Monday, June 28, 2010

Dealing with Homesickness at Camp or College

In the past, parents and doctors have thought homesickness was an unavoidable part of childhood. In fact, 95% of boys and girls report feeling homesick at summer camp. Mild homesickness may remit spontaneously after a few days, but severe homesickness typically worsens over time.

Summer camp is an expensive experience and highly rewarding. But homesickness can ruin your child¹s camp stay. It doesn't have to be that way at camp or when you send them off to college.

On Monday Brenda Hyde, Publisher of FAMILY Magazine, was on WUSA9 to share with parents more about this topic.

So how do parents prevent homesickness if it is universal?

There are ways parents can anticipate and lessen the distress that homesickness can cause among kids and teens at summer camps, hospitals, boarding schools and colleges so that homesickness will not get in the way of the important character-building lessons that these experiences bring.

PREVENTION

Talk About It

Talk to kids about the experience ahead of any separation, whether it's for camp, college or a hospital stay of even a few days. What you say beforehand matters and it is very important for the intensity of homesickness.

Homesickness Is Normal

One of the most important things for parents and doctors to recognize, and to say to kids before any separation, is that it's normal, not strange, to feel homesick. In fact, research has shown that 90 percent of children attending summer camp feel some levels of homesickness and that 20 percent face a serious level of distress that, if untreated, worsens over time and interferes with their ability to benefit from a camp experience.


Involve the Child

Involve children in the decision to spend time away from home, so that they have a sense of control.



Practice
Arrange for a practice time away from home. This would be extremely important for a child who might not have gone to summer camp and is heading off to college.

Learn About Camp
Work with the child to learn about the camp or school so they know what to
anticipate. Try to meet other campers.

Know if Your Child is Ready
Above all, know whether your child is really ready for a separation. If you are not sure, ask their doctor, but not while the child can hear the conversation.


DEALING WITH HOMESICKNESS

Take Action – Camper
Do something fun, such as play with friends, to forget about homesick feelings.

Do something (write a letter, look at a family picture) to feel closer to home.

Go see someone who can talk with you to help you feel better.

Think about the good side of things (activities, friends) to feel better.

Think that time away is actually pretty short to make time go by faster.

Try not to think about home and loved ones to forget about homesickness.

Think about loved ones to figure out what they would say to help.



Take Action - Parents

Parents ¬ write your child and suggest these action items.

No Telephone Calls or Texting

At summer camps, anecdotal evidence suggests that telephone calls, and to a lesser extent instant messaging, exacerbate homesickness during relatively short stays away from home. Such real-time correspondence also erodes the burgeoning independence that camps and trips are designed to nurture. Therefore, parents are strongly discouraged from insisting they talk with their homesick child during a short stay away. Chances are great that such contact will only increase the distress for both parties. Old-fashioned
letters may be the best way to maintain contact with home. They lack the emotionally quality of a telephone call, and they require narrative reflection, which promotes understanding of one¹s experience. Keeping a journal also helps.



Make NO DEALS

Under no circumstances of planned, recreational separations from home should parents ever make a "pick-up deal" with their son or daughter.48 Promising that "if you don¹t like it, I¹ll come pick you up" reduces the child’s likelihood of success for several reasons. First, the subtext of such deals is "I have so little confidence in your ability to cope with this normal response to separation that I believe the only solution is for me to rescue you." Such expressions of anxiety and doubt contradict the recommended expressions of optimism and confidence outlined above. Second, such deals plant the seeds of homesickness by giving young people the expectation that they will not like the new place. Negative separation attitudes are powerful predictors of homesickness. Third, such deals prevent the development of effective coping by pointing young people toward an escape route. Fourth, such deals paralyze surrogate caregivers who, after enthusiastic support and coaching, may be faced with a child who says, "My parents said that if I didn’t like it here, they would come to get me." Parents are then faced with 2 equally unsatisfactory choices: (1) fulfill their promise, pick the child up, and deprive him or her of a wonderful opportunity to grow and develop; or (2) renege on their promise and suffer an erosion of trust in their relationship with the child.

All in all, summer camp and other separations from home can be great "life training" experiences for children, building their independence and teaching self-reliance and social skills that they'll use throughout life.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Preparing for First Overnight Camp

Sending a child to their first overnight camp is a big step. It is a seperation process—not just something that happens one gorgeous sunny summer day. While much energy will be focused on your camper and this great growth experience, it is important to also remember that you must prepare for the separation as well.

Today Brenda Hyde, Publisher of FAMILY Magazine was on WUSA9 News Now with Peggy Fox discussing ideas on how to prepare for that first overnight camp experience.

Here are some tips on making this a positive experience:

----TIPS FOR CAMPERS

Prepare In Advance – try out sleeping at Grandma’s house
If your child has never slept away from home, try sending him or her to stay with a grandparent or friend for a night or two. Following this “overnight,” reward your child for his efforts and relate the experience to the upcoming summer.

Learn Daily Living Skills in Advance
Daily living skills are an important element of any quality overnight camp program. An 8-year-old child should be able to brush her teeth and hair, and make her own bed - maybe not perfectly, but good enough for camp.

Develop Bedtime Routines
Bedtime routines are important to a good night’s sleep and can be adapted for camp. If your child sings a song at bedtime with a parent or sibling, help them sing it alone or with a stuffed animal. This will help them adjust to a night at camp without you. These routines are important to children as they provide a level of stability that can be comforting when away from home.

----TIPS FOR PARENTS

Prepare for Departure Day
Keep positive and don’t show any of your own anxiety to your child. Be overwhelmingly positive. Remember to tell your child that it was one of the most glorious times of your life and how much fun you had at camp. Provide your child with a sense of encouragement and stability needed – not a horror story of spider, ghosts and crying yourself to sleep!

Don’t Brag About Your Newfound Freedom
For parents with children out of the house, this newfound independence can be intoxicating for some and depressing for others. Don’t paint a picture of heaven with your child at camp or talk about all the exciting plans you have while they are away. If you plan on taking a vacation, be cognizant of the effect on your child.

Write to Your Camper
Be careful what you write. Letters from parents that reinforce how miserable they are without their child can be difficult for a child to deal with. While it is important that they know you love them – hearing how miserable you are (or are not!) without them can be a tough message to receive. And finally, encourage siblings and grandparents to write as well—children love receiving mail at camp!

So – the bottom line is to recognize there is a process to the summer separation. Going off to an overnight camp can be a remarkable growing experience. If you prepare your son or daughter to the best of your abilities, you can relax and take comfort in having made a good decision even better.




TIPS FOR CAMPERS

Prepare In Advance – try out sleeping at Grandma’s house
Learn Daily Living Skills in Advance
Develop Bedtime Routines
TIPS FOR PARENTS

Prepare for Departure Day
Don’t Brag About Your Newfound Freedom
Write to Your Camper

Preparing for First Overnight Camp

Sending a child to their first overnight camp is a big step. It is a seperation process—not just something that happens one gorgeous sunny summer day. While much energy will be focused on your camper and this great growth experience, it is important to also remember that you must prepare for the separation as well.

Today Brenda Hyde, Publisher of FAMILY Magazine was on WUSA9 News Now with Peggy Fox discussing ideas on how to prepare for that first overnight camp experience.

Here are some tips on making this a positive experience:

----TIPS FOR CAMPERS

Prepare In Advance – try out sleeping at Grandma’s house
If your child has never slept away from home, try sending him or her to stay with a grandparent or friend for a night or two. Following this “overnight,” reward your child for his efforts and relate the experience to the upcoming summer.

Learn Daily Living Skills in Advance
Daily living skills are an important element of any quality overnight camp program. An 8-year-old child should be able to brush her teeth and hair, and make her own bed - maybe not perfectly, but good enough for camp.

Develop Bedtime Routines
Bedtime routines are important to a good night’s sleep and can be adapted for camp. If your child sings a song at bedtime with a parent or sibling, help them sing it alone or with a stuffed animal. This will help them adjust to a night at camp without you. These routines are important to children as they provide a level of stability that can be comforting when away from home.

----TIPS FOR PARENTS

Prepare for Departure Day
Keep positive and don’t show any of your own anxiety to your child. Be overwhelmingly positive. Remember to tell your child that it was one of the most glorious times of your life and how much fun you had at camp. Provide your child with a sense of encouragement and stability needed – not a horror story of spider, ghosts and crying yourself to sleep!

Don’t Brag About Your Newfound Freedom
For parents with children out of the house, this newfound independence can be intoxicating for some and depressing for others. Don’t paint a picture of heaven with your child at camp or talk about all the exciting plans you have while they are away. If you plan on taking a vacation, be cognizant of the effect on your child.

Write to Your Camper
Be careful what you write. Letters from parents that reinforce how miserable they are without their child can be difficult for a child to deal with. While it is important that they know you love them – hearing how miserable you are (or are not!) without them can be a tough message to receive. And finally, encourage siblings and grandparents to write as well—children love receiving mail at camp!

So – the bottom line is to recognize there is a process to the summer separation. Going off to an overnight camp can be a remarkable growing experience. If you prepare your son or daughter to the best of your abilities, you can relax and take comfort in having made a good decision even better.




TIPS FOR CAMPERS

Prepare In Advance – try out sleeping at Grandma’s house
Learn Daily Living Skills in Advance
Develop Bedtime Routines
TIPS FOR PARENTS

Prepare for Departure Day
Don’t Brag About Your Newfound Freedom
Write to Your Camper

Monday, June 14, 2010

10 Summer Fun Things to Do

Summer is here and it won’t be long before you are looking for something to do with the kids. It does not take long for boredom to set in. But don’t panic yet. Today Amy Bevins, Assistant Editor for FAMILY Magazine was on WUSA9 News Now with Peggy Fox discussing some tips on some unusual things to do with your kids in the Washington area.

1. Become a Junior Ranger
2. Introduce your Kids to Flashlight Tag
3. Pick Your Own Farms - Smile Purple
A mouthful of sun warmed blackberries yields a purple smile.
4. Kick up your Heels at Contra Dancing
www.contradancers.com.
5. Live a Little History with Reenactments
6. Start a Kid’s Book Club
7. Take Them Out to the Ballpark – A trip to the Minor League games
www.baysox.com
potomac.nationals.milb.com
www.frederickkeys.com
8. Centuries of Growth - National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
9. Watch the Women Play – Washington Freedom Soccer
10. Let Them be Bored


1. Become a Junior Ranger
With 19 locations in the metro area from Rock Creek Park, Wolf Trap and the Lincoln Memorial to Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens and Ford’s Theater (and dozens more across the US), Junior Ranger programs teach kids ages 6-14 about National Parks through activities, games and more. Visit www.nps.gov/learn/juniorranger.htm.

2. Introduce your Kids to Flashlight Tag
Remember the long summer evenings playing outside until darkness fell? Give your kids the gift of summer memories by teaching them some your childhood games. Check out www.gameskidsplay.net for a list of directions to many childhood favorites.

3. Pick Your Own Farms - Smile Purple
A mouthful of sun warmed blackberries yields a purple smile. Take the kids for a memorable day at a pick your own farm and let them enjoy truly fresh fruits and vegetables. Check out www.pickyourown.org to find a farm nearby.

4. Kick up your Heels at Contra Dancing
The Virginia Reel isn’t just something your kids learn in 4th grade gym class. Try Contra dancing for toe-tapping, hand-clapping family fun. With live music and plenty of good-natured instruction, you and your kids can have old fashioned fun spinning and sashaying through timeless dances. To find a Contra dance location near you visit www.contradancers.com.

5. Live a Little History with Reenactments
Feel history enfold you at living history reenactments. As an epicenter of our country’s history, the DC area hosts a myriad of historical reenactments including the anniversary commemoration at the Manassas Battlefield Park July 17-18 (www.nps.gov/mana) and the Civil War encampments at Rose Hill Manor Park (www.rosehillmuseum.com).

6. Start a Kid’s Book Club
Book Clubs aren’t just for the moms. Gather a small group of kids, choose a book and plan some fun activities to share the story. For example, read Little House in the Big Woods and make homemade butter the way Ma did in Chapter 2. Read Hatchet and try out some survival skills. Make bread like the Little Red Hen or at night, look for bats like Stellaluna.

7. Take Them Out to the Ballpark – A trip to the Minor League games
Minor League baseball is a more affordable treat for the entire family. You get the full ballpark feel (the crack of the bat, the hot dogs and popcorn, the 7th inning stretch) at a fraction of the cost. And who knows, maybe you’ll see the next “Hank Aaron” in waiting.
www.baysox.com
potomac.nationals.milb.com
www.frederickkeys.com

8. Centuries of Growth - National Bonsai & Penjing Museum
A tree older than George Washington? The National Arboretum is home to the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum which features bonsai trees dating back more than 400 years. Many of these remarkable trees were being shaped and formed before our country began. www.usna.usda.gov/Gardens/collections/bonsai.html

9. Watch the Women Play – Washington Freedom Soccer
This summer, Washington Freedom, DC’s women’s professional soccer team, takes the field at RFK and the Maryland SoccerPlex for the second season of the Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) league. www.womensprosoccer.com/dc

10. Let Them be Bored
It’s ok to let your kids be bored once in awhile. Set out craft supplies, books, and puzzles and let them discover how to entertain themselves. They might just surprise you with their creativity

Monday, June 7, 2010

Looking for some great Family-Friendly entertainment?

June marks the end of the school year for many schools and that means many parents are looking for fun and interesting ways to keep their children entertained.

Today Liz McConville, Resource Editor for FAMILY Magazine was on WUSA9 News Now with Peggy Fox discussing family-friendly events for spring.

Adventure Theatre presents the United States premiere of The Red Balloon, based on the 1956 film and book "Le Ballon Rouge" by Albert Lamorisse and adapted for the stage by Anthony Clarke. Directed by Roberta Gasbarre, The Red Balloon marks the fourth production of Adventure Theatre's 58th season and runs through June 13, 2010. Adventure Theatre's The Red Balloon features Pasquale, a lonely French boy, who befriends an enchanted and sometimes mischievous red balloon. The charming pair draws inquisitive looks from adults and the envy of other school children as they wander the streets of Paris. Tickets can be purchased through the box office by calling 301-634-2270 or online at www.adventuretheatre.org. Tickets are $12 for children 12 and under and $15 for adults. Group rates are available. Children under the age of 1 are free. All performances will take place at Adventure Theatre, 7300 MacArthur Blvd, Glen Echo, MD, 20812 in the historic Glen Echo Park.

Get the family together to go back in time at this year’s Virginia Renaissance Festival. June 12 & 13 marks the last weekend for the festival. Each weekend had a special theme and this weekend celebrates Celtic Heritage. The festival runs from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. on the grounds of the Lake Anna Winery in Spotsylvania, VA. For more information visit their web site at www.varf.org.

Come out to Sky Meadows State Park June 26th-27th to sleep under the stars for the Great American Backyard Campout. Bring your tent and supplies and you can get help setting up your site. There will also be programs on hiking, backpacking and more at the Outdoor Skills Station sponsored by Blue Ridge Mountain Sports. Dinner will be provided by Bloom in Marshall. There will be an appearance by Smokey the Bear & music by the group campfire. Other activities include meeting some native wildlife, guided nature hikes and candlelight tours of the Historic Mount Bleak House. Advanced registration is $18.65 tax included and $30 plus tax at the gate. For more information visit www.backyardcampout.org or call 800-933-PARK.