Heading Off Homesickness

Help keep that troublesome spoiler homesickness from thwarting your kid's adventures away from home this summer.

What you say and don't say to your child about the upcoming time away -- be it for summer camp, a trip to grandma's farm, or a sleepover at a friend's house -- can lessen the severity of homesickness (a mild form affects almost every child), head off depression and anxiety, and help her enjoy the new experience. From the time she starts packing until you wave goodbye, here's how to start prepping your child for the experience.

4 Options for Helping Tackle Homesickness

Most children have moments of longing for home, even if it's just missing your cooking or playing with the family dog. Those sad feelings usually fade as the good times kick in. You can help that happen for your child by taking it slowly. Practice with an afternoon away from home first, then maybe an overnight at a friend's house. And talk to your child about being away from home long before she packs her duffle.

Option 1

Give your child some decision-making power. Whether it's where she goes for summer camp, who drops her off at grandma's house, or what she takes along to a sleepover, a little involvement will help her feel empowered.

Option 2

Talk positively about the upcoming time away. On a calendar, mark the day your child leaves and the day she returns to emphasize that the time away is finite. Talk about the people who will be taking care of her, the kids she will be playing with, and the things she will see. Have her meet people ahead of time, if possible.

Option 3

Talk about homesickness. It's not a topic to be avoided. Let your child know it's normal to miss home -- almost all kids do -- but that there are things she can do to make herself feel better.

Option 4

Create a "homesickness remedies" kit. Give your child stationery and stamped envelopes, pack a small picture of mom and dad or the family pet, and provide a list of activities to try whenever she misses home. The list can include:

• Doing something active, like going for a swim or playing a game with someone
• Writing down a list of things that made her smile that day
• Talking with someone about how she's feeling (provide a list of names, if possible)
• Learning the names of three new people she meets
• Doing something fun and then writing about it in a letter home
• Eating one of her favorite bedtime snacks in the evening (pack one with her belongings, if possible)
• Looking at a calendar and thinking about how short the time away really is
• Thinking about the good things in her new environment

Experts call leaving home for the first time a "developmental milestone." By giving your child tools to cope, you'll help her take that first big step toward independence.