For many working moms, summer means sending children to sleep-away camp. But being away is not always an easy adjustment. This summer, when Rob Levine sent his nine-year-old son Scott away to camp Winadu in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, he wasn’t overly concerned. “Scott really did not seem like he would be homesick, but as a parent you always have these concerns.”

So far, as predicted, Scott is doing fine at camp. But after having some minor homesickness issues with his older daughter, Rob took some preemptive measures before he sent his son away. “I had lots of conversations with him about camp. We made sure to talk about it positively. I made sure not to over emphasize how much I was going to miss him because I don’t want him to feel bad.”

According to the American Camp Association (ACA) Rob did the right thing. The ACA recommends talking to your child about what camp will be like and making sure that they are very involved in the planning process. Peg Smith, CEO of ACA explains, “The more involved a child is in decisions about camp…the more ownership they will feel, and the easier the transition.”

But what if you get the “I want to come home” call? The temptation to indulge your child’s wish will be strong but it is important to resist. “It’s important to remember that separation is natural and necessary,” Smith says, “Rarely are cases of homesickness severe. And families should remember that camp staff are trained to recognize these cases and help campers with slight homesickness adjust.”

Rob experienced the “I want to come home” plea with his daughter, Jordan, when she was 10 years old. “When we went up there for visiting day she was saying ‘I want to come home!  I’m not happy, I’m not happy, I’m not happy.’” “After talking to some counselors it became clear from everyone we knew and trusted that she was happy at camp,” Rob said. It turned out that Jordan was having some issues with her bunkmates, and staying at camp enabled her to solve her problems, and once she did she had a great time.

Working mom Allison Myers of New York said her kids also had some minor problems with homesickness. “The first phone call was a disaster. Once they heard our voices they cried. After the first phone call, we made sure to follow up with the camp directors. They told us that they were a bit sad for a while, but then went on with their activities.”

Extreme homesickness is very rare, only seven percent of cases are severe. However, you should make sure that you understand how your child’s camp addresses homesickness and if you are worried, be sure to speak with your child’s counselor. For more information on homesickness or expert advice on camp, visit www.CampParents.org