helpless
when homesickness strikes. The prescription for camper homesickness
is a simple solution of preparation and patience.
Phillips Exeter Academy psychologist Dr. Christopher Thurber studied
homesickness in 329 boys between the ages of 8 and 16 at resident
camp. According to his results, homesickness is the norm rather
than the exception. A whopping 83 percent of the campers studied
reported homesickness on at least one day of camp.
Thurber and the American Camp Association (ACA) suggest the following
tips for parents to help their child deal with homesickness at camp:
- Encourage your child's independence throughout the year. Practice
separations, such as sleepovers at a friend's house, can simulate
the camp environment.
- 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.
- Discuss what camp will be like before your child leaves. Consider
role-playing anticipated situations, such as using a flashlight
to find the bathroom.
- Reach an agreement ahead of time on calling each other. If
your child's camp has a no-phone-calls policy, honor it.
- 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."
- 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.
- Pack a personal item from home, such as a stuffed animal.
- When a "rescue call" comes from the child, offer
calm reassurance and put the time frame into perspective. Avoid
the temptation to take the child home early.
- Talk candidly with the camp director to obtain his/her perspective
on your child's adjustment.
- 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.
- Trust your instincts. While most incidents of homesickness
will pass in a day or two, Thurber's research shows that approximately
seven percent of the cases are severe. If your child is not eating
or sleeping because of anxiety or depression, it is time to go
home. However, don't make your child feel like a failure if their
stay at camp is cut short. Focus on the positive and encourage
your child to try camp again next year.
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The Secret Ingredients of Summer Camp Success