FAQautism

A divorced dad of a youngster with autism asked for some ideas to make his pre-teen son’s annual week-long summer visit comfortable and enjoyable. Since Dad has vacation, he will be able to spend the week with his son whom he only sees twice a year. One approach is to plan the week around the concept of summer camp.

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Although I have only met the dad a few times, I’ve known this youngster much of his life. Several ideas for special events come to mind for Dad and his son to enjoy during the week, but the most important factor in contentment for this particular youngster is predictability. The young man goes to camp every year, so he understands the concept of a week at summer camp. Dad could adapt the basic structure of summer camp for his son’s visit.

ACTIVITY SCHEDULE. Dad and son could follow the same general activity schedule every day. For example: walk the dog at 8 a.m., breakfast at 9 a.m, field trip at 9:30, lunch at noon, work on model airplane at 1:00, swim at park at 2:00, video games at 4:30, supper at 5:30, walk dog at 6:00, special evening activity at 6:30, bed at 10:00. The point is to have a predictable schedule to help decrease agitation and behavior issues while at the same time increasing contentment and calmness.

FIELD TRIPS. This particular pre-teen is low-key and does not require fancy, expensive activities to keep him entertained during the summer. He would probably be very content just spending time with his dad. The key is to make plans the night before the field trip so the youngster knows what to expect. Some ideas that would work for this particular pre-teen: taking time to browse through the local hardware store, sitting on a lawn chair and watching road construction crews at work, taking a tour of the local manufacturing plant, going to the local zoo, and following along on a map while taking a drive down some country roads.

EVENING ACTIVITIES. Again, as long as the activities are pre-planned, there is no need to plan anything fancy. Some ideas this youngster would enjoy include: building a small campfire, driving to the hometown ice cream parlor in a nearby town, cooking hamburgers on the outdoor grill, taking a flashlight hike, carving a watermelon, or enjoying an outdoor concert in the local park. This young man would REALLY enjoy camping out one night, even if Dad just pitches a tent in the backyard.

TIP FOR THE DAY: Simplicity and advance planning are the keys to happiness for both dad and son during their special summer “Dad Camp.”

NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com

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