Kids Do Not Need to Be Homesick
Thinking of sending your child to summer camp? But reluctant to to your child being homesick? You don’t have to be a camper to suffer from homesickness. Any strange, new place can trigger separation anxiety. It is a normal part of childhood for many kids. It just helps provide evidence of the loving, trusting relationship you have with your kids and therefor, separation for the first time often can be a scary time.
An Overnight Summer Camp often is difficult for a child, even if they know the seperation will be followed by a wonderful family reunion. Children can easily get overwhelmed when adjusting to living with new people in a different place, . Even for children who enjoy new adventures a short bout of homesickness is a common reaction for kids new to summer camp.
It is important that you don’t measure your success as a parent by your child’s adjustment to camp. Even if your child has a difficult time adjusting to camp, it does not mean that you have failed to create an independent child. It may be difficult to understand how hard your child finds the first few days at camp. At times, it’s almost as if your child believes that he or she will never see you again. Put your child’s reaction into context. She may not be looking for a logical response from you, rather, what she wants is comfort and reassurance.
Remember that even adults don’t always act logically when they are very anxious. Homesickness is not about your child loving or trusting you enough, or about her independence or willingness to take risks. Homesickness is a temporary situation that she can over come with the support of adults. And when a child overcomes homesickness, it is an enormous boost to both self-confidence and self esteem. So assist the camp in doing what they do best, helping kids get over home sickness.
Should you ever give up? Sure, but don’t act to quickly, unless you feel their is a problem more than just homesickness. Feelings of failure often accompanies those who return early. Sometimes, a child is just not ready for camp even with the best of intentions and efforts on the parents and camp. Especially, when it’s just not a good fit. If, after a week or ten days with the best efforts of your camp, your child is clearly not adjusting, it may be time to bring your camper home. Usually going for a visit does not help the situation.
Talk to the camp director about your decision to to bring your child home. Support your child fully through what they feel is a failure. Reevaluation is best saved for many days after the return. You need to figgure it out with them. Help your child to understand that even though it did not work, he is not a failure. Suggest another sleepaway camp program at another time because you have confidence in him.
Should you feel overnight camp maybe difficult for your child find a program that has a special “first time camper program.” Swift Nature Camp offers a unique FIRST TIME AT CAMP program, that is designed for childrens first time away from home. This 12 day program works because it is long enough for campers to not get stuck at a place of homesickness, but rather helps them to get through those feelings. We limit the amount of campers and with only first timers, it sets a level playing feel for all campers.
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Jeff and Lonnie Lorenz have been the owners & Directors of Swift Nature Camp since 1996. Swift is a non-competitive, traditional coed overnight Summer Camp for Boys and Girls Ages 6-15. In addition to traditional adventure camp activities we promote Nature as a Science Summer Camp, with fun hands on activities. So learn more about our first time camper at Summer Youth Camp.
