For some children, homesickness will last for about five minutes. When they meet other children and discover what they like, they go for a walk. As they remember their parents and think about the home, the children will put their homesickness aside and enjoy the summer camp experience. On the other hand, separation problems are a problem for some children. Their anxiety and domestic illness are controlled, making it impossible to enjoy themselves. Physical symptoms or Panic attacks such as headaches or upset stomachs may occur in particular children. Summer camp is not pleasant for many children. This is a horror.

You as a parent can do some things to help your child better prepare for camp and come back in a week or two with new friends and an experience they will never forget.

Normalize Homesickness and Pandemic Changes

According to the Christian camp in Pennsylvania, children and adults alike experience homesickness when away from their typical environment. Approximately 20% of children have moderate to severe homesickness, while between 6% and 9% of children suffer from severe homesickness, often associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. You want to send a message to your child that he can handle his illness at home, no matter how severe it may be.

Christian Retreat Center Pennsylvania Suggests Some Important Suggestions How to Overcome Homesickness:

From the beginning of your journey, you will meet new acquaintances and get to know the people in your cabin. Also, try to introduce yourself to everyone. It is usually helpful to have many friends to help you deal with loneliness or domestic problems.

If you’re new to overnight camp, the chances are that most of the kids in your cabin are as well. Prepare both your child and yourself. Many camps have complex websites, including videos, that may give your children a sense of what a typical day can include. Having your kid go through the website with you, or doing a virtual or in-person tour, may help prepare them, and you can get them excited about the sorts of activities they like, whether it’s swimming, science, or soccer.

Guideline for parents how to Prepare their children for summer camp

According to Christian conference center Pennsylvania, children who have spent more time away from home are less likely to feel homesick. If your kid is attending sleepaway camp for the first time, try a few days away from home before the start of camp. Please send your child to spend a few days at his home with his friend, for a moment; he will know how it feels to be away from home.

• Look for camps that provide activities tailored to your child’s specific interests.
• Choose a camp not because your elder brother enjoyed it or because you had a great time at science camp when you were a kid. Boredom or disinterest in the camp’s activities might exacerbate homesickness.
• Allow your youngster to assist you with the preparations. Bring your youngster shopping for materials and enlist their assistance in packing.
• Please don’t attempt to keep your preparations hidden because you don’t want to bring up the subject of camp or because you don’t want to add to their concern.
• Collect some photographs of your family and bring some tape with you to camp so you may hang them on the wall of your bunk.
• Keep your worries to yourself. Maintain a cheerful and enthusiastic attitude throughout camp discussions, but don’t go overboard by repeatedly proclaiming how much fun they will have; this may make them scared to express their anxieties and concerns with you.
• Please don’t contribute to your child’s fear and worry by expressing your concerns about them being gone for a week. Their concerns will only grow as a result of this.
• Focus on activities that your kid will love, and ask inquiries that aren’t fear-based. “What do you think you’ll prefer more, going out on the lake in a boat or fishing from the beach?” you could ask.
• Pack a few “home” items in your child’s belongings. You may bring a favorite pillow, teddy animal, or blanket with you. You might include a photograph of yourself in your luggage or write a few words for him to read over the week.
• Don’t entirely isolate your kid from you because you believe it will exacerbate their homesickness—plan to communicate frequently, such as by phone calls or emails. Children’s anxiety isn’t always centered on their activities; it might also involve concerns about what will happen when they aren’t present. Regular contact can reassure your youngster that everything is well with you. Check with the camp to learn about their communication policies.
• Talk to your youngster about how they think the situation may be improved. Allow them to come up with ideas on their own. “What do you believe you’re capable of?”
• Don’t push your kid to accept a solution that you believe is the best. If something they want or feel would be helpful, they are more likely to follow through and work on a solution.
• Before sending your kid to camp, educate them on how to relax. When they’re feeling out of control, please encourage them to practice deep breathing or give other methods to settle for a few minutes.
• Make relaxation exercises as simple as possible. It’s great to do something simple like breathing in and out five times.
• Discuss daily schedules, routines, activities, and events scheduled for the week using camp literature, the camp’s website, or a visit to the camp.
• Don’t avoid talking about camp if you want to prevent extra concern.
• Keep your farewells brief. Give your kid a kiss, a hug, and a smile before handing them over to the camp staff.

While going to camp may be a fantastic experience for a kid and remember that overnight camps are not for everyone for the rest of their lives. Before making any arrangements, chat with your kid to see how they respond. You could decide that a day camp is a better fit for your kid this year, giving them more time to acclimate to the notion of being away from home for a week or longer. Please contact us at Christian camp Pennsylvania if you need further information about camping issues.