Are you sending your special needs child off to a week of summer camp? It will be a week of fun and adventure for your child no doubt. It should be an enjoyable week for you, the parents, as well. You and possibly other family members get a well-needed break from your child’s constant special needs. Summer camp can be an inexpensive alternative to respite care. You don’t feel like you are punishing your child, or getting away from your child when summer camp is the destination. You can feel good about the situation all the way around. Are there ways you can help your special needs child succeed at summer camp?

Does your child have trouble remembering to put on clean underwear, finding clothes that match, or staying organized? Why don’t you figure out each outfit, shorts, shirt, socks, and underwear for each day? Place each day’s clothing into separate gallon-size zip lock baggie. Squeeze the air out so each one takes up less room, and place the prepared outfits in the suitcase. Don’t write a specific day on each bag let your child choose. Then throw in a couple pair of jeans and a hoodie incase there are any cold days. Several extra pairs of socks and underwear if your child is like mine.

Write your child’s last name and grade in school or age on each item. Yes, even on socks, write it on the bottom. You can write on the sides of shoes and sandals. When you get a camp, everyone’s socks begin to look the same. Create and print a sheet of address labels with your child’s name, address, and grade. Stick these on the suitcase, dirty laundry bag, each container of personal care products, and the sleeping bag. If your child leaves belongings lying all over the place, the camp personnel will be able to return them.

Send your child’s medications in the prescription bottles of course, but put them all together into a baggie. Put your child’s address label on the baggie and a note with your special directions. Don’t forget to include information such as sleepwalking.



Photo Credit: 2006 Julia Fuller.