Homesickness

CLASS DESCRIPTION

This virtual session equips youth development professionals with practical, research-informed strategies to prevent and respond to homesickness in day and overnight programs. Participants will learn the signs and common emotional features of homesickness, how to reduce risk through pre-program family education and “practice time away,” and how to train staff to deliver a brief, supportive coaching conversation using Dr. Thurber’s AEIOUY framework. The course also addresses how modern electronic technology and screen-time habits can intensify separation adjustment, and how program policies and staff modeling can promote healthier coping and connection.

Class duration: 1 hour, 1 minute (61 minutes)

Estimated CEUs: 0.10 CEUs

• This estimate uses the common continuing education standard of 1.0 CEU = 10 contact hours (so ~1 hour ≈ 0.1 CEU). With 61 minutes of instruction, that’s ~0.102 contact CEUs, typically rounded to 0.10 (unless your accreditor requires rounding up/down differently).

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Define homesickness and identify common emotional/behavioral indicators that can interfere with program engagement.
2. Explain key contributors to homesickness intensity (e.g., separation adjustment, expectations, cultural contrast, and technology attachment).
3. Apply evidence-informed prevention strategies with families, including normalizing feelings, building positive expectations, and encouraging “practice time away from home.”
4. Train staff to conduct a 15-minute supportive coaching conversation using the AEIOUY framework (Ask, Empathize, Inquire, Offer, Understand, You can do it).
5. Select developmentally appropriate coping supports (behavioral and cognitive) and avoid practices that increase distress (e.g., “pickup deals,” excessive focus/perseveration, or over-reliance on staff).

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Dr. Christopher Thurber is a Thought Leader in Positive Youth Development. He's also a longtime contributor to Camp Business and PRB+ magazines.