Kids can get homesick at any age.
Whether you are a camp counselor or a parent, understanding deal with homesick children can make the difference between a pleasant vacation and a miserable child. If you are counselor, make sure the child is active and has the emotional support he needs when he is away from home. If you are a parent, maintain contact and remember that homesickness is normal and can affect children of any age.
Instructions
Counselors
1. Give the child attention. It may be difficult to give individual attention to every camper, but it is important that children receive the emotional support they would normally receive at home. If you cannot give everyone attention, make sure the children find another camper with whom they can confide.
2. Check on the children at night. Nighttime is the worst for homesick children when they have time to think about and miss their routine at home.
3. Keep the children talking. Ask them about what they did that day, what they look forward to doing tomorrow, and anything else that keeps their minds off of home. Ask about their favorite movies, foods and books, but keep the topic off what they do or what they have at home.
Parents
4. Pack a little piece of home with your children to take with them to camp or on vacation. If they feel they are too old to carry a favorite stuffed animal or blanket, give them some pictures of you, their siblings or a favorite pet.
5. Watch what you say. Saying the wrong thing could make your children feel worse. Do not tell your children how much fun you are having at home or how much you miss them. When they express how much they miss you, you can commiserate, but encourage them to have fun and try to divert their attention.
6. Keep in touch with your children while they are away from home. If you cannot talk on the telephone, send letters regularly. Make sure your children know you are thinking of them and ask them questions about what they are doing and what things they enjoy.
Tags: what they, your children, about what, about what they, away from