Parents shouldn’t shrug off homesickness as a more-or-less benign right-of-passage for their children, according to a report from the American Academy of Pediatrics. Research has shown that one in five children attending summer camp are so debilitated by homesickness that it interferes with their ability to participate in group activities and benefit from the experience. As many as half of children who are unexpectedly separated from their parents for an indefinite period of time—such as in a stay at the hospital—suffer severe homesickness that may hamper their ability to heal.

Many of the AAP’s prevention tips sound like common sense. But a recent study showed that coaching parents and children about homesickness ahead of time decreased the severity of first-time campers by an average of 50%. Among the guidelines: build up to the time away by giving children chances to practice their independence throughout the year, help them develop a sense of control by involving them in the decision to go to camp, tell them that homesickness is normal and that it’s okay to share their feeling with trusted camp counselors or other adults.

Clinical psychologist Christopher Thurber, one of the AAP study’s authors, has made more tips available at his website campspirit.com.

What it Means: Parents and doctors need to plan ahead if they want to keep homesickness to a minimum at either summer camp or the hospital.

From the Archive:
Feb. 5, 2006 Happiness Isn’t Normal
Nov. 1, 1999: Freshman Blues