Rx for homesickness: Prepare, support child in new setting
When a child leaves home, it can be tough on both youngstersand
parents.
Helping your child cope with homesickness is essential to hisor her
success in new environments.
The American Academy of Pediatrics offers the following guidelineson how
parents can help their children adjust to new settings,including camp,
boarding school and college:
Involve your child in the decision to spend time away from hometo increase
your child's perception of having control over thesituation.
Let your child know that homesickness is normaland offer copingstrategies
such as:
Spending time with friends
todistract the child from thoughtsof homesickness.
Doing somethingto feel
closer to home, likewriting a letteror looking ata family picture.
Talking tosomeone who can
make you feelbetter.
Thinking positive
thoughts.
Trying not to alwaysthink
about loved ones at home.
Arrange two- to three-dayovernight trial runs at a friend'sor relative's
house so yourchild can learn to feel comfortableusing coping strategies.
Ideally,the child should not callbut can write home. Provide pre-addressed,
stampedenvelopesand paper.
Encourage your child to make new friends.
Be enthusiastic about the new experience.
Mark the periodon a calendar, so your child can see that thetime away is
notan eternity.
Never promise that you will pick your child upif he or shedoes not like
the new experience; it expressesdoubt in hisor her ability to cope.
During hospitalizations, separation usually is unplanned. Thefollowing can
help minimize your child's homesickness in thesesituations.
Talk with your child honestly about why he or she is being
hospitalized.
Ask the staff to give your child a tour of the hospital unit.
Try not to convey your own uncertainties about the hospitalization.
Avoid changing your child's discharge date if you can.
Writeyour visitation plans on a calendar for your child. Frequentvisits
and phone calls can ease homesickness. Try to be on timefor planned visits
and phone calls.
