Updated on 25 July, 2025 by Tara
You’ve made it. You’re away. After months of planning, organising, saving and impatiently waiting – you’re finally on holiday. But not everyone’s loving it.
Traveling with your children is one of the most rewarding gifts you can give them. New places, new foods, new cultures, and new adventures – all wrapped into one. But sometimes, the excitement comes with an unexpected challenge: homesickness.
Whether you’re away for a short holiday or embarking on an extended family adventure abroad, kids can struggle with missing home, friends, or familiar routines.
And when that happens, you might find yourself wondering how to help them.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about homesickness in children while traveling:
- What homesickness is (and what it’s not)
- Why kids are especially vulnerable to it
- The signs to look out for
- Practical strategies for preventing homesickness before it starts
- What to do if your child becomes homesick mid-trip
- Reflection prompts and action steps to support both you and your child
- Resources for going deeper
By the end, you’ll not only feel prepared to handle homesickness—you’ll also feel more confident about helping your child thrive through the ups and downs of family travel.
What Is Homesickness?
Homesickness is the distress we feel when separated from the people, places, and routines that make us feel secure.
Think different food, beds, languages, ways of dressing, greeting, or celebrating.
It’s not just “missing home”—it’s an emotional response to change, and for children, that change can feel huge.
For kids, who often didn’t get a say in the decision to travel or move abroad, that difference can feel overwhelming.
Psychologists describe homesickness as showing up on several levels:
- Emotional – sadness, longing, irritability.
- Cognitive – constant thoughts about home, preoccupation with missing out.
- Physical – stomachaches, headaches, sleep disruption.
Think about the last time you felt homesick (maybe moving abroad or during a holiday season). How did it show up for you emotionally, socially, or physically?
This memory will help you connect with empathy to what your child is experiencing.
If you’re a homesick parent, here are my tips for you.
Why homesickness Happens (even on dream holidays)
Shirley Fisher, in her landmark research on homesickness, described it as a temporary loss of control. Children feel displaced from what grounds them. This doesn’t mean something is wrong with your child; it means they’re human.
Yes, they will miss the mundane.
Loss of routine
The anchors in your child’s day are missing – the morning routine, bedtime rituals and everything inbetween typically get lost on holiday.
People
It’s an obvious one, but kids will likely miss other significant people in their life. Their grandparents, aunts and uncles, friends and even their teachers. Anyone who plays a significant part in their day-to-day routine who isn’t on the holiday with you.
Things
They might be missing the cuddles with your pets at home, their teddy bears or even their favourite book.
Overstimulation
It might seem counterintuitive, but being exposed to so much new at once can be too much, forcing your child to notice how much they miss being at home.
Think about everything on your holiday in comparison to home: new places, different smells, unusual sounds and sights can be a lot.
Temperament and Stage of Development
Exactly how your child will respond to travel and experience homesickness will depend on their temperament and their developmental stage when you travel. Toddlers, school-aged kids, and tweens will all respond differently.
How to Recognise Homesickness in Your Child
Every child’s experience of homesickness will look different. You know your child best. But there are some common signs of homesickness in kids, so keep an eye out for:
- Increased crankiness, clinginess or fussiness.
- Refusal to try new things (food, games, clothes, sightseeing) or beginning to refuse things they had previously enjoyed on holiday.
- Not wanting to leave the hotel or accommodation.
- Preferring to only speak the home language (in our case, when my daughter is experiencing homesickness, she will revert to speaking only German) .
- Regularly talking about friends or family back home, wondering aloud what they might be doing or frequently asking to contact them.
A good rule to stick by while you’re travelling is that if you’re child’s behaviour changes, be curious about their experience and consider homesickness as a potential cause.
Supporting a Homesick Child While Travelling
Even with preparation, your child may still find themselves feeling homesick while travelling.
Here’s how to help.
1. Normalise Their Feelings
Acknowledge how they’re feeling without dismissing it.
Instead of “Cheer up. We’re on holiday!” try “I can see you miss home. That makes sense. Home is your safe place.”
Validating your child’s feelings makes them feel heard, loved and valued.
Staying calm and empathetic in these exchanges is important.
Try to remember that these feelings do not reflect your child’s level of gratefulness or their love for you.
2. Bring a Piece of Home With You
When you’re travelling, bring something from home to support your child’s sense of stability.
You might bring:
- Your child’s favourite soft toy
- A beloved book
- Photos of significant people in your child’s life – grandparents or friends.
Involve you child in choosing what to bring with them when travelling. Supporting kids’ autonomy before travelling will increase their resilience when on the road.
3. Maintain Rituals From Home
Rituals anchor kids in stability. Family rituals are little reminders for kids that home is predictable and safe.
In our family, we always eat breakfast together and read bedtime stories. These rituals follow us on the road, too.
Even simple rituals, like saying goodnight in the same way or sharing a family “one thing I loved today” moment, remind your kids that your family hasn’t changed, even if the environment has.
4. Offer Familiar Food
Food is deeply tied to our sense of home.
Refusing to try new cuisines may be one of the first signs your child is homesick.
Offering a simple bowl of muesli, a cheese sandwich, or a favourite fruit can help your homesick little one start to reclaim some of their adventurous spirit.
And if it’s really impossible to find something from home, I’ve found that introducing local sweets and cakes often does the trick!
5. Stick to a Routine (yes, even on holiday!)
A sense of uncertainty, unpredictability and lack of control are central to your child’s homesickness.
A loose but predictable rhythm can help children to feel more relaxed in the face of uncertainty.
For example, keeping mealtimes and rest times consistent can go a long way to avoid meltdowns.
In my family, we use the rule of one big thing per day when we’re travelling.
- If it’s a travel day, then we only travel. No sightseeing.
- If it’s a sightseeing day, we visit one museum or one landmark—not more!
When travelling with children, less really is more.
6. It’s ok to miss home
It’s ok to feel homesick and it’s entirely normal for kids to miss home.
Some ways that you can hold space for your child’s homesickness and remedy it at the same time include:
- Create a photo postcard to send to someone special at home.
This way, children can stay connected to home without becoming overwhelmed by feelings of homesickness.
7. Keep Communication Open
Talk to your kids about their experiences. Ask them what they think about the adventure so far.
Remember to ask open-ended questions to encourage a dialogue. Avoid yes/ no questions if you really want to talk to your kids.
Try:
- “What was something you found interesting today?”
- “What made you feel uncomfortable today?”
- “Is there something here you wish we could do at home too?”
These conversation starters give children permission to share their thoughts and feelings honestly.
If you model honesty about your own reactions, your child learns that it’s ok not to enjoy aspects of travel, without ruining the entire trip.
8. Take Care of Yourself Too
The greatest tool your child has while on the road is you.
Your calm presence and reassurance will ground them, no matter where you are and no matter what’s going on.
If you’re worn out, find a way to recharge. Plan on being exhausted before you are, so that you’re never left without a chance to look after yourself.
A regulated parent is the most powerful tool in supporting an emotionally resilient child.
Read on about why travel truly is the best gift you can give your child.
Age-Specific Tips for Managing Homesickness
Every child processes homesickness differently, and age plays a big role. Use these tailored strategies to meet your child where they are developmentally.
Young Children (Ages 3–6)
At this age, kids rely heavily on routines and concrete comforts.
- Bring a favorite stuffed animal or blanket.
- Stick to bedtime rituals (story, lullaby, nightlight).
- Use simple language to name feelings: “You’re missing home. That’s called homesick. It’s okay to feel that.”
Activity Time: Help your child draw a picture of “our home” and keep it in their travel bag.
School-Aged Children (Ages 7–11)
Kids in this range can begin to use logic and memory to manage emotions.
- Encourage journaling or writing postcards.
- Teach coping skills like box breathing or stretching.
Activity Time: Ask them to list “3 good things about today” each evening before bed.
Preteens and Teens (Ages 12+)
Older children may struggle more with peer separation than with physical home.
- Acknowledge the importance of their friendships. Schedule short check-ins with friends back home if possible.
- Give them independence (choosing activities, exploring safely).
- Talk openly about resilience and how travel challenges can prepare them for future independence.
Activity Time: Encourage them to create a short video diary reflecting on their day—both the highs and the lows.
Reframing Homesickness as Growth
Homesickness isn’t just a hurdle; it’s a life lesson in resilience, empathy, and emotional intelligence. When children learn they can miss home and still enjoy themselves, they build confidence in their ability to handle change.
Try talking about homesickness not as a failure but as a skill-building moment:
“Yes, you miss home. That means home is special. And you’re learning how to carry that love with you while you explore new things.”
Don’t stress out if your child misses home during your trip. You might miss home too!
What matters is that they know they’re not alone, and that you’re right there with them.
So, when your child is homesick, just love them. That will always be enough.
When to Seek Extra Support
Most homesickness fades after a few days, but if your child:
- Refuses to eat or sleep,
- Withdraws from all activities,
- Or shows signs of ongoing anxiety or depression
…it may be time to seek professional support. For short trips, this may mean adjusting your itinerary; for expat families, it may mean connecting with school counselors or online therapists.
Key Takeaways
- Homesickness is normal, not a sign of weakness.
- Preparation (routines, involvement, conversations) can prevent or lessen its impact.
- Validation and gentle redirection are more effective than dismissal.
- Different ages need different strategies—tailor your approach.
- Homesickness, handled well, becomes an opportunity for growth.
? Reflection Prompt: Think of one strategy from this article that fits your child’s stage right now. Write it down and commit to trying it on your next trip.
Ready to Travel Without the Stress?
If you’ve struggled with a homesick child before and now feel hesitant about travelling again, I see you.
You’re not alone.
That’s why I created my 1:1 Coaching program. To support your travel with your kids to be more than just seeing the sights. Let’s make memories that count and thrive abroad and at home. Because you know what? The skills I teach will keep you and your kids on an even keep no matter where you are.
? Start today by downloading my free Travel Emotional First Aid Kit for Kids. It’s filled with practical tools and comforting phrases you can use on the road.
Further Reading & Resources
Here are some fantastic resources if you’d like to dive deeper into homesickness in kids.
- Fisher, S. (1989). Homesickness, Cognition and Health. Routledge.
- American Academy of Pediatrics – Helping Kids Cope With Homesickness
- KidsHealth – Dealing With Homesickness
- BetterHelp – Online Therapy for Expats and Families Abroad
- Headspace App – Guided meditations and resources for children and parents managing stress.
