Whether away at college or traveling on vacation, homesickness can happen at any age, anytime, anywhere. It’s bad enough when it happens to you, but when it affects a niece or nephew, the feeling of helplessness can be overwhelming.
 
Here are five tips to help your niece or nephew overcome homesickness no matter where it hits.
 
1. Recognize It

Sometimes it’s difficult to know if you’re homesick so help your niece or nephew by keeping in touch and asking how things are going. Help them realize it’s okay to be a bit homesick. It’s natural to miss what you love and especially familiar surroundings: home cooking, pets, brother/sister/parents, family car, and yes, even the boring routine from home. Once you help them recognize it, you can take steps to help them feel better.
 
2. Let Someone Know

Suggest they let someone know they are a little homesick – have them text a sibling and let them know and tell their parents to get the ball rolling. If they are at college, suggest they call a friend to see how they are doing at college; it always makes it better to share experiences (both good and bad), and it’s comforting to know someone else is experiencing similar feelings.
 
3. Routine Check-in Day

Set one day a week that you call to say “Hi.” Even if it’s just a quick “Hello,” it might be the exact thing they need, and you can tell by the tone of their voice how they’re feeling. There are a lot of options in keeping in touch, so try a few to see what works best. Texting is quick and easy, but it’s difficult to get a good read on how someone’s actually feeling. FaceTime or Skype can be either really good or really stressful; sometimes seeing someone in person can make them burst into tears, so try it out but don't be surprised if phone calls are a better idea.
 
4.  Send a Care Package or Care Card

Yes, you just can’t go wrong with a good old care package! Small or large, it’s truly the thought that counts. Include a few photos from home, homemade cookies, a new pair of pajamas and popcorn. The possibilities are endless. To save time standing at the post office, pick up a few gift cards that you can pop in the mail periodically: Starbucks, Trader Joe's, McDonalds, Dairy Queen, Target… Always a hit!

Travel Expert Anne McAlpin has been a featured guest on Oprah®, The View, and CNN, sharing up-to-the-minute travel tips. She has flown more than 2 million miles, traveled in over 71 countries, and cruised through the Panama Canal 98 times. When her nieces and nephews turn 16, she gives them a passport and takes them on a trip anywhere they’d like to go. She is currently planning next summer’s adventure for her niece, Mary Beth: Africa.

Photo: marin
Published: November 6, 2013