Traveling with children is a whole other ball game. While creating core memories with your kids can be one of the most mutually fulfilling experiences, it doesn’t come without its challenges. Beyond preparing to adapt your schedules and itineraries, it’s also crucial to consider the possibility of homesickness while traveling, which can happen at any age.
“Homesickness in children during travel often arises from the abrupt separation from familiar environments such as their home, school and neighborhood,” says Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist and director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C.
She explains the sudden disruption of routine and structure, which children typically rely on for security, can contribute to feelings of unease. Coupled with the absence of familiar faces that provide comfort and reassurance, like friends from school or family members you’ve left behind, it’s no wonder homesickness is common for kids on the road.
Hafeez adds that “the ‘fear of the unknown’ aspects of travel and overstimulation from new experiences can heighten feelings of stress and homesickness in children,” which can result from exposure to unfamiliar destinations with different cultures, languages and customs that induce anxiety and longing for the familiar.
Luckily, there’s lots you can do (and buy!) to ensure your child feels like they’re at home away from home, whether they’re toddlers or tweens.
The best products to ease homesick kids
According to the psychological theory of transitionality, transitional objects like plush stuffed animals may help bridge the gap between children and their mothers to create a feeling of safety and comfort.
“The soft texture and scent of these objects can be soothing,” says Hafeez. “In unfamiliar environments, these items act as portable pieces of home, offering a sense of continuity and stability. This familiarity can ease the discomfort associated with new places or situations. These items can serve as effective self-soothing mechanisms, helping individuals, especially children, manage their emotions independently.”
If your little one doesn’t have a comfort stuffed animal already, be sure to gift them this plush puppy well in advance so they have a chance to develop a relationship with it. It may even help them feel connected to their live furry friend back at home!
Sleeping in an unfamiliar place can be especially hard for children. To ease this discomfort, Hafeez suggests making your vacation arrangement comfortable and reminiscent of home, which may include something like a blanket they’ve had for a while. If your trip is still months away, gift them this personalized fleece blanket with a satin trim that you can then easily pack in your luggage. With their name emblazoned on the front, they’ll feel like the coolest kid on the block (or boutique hotel).
Kick the blanket tip up a notch and gift your older child (3+ years old) this kid-friendly weighted blanket made of both microfleece and cooling polyester silk. It‘s designed to envelop them like a hug while they sleep. At 4 pounds, it provides just enough pressure to mimic Mom or Dad’s warm embrace without overheating them throughout the night.
If your child’s favorite pillow has reliably helped them fall asleep in the past, be sure to bring it along for the ride. But if said option prevents you from having enough room for their clothing or toiletries, invest in this toddler-friendly washable travel pillow with a cotton-blend material and plush polyester fill. Bonus points for grabbing one in their favorite color.
Scent is the sense most closely linked to memory, according to the scientific journal Frontiers for Young Minds, and candle brand Homesick has successfully capitalized off it in the best, sweetest-smelling way. Their candles are designed to remind you of home, whether that is a city, state, holiday or season you enjoy. Transport your child back to their happy place with this three-wick candle boasting comforting notes of white lily, grapefruit and jasmine.
Hafeez recommends including your child in the trip planning process, ensuring you discuss the destination, activities and itinerary with them. “Involving them gives a sense of control and helps them anticipate and understand what to expect,” she says.
With this child-friendly planner, you can have them jot down ideas of what they’d like to see or experience during their trip to better emotionally prepare them. Complete with puzzles, games, maps and drawing prompts, it also serves as a fantastic journal to help them process their feelings mid-trip.
Maintaining a routine at home is just as crucial for kids as it is during your travels. “Consistent mealtimes, bedtime rituals, and other daily habits can create a reassuring sense of predictability for the child,” says Hafeez.
The Underscored-approved Hatch Restore 2 alarm clock has several features that offer a level of comfort, like soothing lights during wind-down periods before bed to gentle alarm clocks to get them excited for a new day of exploring. Its minimalist design and detachable power cord also make it plenty packable and portable.
According to a systematic review and meta-analysis published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, homesickness in children is closely linked to depression and anxiety. Help soothe these uncomfortable feelings by letting them bring their favorite doll along for the ride. Recent research published in Developmental Science found that children used more internal state language (which helps them process emotions, social awareness and desires) when playing with dolls than on tablets, demonstrating that their newest Barbie or ‘Toy Story’ figurine could make for the perfect travel buddy to help quell their homesickness.
This book makes for the perfect bedtime read for your little one during their travels since it teaches us that home is more than just a place — it’s a feeling we carry with us each day, a person we feel close to and any place that makes us feel safe. Complete with vivid imagery and easy-to-read fonts, this literary tool is a carry-on must-have for your little one’s first-night and first-flight jitters.
The unfamiliarity of your child’s travel experience might have them longing for close connections and a supportive network back home, which Hafeez says can strengthen their sense of identity. If that’s the case, they’ll appreciate this travel-friendly customizable photo album they can flip through whenever they need a boost. Plus, its mini size is super packable while its soft cover feels comfortable in their little hands.
“Photos provide a tangible link to loved ones, which fosters an emotional connection,” says Hafeez. “Seeing familiar faces can evoke positive emotions and a sense of comfort even when physically separated. In situations where older children are away from family and friends, having photos can help alleviate feelings of loneliness.”
Similar to transitional objects, photos can offer comfort and a sense of security, Hafeez says, wherein older children may find reassurance in knowing that their loved ones are a constant presence in their lives — even when they’re a plane ride away.
Oftentimes, the stress of a new environment can be overstimulating for a child, leading to feelings of homesickness. Allow them to immerse themselves into their own world during travel downtime with our favorite kid-friendly headphones. These noise-canceling headphones limit volume for safe listening, feature intuitive controls and are designed with a sleek and sophisticated construction to help them build confidence.
This one’s a bit of a wild card, but managing your child’s dulled spirits resulting from homesickness starts by modeling supportive behavior as a parent, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. If you’re feeling overwhelmed while traveling with your child, consider prioritizing your own mental and physical well-being so you’re primed for gentle and responsive parenting.
While self-care looks different for everyone, staying hydrated with one of our favorite travel-friendly water bottles with a built-in filter is a great place to start. Not only does drinking enough water help boost your immune system while on the road but it can help enhance attention, memory and coordination, according to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.
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