Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Autistic 12-year-old overwhelmed at summer camp, hand hold or advice?

7 replies

clareykb · 02/08/2026 22:09

DDs are both at a residential summer camp for 3 nights - at a really well known company they have been away with school to another of the sites and had a great time but obviously this time they are there independetly. First day yesterday was fine but the second afternoon have had an upset text from one of them (12) saying she didn't know if she was enjoying it or not and if she had to come home because it was too loud and she didn't feel happy :( . She is autistic, but at a mainstream school, goes to loads of clubes and has done simialr weekends away before with scouts school etc but not with kids she doesn't know and I just think she is shattered and overwhelmed I have spoken to the centre who say she has calmed down and they have made some adjustments, given her a quiet place to go and do some drawing instead of being in with the noisy games and she is currently not asking to come home- I just worry so much and can't relax- The rational bit of me wants her to be able to have stragegies to manage these things and knows that I can't always be there to sort everything out. But the Mum bit of me just wants to go and get her and give her a big hug- She's about an hour down the motor way. Any experiences advice or a hand hold.

OP posts:
hahabahbag · 02/08/2026 22:14

been there, she will be fine, sounds like they have made adjustments. My dd is autistic and we often had wobbles at first but she did enjoy these things and looks back fondly

Sleepytimepleaseee · 02/08/2026 22:21

Sounds like she's settled again, and also she didn't actually say she wasn't enjoying it - she said she wasn't sure. So she's overwhelmed but not necessarily upset, just a bit out of her depth. Hopefully she gets some sleep and enjoys tomorrow.

clareykb · 02/08/2026 22:25

Thanks both- I am due to pick them up Tuesday lunch time and the activity she wants to do most is on Tuesday morning so I am hoping if she gets through tonight/tomorrow morning then we will be on the last leg- ironically her sister was worried about going- She is totally fine!

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Lindtnotlint · 02/08/2026 22:27

It’s three nights. If she can stay she should and you should not rescue her from discomfort. Discomfort is not bad. Obviously if things get really bad or if she needs to leave you will go and get her. Be chill.

StormGazing · 03/08/2026 05:54

I have this with both of my autistic children. Have a read up on sensory processing disorder, it’s a part of autism that some get in differing severity. My DD17 literally wears the highest noise cancelling headphones almost all of the time unless she’s watching tv etc, even in bed. DS14 has them and uses them when he’s overwhelmed by noise. They both can’t tolerate ‘peoply’ areas so DS14 has help / late starts with school so he’s not coming in with waves of people, DD rarely goes out.
look up spoons theory too, it’s enlightening, I have a spoons issue myself with CFS these days and can barely make it around Aldi, I used to do all the shopping at a huge Asda but can’t manage that now

clareykb · 04/08/2026 16:34

Thanks for all your help everyone- I have just picked her up at the end of camp! She is hugely over tired but had a fab time!

OP posts:
VividDeer · 04/08/2026 16:36

Well done her. I have a similar dd and she wouldn't even consider going!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread