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You guessed it - you miss home. About 95% of all campers report at least minor homesickness - it's normal. Roughly 20% have moderate homesickness, and 7% have it with severe symptoms. Symptoms include: being withdrawn, body complaints, and feelings of missing home.
How long does it last?
It doesn't get better by itself with time. Actually, without good intervention, it just gets worse. If a child starts camp with moderate homesickness, we are on top of it fast!
What kind of kid tends to get homesick?
• Little or no previous separation experience - never spent a night away from home
• Child was forced to attend camp
• Child was worried about coming to camp and those feelings weren't dealt with appropriately ahead of time
• Child has trouble handling his/her emotions - low emotional intelligence
• Anxiety or depression were already present before camp
• Home life without an attentive, loving parent
• Parent told child that s/he might have trouble at camp
• There is instability at home (moving, divorce, sickness, emotional trauma, etc.)
• The child's first impression of camp isn't very positive
Preventing homesickness before camp - the parents' role
• Have your child spend a night away from home with a friend
• Involve your child in planning for camp, and thinking about all the fun that will be had
• If your child tells you that s/he is worried about missing home, talk about it. Talk about what the child can do to not miss home so much before going to camp (e.g., sleep at friend's house). Talk about what the child can do to not miss home so much while at camp - write letters, bring something from home, get letters from parents, make lists of all the good things about camp, talk to the counselors, and other things you've taught your child to do when feeling a little bit of stress.
• Go through the website and look at all the pictures. Have the child start thinking about what activities they'd like to try.
• Don't tell your child that s/he can call and come home if s/he doesn't like it. Children who are told this have an extremely hard time getting over their homesickness, and fun and independence are rarely gained.
Preventing homesickness at camp - our role
• Know their names and use them often
• Play some name games. If there is time, do a full cabin activity.
• Create a cabin contract (rules) so the child knows what the expectations are
• Help the child unpack
• Play some pickup games in dead times
• Give a tour so that children know their new surroundings
• Pair a new child with a returner
• Get to know something meaningful about each child and share some things about yourself
• Provide choices whenever possible and let the child know what is going to happen as far into the future as the child would like to know.
• Talk about what the child enjoys. Talk about the cabin and unit games to come.
• Have the camper write home - write about all the great things happening at camp, and what the child can look forward to
• Have the child share a talent they have, and/or teach them one of their talents
• Address any fear they may have (e.g., darkness, being alone, getting picked on)
Camp Berger is busy, entertaining, educational and fun! Many children experience some degree of homesickness. But our staff is there and trained to help the child, and the parents, work through it. |
