camping with an autistic child

[sphil]

I need some advice. We love camping, though we haven't done it with DS2 (4.5 and autistic) since he was tiny. We'd like to go again this summer, but I'm wondering if we're mad.

Have any of you 'done' camping with children with autism? I'd be grateful for experiences, tips, hints, good sites etc. The main problem I can see is safety - DS2 doesn't often just head for the hills but he doesn't have any sense of danger or a need to be near us (unless food is involved ).

Thanks

sorry no advice but a gentle bump....

Anyone?

Sorry no advice but Im sure someone will come along.

Tis the school run.

We've done it 3 times. 2 times in a campervan, once in a static. We've done a few overnights in a tent as well.

The main problem we had was sense of boundary- so ds1 had no idea that he couldn't just wander into other people's tends. Not having that sense of needing to stay near us it meant that outside he just took one adult up permanently, so as soon as ds3 came along it just stopped working for us. You won't have that problem though as even if ds2 does take up one of you your ds1 is older. As he's got older he's got more unable to stay near us and just runs at the first opportunity so its become impossible (I like camping as well and often think how nice it would be but know that it just couldnt work at the moment).

It may be that now is your best time to go. If ds2 is more of a wanderer than a charger off as fast as possible in the opposite direction it can work.

We had a problem with the dark when camping as well. If ds1 woke in a dark tend he would scream, which of course would wake up the neighbours (and the donkeys- we were camping near the donkey sanctuary).

Perhaps we should come too and take over the campsite. We could just glare at anyone who complained about it becoming autism city

oh and statics no longer work for us because the windows are fire escapes and just open really easily. My friend's did lose their dd that way- she was gone at 5am. However I get the impression that your ds2 is not likely to do that at the moment, so its a case of knowing your child. We were in the static when ds1 was 4 and it was fine for us then, now would be impossible.

We did it for 3 nights only, fearing the worst and it was absolutely fine last year. But we did go with a few childless friends, and didn't try to get the children to bed early; it's just too noisy on campsites.

we also made a point of finding somewhere that allows campfires, as fire is one of ds2's (8) 'things', and as I say we had a few friends there. The whole 'doing' and watching of a fire is so absorbing and mesmeric that we spent from before dark until late very happily busy.

Ds2 sounds similar in his tendancy to wander off, and I've seriously considered one of those beeping-out-of-range devices for this summer. In the past I've written 'If found please call...(my mobile no.)in permanent ink on his t-shirt, because I think a lot of people who might worry about approaching a lost-looking child would be more likely to call a phone no. Never needed it yet, but he's off in a second.

But we expected loss of routine to be much more difficult than it was, maybe because it was so different, and we hardly used the usual toys etc that we'd brought.

Are you in your new house yet? How's it going?

Oh YES, autie summer camp, what a great idea!

Tee hee - my lovely dad is doing the school run today!

Gess - yes, let's go together! I quite fancy the yurts - or featherdown farm (DS2 would love the beds which would keep him from wandering ALL the time). Alternatively I like the sound of Toms Field in Dorset - if that's the one with the steam railway nearby.

Your assessment of our situation is entirely accurate (takes off hat and bows deeply). No sense of boundaries, a wanderer rather than a charger. No problem with dark though and i think we could zip him into a compartment at night and he'd stay there - one of us would have to sleep in middle bit though or I'd never relax!

Complete hijack (of my own thread if that's possible!) - is your DS1 gf as well as cf? I only ask because I was considering McDonalds - but not sure if their fries are gf? We used to take the boys occasionally but haven't for ages since going gf/cf.

SaintM - that's very reassuring. I must find out about the beeper things - didn't even know they existed!

We're not in our new house yet - just had a slightly dodgy survey but think we'll go ahead. Aiming for July but repairs may put us back a bit . Thanks for asking!

mcd's is fine for gf

dh always shared a bed with ds1 when camping and I went with ds2/ds3.

I think both mcd's and burger king have gfcf fries and ketchup

If you are looking for a campsite that is SN friendly in france can I recomend the wonderfully named Camping Pong????

It is a very noce site, and the people who run it are very positive about SN. When I was there a few years ago there were a group of older children/ young adults with SN having a holiday there with their care assistants.

The campsite was really laid back about the whole thing. The people were encoraged to take part in all the campsite activities in a positive and not patronising way IYSWIM.

So one night there was a folk singer on site to entertain us. Those people who wanted to, were encorages to be the warm up act.

It was great!

And a smashing site in the Vendee

Keep an eye out for PeachyClair - she may be able to help you out too.

Ah greeting Sphil- ahven't seen you about!

Camping is the brak of choice in the peachy family and as you know we're ASD friendly!

I know what you mean about saftey actually, that is an issue- especially with ds3 who is clueless beyond words. we use a variety of techniques- firstly a tent with a SIG stops escapes (without they can roll under the flysheet) and we make sure it has plenty of space too so we can actually retreat inside whn we need to. I dont know if you have a tent but for you I would recommend the Coleman Weather MAster- as it has a detachable windbreak that creates a sfe 'garden' that they cant get out of (will find a pic for you in a minute)

We also choose sites where we know we can have a bit of space so that ds's CAN run about- the forest holiday ones are fab for that.

But truth be told we do spend a lot of time runnig about after them (well between them waking and settling) so we make that part of the experience- lots of walks in palces that are ASD safe for example. Then after they go sleep, thats our time- we sit out front with a glass or several of wne and relax.

In many ways I suppose its hard work but its niot as much as I think a hotel etc would be- for a start if he breaks anything its ours to lose, as opposed to some faceless hotal chain. Campers also I find tend to be verya ccepting and tolerant of kids with ASD (and SN generally), which is a big bonus.

I would suggest starting with a small site first, perhaps something in the caravan and camping group as they are as friendly as can be and very helpful.

We go alot and we have found that the boys have come tor eally love campin- campy camp camp was probably ds3's first phrase LOL! We did work up to it though, and have involved him in every step- choosing tents / sleeping abgs/ showing him sites on the internet.

here

that windbreak thing clips round to form a sort of enclosed garden space

you could also cook safely in it if child was with other parent and theyd be able to be kept separate

I love that tent

You're all brilliant - thanks so much.
MB - pmsl at Camping Pong. It would be if DS2 got up to some of his more unsavoury nappy habits...
Peachy - we've got a tent - I wonder if you can buy the windbreak thingy separately? A certain amount of chasing goes with the territory for DS2 but it would be nice to be able to sit and relax occasionally and know he couldn't escape!

Am v pleased to know that McD fries are gf. This small fact could make my life a whole lot easier .

you GF as well? DS1 has been for a while now (and only one sibling A&E admission in all that time- significant improvement!)

i reckon you could make a similar arrangement with windbreaks, tbh. Just look for the longer ones or DH's fave- cable tie a few together (he cable ties everything)

This is very encouraging thanks, I have suspicions about my DS (awaiting paed appt but only 2 anyway, he may simply grow out of his peculiar ways) and had wondered whether we might have to knock camping on the head at some time. We already have windbreak on the list for this summer.

Yeah we should have a MN SN camping get together (pity the poor neighbours LOL)

We're off camping at half term and it will be our third trip with ds. We only bought a cheap tent at first because we just didn't have a clue how he would be but he was fine except for the discovery that he could roll under the flysheet so we have a new-improved version with a SIG for this year! The first year he wanted to play in the car all the time and we let him because we were so paranoid about him running off, but I was scared he would let the handbrake off and he managed to break a window winder and the rear wiper. Last year I locked the car and refused to let him in so he just prowled around it but still didn't run off so we let him get on with it (the prowling that is - we were still nearby keeping an eye on him!). It was only for short periods anyway as we tend to be pretty busy when we are away.
I was worried about him escaping from the sleeping compartment in the night but it has never been a problem. For one thing all the fresh air just knocks him out and he sleeps much better than at home anyway, and for another we do the two zips up at opposite ends so would certainly hear him trying to undo them long before he manages to escape.

I agree about campers being very tolerant of disablity. Last year there was a man in a tent nearby to whom we hadn't go round to speaking but he obviously realised something was up with ds as he was very helpful in calling out "[ds] is legging it". It's certainly one way of breaking the ice with your neighbours!

Ooh...I LIKE the idea of the fresh air making him sleep better.

Sphil, I just found this this evening by chance...not sure whether they might have any good sites to recommend.

Camping for the Disabled
Camping for the Disabled provide information and advice on camping for disabled people. They organise weekends and other camps for physically disabled campers. Membership is £2.50 per annum for a family; £5.50 per annum for groups / organisations.

Telephone: 01743 761889
Address: 20 Burton Close, Dawley, Telford, Shropshire, TF4 2BX.
Fax: 01743 761149

Thanks Chonky - will investigate .

What a lot of great posts on this thread - has made me much more enthusiastic! thanks everyone