HOMESICK FEELINGS ARE NORMAL
Before I went to camp, I practiced staying overnight at my best friend’s house. That helped me get used to not seeing my mom and dad every day. -Marian, age 9
You can’t make homesickness go away for good. For me, a little bit is always there, in the back of my mind. But I learned what to do so homesick feelings don’t bother me. -John, age 9
You can’t make homesickness go away for good. For me, a little bit is always there, in the back of my mind. But I learned what to do so homesick feelings don’t bother me. -John, age 9
Overnight camps are made for kids to have fun. Most kids love it, but almost all kids feel a little bit homesick, just like Marian and John did. It’s normal to feel a little sad or nervous when you’re away from home. And even though homesickness feels bad, those feelings mean something good. Homesick feelings mean that you love your parents and your home. Weak homesick feelings don’t bother most kids. If your homesick feelings are strong, and they start to bother you, there are lots of things that you can think and do to feel better.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE CAMP TO PREVENT STRONG HOMESICKNESS:
Doing these things now prevents you from having strong homesick feelings later. Try them before camp starts.
1. Think Positively.
Camp will be a blast! You already know that there will be lots of new activities to try, cool people to hang out with, and different places to go. If your camp has its own property, there will also be some beautiful nature to explore.A whole session at camp may seem like a long time. But, hey, two or four weeks isn’t really that much time to spend at camp. If you’re nine years old, you’ve already lived more than 468 weeks. What’s only two weeks? Even eight weeks seems like a short time when you remember how many weeks you’ve been alive. Camp will go quickly because of all the fun you’ll be having. You might even wish you could stay longer.
2. Encourage Your Parents.
Did you know that some parents get a little nervous about overnight camp? Well, they do. It’s normal. They’re nervous because they love you and they want you to have fun. Tell them you will have fun. Camp will be a fun challenge. While you’re at camp, your parents should do some fun stuff too, like read books and visit with their grown-up friends.
It’s helpful to get a calendar and look at it with your parents. Turn to the month when camp starts. Mark the day you will leave and the day you will return. Count the number of days you’ll be at camp and color them in. That way, you and your parents can see exactly how long you’ll be gone. Maybe you’ll also want to count how many weeks it is from now until you leave. Knowing when camp is coming up really makes kids and parents feel comforted. The fewer surprises, the better.
3. Get to Know Your Camp
Camp has a special culture. The schedules and customs are different from the ones you have at school and at home. There’s probably a certain time when everyone has to wake up in the morning, and certain times for meals. You may get to choose some activities, and other activities might be planned for you. Even the food might be a little different from what you’re used to. Most kids love camp food.
There are lots of places to learn about your camp. First of all, your camp should send you some papers to read and pictures to look at. Some camps also have video tapes and CD-ROMs that tell about the camp. If you have a camp video or CD-ROM, check it out. Maybe your camp even has a web page you can visit. When you look at all these pictures of camp, what looks good? What’s different about camp, compared to home?
If you still have questions about the camp before you go, ask your parents or call the camp on the phone. The more you learn about your camp ahead of time, the more comfortable you will feel once you get there. If you feel “right at home” at camp, you won’t miss your real home as much!
4. Spend Some Practice Time Away From Home.
Spending two or three days at a friend’s or relative’s house helps you get used to being away from home. It gives you some practice knowing what camp will be like. If you miss home during your short trip, try some “anti-homesickness” strategies from the “Things That Help Homesickness” list.
During your practice trips, you should also keep in touch with your family in the same way you will at camp: by writing letters. Try not to use the phone at all. Remember, most camps don’t allow campers to use the phone. In your letters, write about what fun things you did that day, what the weather was like, and what was on your mind. Seal the letter in an envelope, address it, stamp it, and mail it just like you will at camp.
5. Pack Something Special from Home
ou’ll be packing a lot of different things to bring to camp. Besides all the regular supplies, many kids like to pack something special from home. This could be a photograph of your family, a drawing of your pet, a penny with your birth year on it, a small stuffed animal, your favorite pillow, a little toy, or anything else that reminds you of home. What do you think you might like to bring? Pick something that’s not too valuable, in case it gets lost.
6. Read Books about Overnight Camp
There are some good books, written for kids, about overnight camp. Two that we like are: “Off to Camp,” by Myra Pravda and “Wish You Were Here,” by Martina Selway. You can find these books, and maybe others like them, at a bookstore or library. You can also order them on-line, but ask your parents first. Reading about how other kids enjoy overnight camp will take away some of the mystery. You’ll feel even more excited about going!
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