I started exploring homesickness while my son participated in a week-long day-camp. He appeared not to be settling in, and he was experiencing intense separation anxiety, However, by the end of the week I could see that his primary issues related to being in a large group, quick transitions between activities, and some of the verbal instructions were too complicated. He was continually withdrawing from participation, and the diligent efforts of camp counselors to be inclusive didn't seem to ease his discomfort at all.
During the week, I attended part of the camp with him and felt intense pressure to "conform" and get over it.
As I parent my super smart and sensitive child, I sometimes feel alone and isolated. This week, I received uninvited advice and I felt discouraged having the 1 in 20 child struggling in such a "visible" way to fit in.
Research has shown that as much as 90% of children attending summer camp feel some levels of homesickness, and 20% can face a serious level of distress that - if untreated - worsens over time and interferes with their ability to benefit from a camp experience.
