Getting Ready for CampSo, your child with special needs is getting ready for camp. What can you do to be prepared? Here are some ideas and things to consider doing with your child to help them, and you, be ready for camp this summer.
Preparing Your ChildThe best thing that you and your child can do together would be to visit the camp. Talk to the camp director and get all your questions answered. But having your child at least familiar with the camp and some of the staff is golden, especially if your child has difficulty with transitions or new environments.If you and your child haven't visited, or can’t visit the camp, make sure you get as much literature about it as possible, including a description of the layout and a video, if the camp has one, and go over these together. You can also go through the camp’s website with your child for additional visuals and familiarity information. Tell your child that you'll be checking in regularly with the camp staff and stress that he or she can always let the staff know if his or her needs aren't being met.
Talk with your childTalk to your child about his or her feelings, and any concerns they may have. This is a great time to offer reassurance that others are attending to his or her welfare and needs. You can also provide the reassurance that you are available and will respond, if needed, but that you are more than confident that the camp staff can handle anything that may come up. You might find it helpful to talk about why your child is attending camp and what some of his or her goals might be, such as to try a new sport, to make new friends, or to just enjoy a break from doctors' appointments and therapy sessions.AnxietyIf your child is scared by the thought of being away overnight or going to an inclusionary camp with all kinds of kids, you might think about starting them off slow, like at a day camp. If your child’s anxiety has overcome the camping desire, take it in steps, a little at a time. Get your child involved on a sports team for special kids. Start them at day camp. You can progress to over-night camp, perhaps at a special needs facility, until he or she has built up the confidence and skills to attend the camp-of-choice. Take your time, but it is important that you do something. If you just put it off until “they are ready” I can tell you “it ain’t happening”.Another option to consider is sending a child to camp with a friend or a sibling. If kids attend an inclusionary or mainstream camp, the buddy doesn't have to have a special need. Going with a friend can reduce stress for both parents and kids, since kids with special needs and their camp buddies will be looking out for each other.
Sharing Information With Camp StaffIt is important that the camp staff have enough information about your child and your child’s disability to be able to care properly and handle situations as they come up. Some parents are constantly in the “if I tell them everything, they won’t take him/her” mode and don’t give camp staff (or school staff, or doctors, or – you get the point) enough information.Check with your child’s doctor and other specialists that work with your child to make sure you have all the information you need to provide to the camp director and staff in order for your child to be successful there at camp. When you visit the camp with your child is a great time for the staff to meet your child and for you to discuss the accommodations and things they need to know. Answer their questions, and get their input in preparing your child to attend camp. Another great way is to have a written introduction or information pamphlet about your child. Here is an article about how to put that together for the camp staff, or anyone else who is helping support your child, and another article about telling your story. OK, they go together, so check them out here: Telling Your Story
Talk with them again and answer any last minute questions when you drop off your child at camp. Most camps will have paperwork for you to fill out as well to make sure the staff understands your child’s needs. Putting all of this together with your child’s information sheet can really get things off to a good start. For the camp staff as well as your child! Your child information sheet and the camp’s own paperwork should provide a place for emergency contact, including phone numbers and email addresses. It is important that they know how to get a hold of you at any time. It is also important that your child is aware of they know this. This provides another level of reassurance, especially for the first-time camper
MedicineMedicine dispensing procedures should have already been discussed, so that your child understands how he or she will get their medication and the staff knows as well. It is also important, if your child does take any medication to include the phone number of your doctor, just in case. Check with the camp nurse to see if you should send extra medicine as a precaution. Also, make sure the camp medical staff is knowledgeable of how to use, read, or operate any special equipment that might be needed. For example, if your child requires a daily asthma breathing machine treatment, it is important that the staff know how to set it up properly.What to PackTry to limit the special equipment your child brings, especially if it's expensive or breakable. Kids going to a mainstream camp are likely to want to be like all the other kids, so do what you can to accommodate that desire. On the other hand, if you child needs it to survive, make sure it is packed – with backup! And mark or label everything with your child's name to make it easier to keep track of belongings — that goes for everything from crutches to a retainer case. In fact, the labeling thing goes for any child attending any camp.Get a list of recommended (and prohibited) items from the camp. Most camps will send you this list when you register, but if for some reason you don’t have one, call them and get one faxed over immediately. Every camp has a different list. You also have the option to provide any support staff your child needs. If your child needs a therapist, you can have that person come in on a predetermined basis to provide care. Or maybe your child needs more intensive, round-the-clock care — ask the camp director what you can do to accommodate these special needs. However, you may want to let your child have a vacation from therapy or other treatments. Before you decide to postpone any treatments, though, you should consult with your doctor. This may be your child’s chance to feel like the other kids – to just be a kid.
Dealing with HomesicknessFigure out ahead of time how the staff will communicate your child’s status to you, since direct communication, outside of an emergency, is usually not allowed at most camps. You can write letters, and your child can write letters too – all part of the camp experience. Let each other know how much you love them and miss them, but that you are happy they are having such an adventure and how proud you are of how well they are handling it all. Remember, being homesick is natural and usually goes away once the child gets busy and involved with camp activities. Oh and it might help to have the envelopes pre-addressed and pre-stamped if you really want to hear from your child. Just a thought. Know that if there is a real problem, the staff will contact you, so in the mean time, give your child a break from your helicopter parenting style (just kidding) and like any kid; don’t cramp their style!
Return from Ready for Camp to Special Needs Activities
|
