Homesickness: How to Support Your Child at College

Going to college is a transitional time for parents and their children. For your child, they gain instant access to seeing what it’s like to live on their own. At first, your child may be excited, but they may also feel homesick. As a parent, it can be difficult to see your child hurting and not knowing how to help them. You want to encourage your child to stay at college for their education, but you can also help them through the transition by following the tips below.

• Answer your phone when they call you. Living on their own for the first time means your child will probably have a lot of questions related to laundry, finances, relationships, etc. When living at home, they knew they could just walk down the hallway to talk to you, but now, you’re a phone call away. By answering your phone, you can still give them the dependency they need, while helping them along as they become more independent. Remember, you were once in their shoes and learning about how to be an adult. Plus, they may just need to hear your voice.
• Visit your child at college. By visiting your child at college after they’ve settled in, you can ask them for a tour. You can give them a chance to be excited to show you where their classes are, where they work and enjoy a meal together at their new favorite place. You’re showing you’re interested in their college life and being supportive.
• Send care packages to them. When apart, your child will appreciate reminders of home and feel loved by receiving care packages from you. Often times, care packages include their favorite baked goods or snacks, but you could also send items they need like deodorant, mini fans, gift cards, etc. Plus, you can write a note to them which adds a special touch to remind them that you’re always there for them.
• Give them time to adjust. During their first few weeks or months, your child may call you sounding worried or scared. They may even ask you for help in transferring to a college closer to home. This depends on their situation, but more than likely, it’s best to give them time to adjust. Remind them that it’s normal to feel scared, worried or homesick. Encourage them to stay and be involved in intramural sports, clubs or events hosted on campus. Meeting new friends who are also going through the same adjustment will be helpful for their mental health, as well as help them forget about being homesick.
• Recommend they reach out to the college’s counseling services. Going to college is an entirely new world that comes with a host of responsibilities, so it’s normal for your child to feel overwhelmed, anxious or depressed. To make sure they’re taking care of their mental health, encourage them to reach out to the college’s counseling services. Talking to a professional about their feelings may calm their nerves, and the counselor can provide coping mechanisms.

Photo: ©iStock.com/Dobrila Vignjevic