With school out and summer in full swing, many parents may be wondering how their child’s first big trip alone to grandma and grandpa’s or to camp will pan out. Will their child experience anxiety, fear of separation, or even homesickness? A study in the journal Pediatrics entitled Preventing and Treating Homesickness examines four key indicators of how a child will handle being away from home and family.  

The four indicators or risk factors when considering homesickness in a child are: experience, personality, family, and attitude. The researchers found that while age did come into play with feelings of homesickness, younger children who had more experience being away from their family fared better than older children who didn’t have experience away from family. Furthermore, the child’s personal expectations of the time away, previous negative experiences, feeling like they had little control over the decision to go, and a parent’s own feelings of anxiety about the time apart can all lead to increased levels of homesickness.  

 However, the study highlights insecure attachments with a primary caregiver as the most common risk factor associated with homesickness.  

Read more

(source: www.bccf.ca )