Colonel's Cadence Blog
Tips for Handling Homesickness at Boarding School
While a military school environment equips cadets with the skills to achieve their fullest potential, transitioning to one can make newcomers homesick. Indeed, the process is as challenging for students as it is for parents. During this transition period, crucial to acknowledge and accept these emotions as a natural part of the adjustment and identify healthy coping strategies. Parents can help manage their child’s homesickness by staying connected, encouraging participation, and establishing a support system.
Woodstock, VA, residents will find an educational experience like no other at Massanutten Military Academy. Our institution ranks among Virginia's top private military schools for girls and boys, offering advanced academics and rich extracurriculars. We also round out our robust academics with programs to build cadets’ self-esteem, discipline, and life skills. Call (540) 459-2167 today to learn more about Massanutten’s admissions process!
Below, we discuss how parents can help military school cadets manage homesickness:
Stay Connected
People experience homesickness when apart from people and places they know and love. Therefore, anyone feeling homesick will benefit from seeing a friendly face. Encourage your cadet to keep in touch with family and friends through calls, video chats, and letters.
On the other hand, urge a degree of independence in your contact as excessive home communication can exacerbate homesickness. Seek a healthy balance by scheduling regular weekly catch-ups that students can look forward to but not depend on.
Encourage Participation
Adapting to a new military school can be difficult, but it also offers exciting opportunities! Your cadet can take advantage of their school’s unique activities to explore its offerings. Engaging in school activities, clubs, and sports can help newcomers build friendships and create a sense of belonging within their community. Massanutten Military Academy’s small student population and rich extracurriculars encourage a tight-knit community that fosters social bonds and heightens self-esteem.
Additionally, encourage your cadet to maintain a daily routine with their new activities. Routines provide structure and familiarity, which are comforting for students adjusting to a new environment. Daily structure is a staple at Massanutten Military Academy, giving each cadet a balanced, predictable routine to inspire valuable social interactions.
Establish a Support System
Just because homesickness is common does not make it easy to overcome. If your cadet is struggling, an established support system can help them feel secure. Remind your cadet that they can seek support from family, teachers, or counselors. Many schools, including Massanutten, have resources to help students cope with homesickness.
Military School for Girls and Boys in Woodstock, VA!
The best way to manage homesickness is to ensure that your child’s military school nurtures support and empowerment. Woodstock, VA, residents can look to Massanutten Military Academy for such an environment. Our holistic curriculum, military values, and tight-knit community develop strong character and promote lifelong excellence. To learn more about our admissions or schedule a campus tour, call (540) 459-2167.You know your child can do more but is not getting the attention needed in their current environment to reach their full potential. We know that choosing the right school for your child can be difficult because each child is so unique. We believe students should experience school as it should be, a place where children are educated in an environment that leads them to thrive and encourages their maximum potential.
Massanutten Military Academy is a co-educational, non-profit military boarding and day school in Virginia for students in 8th-12th grades with postgraduate studies. We welcome all faiths and live by our motto: Non Nobis Solum (Not For Ourselves Alone).
Massanutten Military Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.
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