How common is homesickness?
As we know, these young people are not real keen about change. And we are for most their first ‘true’ away from home experience (not counting weekends at the grandparents). So, while leaving home is a significant change, it is just one of many which will occur throughout their lives. From our perspective, homesickness is really two issues with one name. There is the ‘missing’ part and the ‘adjusting’ part. The missing part involves the child missing home and all that includes: parents, siblings, pets, their room, and their things. We have found it beneficial for parents to maintain an ongoing dialogue as they prepare for camp and let their child know they’re not being ‘sent away’ but are being given quite an opportunity. They get to go to camp because their parents love them and want what’s best for them. They will be at camp learning and having fun and then on the appointed day they’ll return home. The adjusting part begins once they get to camp. Who are these other kids I’ll be livin
