Time to Sign Up for Summer Camp!

By Staff Writer

As summer approaches, parents all over the country are wondering, “Is my child ready for summer camp?” Equally as important, as a parent of a camper with special needs, “Am I ready?”

For the millions of parents who are considering summer camp every year, this is a hard question to answer. There are many summer camp options out there, and each has something special to offer. But for children with special needs, the ideal camp environment is one that specializes in working with young people with learning disabilities, ADD and ADHD, Asperger’s syndrome, high-functioning autism, and related challenges.

Is My Child Ready for Camp?

Age does come into play when deciding whether your child is ready for camp. There's no "right" age for going away to camp, according to the American Psychiatric Association. Some children are ready at age 5 or 6, while others show more interest and readiness a couple years later. The key is choosing the right camp for your child’s particular personality, interests, and needs.

Many camps serve children of various ages and maturity levels. Summer camps for children with ADHD, Asperger’s, learning disabilities, and related challenges understand that some 10- to 12-year-olds may need support as if they were a couple of years younger. Special needs camps also understand that a positive social experience over the summer can help children succeed throughout the school year. Small peer groups receiving guidance and positive reinforcement from caring and trained staff give campers with ADHD and related issues the support they need to achieve their goals and feel good about their accomplishments.

Specialized summer camps for children with Asperger’s, ADHD, and related issues focus on the developmental and social needs of the campers, and are designed to be a growth experience for children of various ages and backgrounds. Whether a child has been going to summer camp for years and can hardly wait to jump out of the car at camp or is hesitant to embark on his first summer away from home, special needs summer camps can bring out the best in both types of campers.

Campers of all ranges of independence and confidence can be successful at camp. Young people build greater self-confidence when they meet new friends, have successful relationships, and meet their daily goals in the camp setting. Branching out without mom, dad, and siblings allows children to become independent and have a place just for themselves where they feel happy and successful.

You’re Ready for Camp – But Is Camp Ready for You?

Once you’ve decided that summer camp will be an enriching experience for your child, it’s time to find the best summer camp for your child’s particular needs and interests. When researching programs, particularly special needs summer camps, it is important to ask, “Is this camp ready for my child?”

Children with Asperger’s, ADHD, and related issues tend to thrive in camps that offer a great deal of structure, life skills training, group processing opportunities, and a high staff-to-camper ratio. Also, as a concerned parent, you want a summer camp that will keep you updated on your child’s progress with letters from your child, phone calls from staff, and pictures of your child at camp.

Talisman's summer camps for children ages 8-17 with ADHD, Asperger’s, and other learning differences have provided families with desirable alternatives to ordinary summer camps since 1980. In addition to a summer full of fun, adventure, and new learning experiences, Talisman camps in North Carolina help campers develop social skills, self-esteem, and life skills that carry over year-round into life at home and in school.

Summer Camp Goodness

If you were to ask an adult if they attended summer camp as a child, they could probably recall happy memories of summers filled with friends, canoes, and s’mores. If you ask a child to tell you about their summer camp experience, chances are their face will light up as they talk about friendships built around campfires and the skills they learned in the great outdoors. If you ask a child with ADHD about summer camp, they may start jumping around the room with joy!

Children with special needs like ADHD and Asperger’s need positive summer camp experiences. As a parent, many times the question is not whether to send your child to camp, but when is the right time for both child and parents. Making the decision to enroll a child in summer camp can be a challenging one. The staff at ADHD summer camps and Asperger’s summer camps like Talisman is always available to discuss any concerns you may have and will work hand in hand with you to ensure your child has the best summer camp experience possible.

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