Summer Planning for Children with Special Needs

For parents of children with special needs, 82 days of summer vacation can be challenging; however, there are programs in the community that are engaging and enriching but the idea is to prepare by doing research well in advance.  One organization to keep in mind is the Baltimore Jewish Abilities Alliance (BJAA) at http://www.jewishabilities.org where you can find many ideas and tips compiled for you by age range and area of need.

Local park and community center recreation programs, like the Jewish Community Center, religious organizations, Boys and Girls Clubs, Y’s, and schools often offer half-day or all-day programs, sometimes in special areas like sports, art, or music. Programs like these cost less than other options, but some have residency requirements. These programs tend to have limited hours, but some offer extended-day coverage for an extra fee.

Some organizations like museums and nature societies offer short-term workshops in a variety of areas. Organizations might include language-school programs, theater-sponsored workshops, music-school programs, museum programs, or public library summer-reading programs.

Overnight camps may offer stays by the week, month, or all summer. Some camps are oriented toward specific activities, such as sports, nature, or the arts. Some also provide opportunities for overnight ad venture trips, like whitewater rafting or backpacking.

When you have exhausted the community resources and need to become creative on your own, you can take direction from some specialists in the field, such as Jack Taulbee, Ed.M., M.A., who suffers from ADHD, OCD, and Tourette syndrome and who is no stranger to the differently abled. Taulbee’s idea is to use what he calls the unstructured-structure approach: simply put, special needs children often do well when their parents or caretakers give them some choices within a set of boundaries.  The adult sets up the foundation and framework; then, the children become involved within the boundaries, which allow them to incorporate some personal decision-making skills.

“In other words, unstructured structure does not allow for completely random and uncontrolled freedom for a child with disorders, but instead creates a ‘buy-in’ where [children] take personal responsibility for [their] thoughts and actions while being able to receive proper guidance and advice” (Taulbee). Children can choose which option suits their interests. Eventually, the parent or caretaker may find areas that work or discern patterns that work better for their children. Simple choices like choosing the time they want to start an activity, setting their own schedule, choosing which activity to do first, or choosing a reward are enough of an incentive to keep things interesting and inviting while also allowing some individuality to emerge.

Being flexible is essential as parents of children with different learning abilities already know. So the idea is to have fun. Create a calendar with colorful pictures of what you plan to do and check it first every morning! Some of the choices can be hiking trips, bike rides, swimming, camping in the backyard, arts and crafts, or just watching a movie. Giving your children the option to choose the activity can be a fun and interesting way of spending the day.

More Resources

General information on engaging special needs children in summer months: http://www.friendshipcircle.org/blog/2013/06/24/the-complete-special-needs-summer-guide/