19. What do you do about Homesickness?
Homesickness is normal and in many cases to be expected.
After all, most campers come from the warm cocoon of a
tight knit family unit that gives the child unlimited access
to their loving parents, the comfort of their family constellation
and all the support that comes with it. Often times children
don't have to share a bedroom, bathroom or a new living
space with anyone else, let alone strangers. It can be
a wonderful time of growth, skill development and pride.
Yet it can also be unnerving. The most important factor
is that everyone has a positive attitude. It may seem to
be a breeze going to camp when we are in the comfort of
our homes in January. It is another story when your son
or daughter suddenly discovers the real sense of being
in a new environment. Here is where we are the experts
at helping your child regain that optimism they had before
they arrived. That is why it is critical that your child
come to us with all their concerns and worries so that
we can attend to them immediately and fully. Parents, who
are usually states and sometimes countries away, can do
little or nothing to assuage their concerns. If you let
us co-parent with you for these few weeks your child is
away there is nothing so effective as the friendly caring
face of their counselor and our staff. Thus the reason
for no phone call for the first week and then only one
per week after that.:
We teach our counselor to handle homesickness through
an approach borrowed from Bob Ditter, a special Camp Psychologist
and Expert in the field of camps and homesickness:
"Going away to camp is a tremendous step for many
children, even if it's their third or fourth time doing
it, and those of us who have been doing it for a long time
can easily underestimate the trepidation a child experiences
in the process." -Bob Ditter, American Camping Association
What to do for homesick campers:
1. Acknowledge the feeling:
"It's scary to wake up in a new place." "I feel badly that you
feel like this." "It's not easy being away from home."
2. Share your feelings:
"I know how you feel, when I went to college for the first time I was homesick
too!"
3. Clarify the real issue:
"What is it that bothers you the most?" (If scared of the dark) "Do
you think a flashlight would help you?" "Have you tried to make friends?"
4. Reassure them:
"I think you're a neat kid." "I know you can get through this." "I
like you already and I've only just met you." "You and I are going
to be special friends."
5. Predict: "Won't it be great when you get through this." "You
will be so proud of yourself."
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