Panicking about Beavers Camp for Autistic DC

[WhatNowwwww]

My 7 yr old is going to Beavers camp for a night. I’m starting to panic about how he’ll cope. He is Autistic and my biggest concern is sleep. It can take him 2 hours to get to sleep at night and he wakes between 5-6am.
Any suggestions of quiet games that he could take to entertain himself before everyone else wakes up? Do you think I’m doing the right thing to let him go? He’s very excited and was upset I said he couldn’t go last year.
He usually listen to Audio books both to go to sleep after I’ve read to him and when he wakes up. The leaders have said no electronic games to be taken, understandably.
I was thinking of maybe a Lego set and a book, but not sure if it’ll be too dark for that when he wakes. I’m starting to really panic to be honest.
All suggestions very gratefully received!

I do think you are doing the right thing, it is brilliant DS is excited to go.

Have you spoken to them regarding DS’s specific needs? They may allow reasonable adjustments of taking a device, especially if you have one that doesn’t have a camera or can access the internet.

Could you send a small book light, you can get ones that clip to the page and either send a book or an activity book? If you don’t think it will be light enough for Lego and reading I’m not sure it will be light enough for anything.

Thank you, I’m glad you think I’m doing the right thing by letting him go. I was thinking of asking them if he can take a device and headphones for an audio book, just to be given to him once everyone is settled for going to sleep and to be given straight back when they all get up.
He does have a clip on reading light but I’m worried about him disturbing other kids who are trying to sleep still. I think him listening to an audio book quietly on headphones with the screen switched off would be the least disruptive to the others who are still asleep and don’t want waking up at 5am!

I have made the leader aware that he may find things difficult and I told them before he started that he’s Autistic. The leader was just very reassuring and said they’d look after him. He masks very, very well at school and beavers, so the leader probably thinks I’m making a fuss and there’s “nothing wrong with him”.

I would ask them to make a reasonable adjustment for the audiobooks.

DS3 has ASD and medical conditions, he’s now in Scouts but we have always found the whole organisation accommodating. Like your DS he masks well.

Thanks, you’ve given me the confidence to ask them! His diagnosis is still very recent and I find it hard to know what is a “reasonable adjustment” and what he should just be expected to get on with and suffer the consequences.

Hi there
My son is a cub and wants to go on the camp. His needs are such that it means I have to go too (!).
I did go on the camp before with my other child and just to reassure you there were so many children with additional needs, the leaders were accommodating but they did need to know in advance. They also try to really wear the children out so they sleep well.

Don't send Lego to a beaver camp, they can barely keep track of things as large as their own sleeping bag inside the tents so Lego pieces will immediately vanish never to be seen again.

Thanks all. I’ve had another chat to the leader who was great and very accommodating. I’m feeling a lot happier about him going now.

Whatnowwwww I am pleased they were supportive, we have found they are willing to bend over backwards to meet DS3’s needs.

BestZebbie I think that depends on the type of DC you have, DS3 is incredibly organised, isn’t the type to lose possessions and has successfully taken a small tupperware box of Lego to camps. Now if you asked me about NT DS2 he would lose his head if it wasn’t attached.

I’d also be very surprised if he lost bits, but at the same time I wouldn’t mind if he did. As long as he’s had fun!
We’ve also started swimming lessons again after a break of a few months, a new teacher and 1-2-1 lessons. The first lesson was great, but this week he said the teacher warned him he’d get a time out if he did “something” again. He won’t tell me what he did, but he’s a real rule follower and I’m 90% sure it’ll either be because he misunderstood something or got confused about when to stop. I watched the first part of the first lesson and she encourages them to be silly and splash her etc. He will find that confusing and not know where the line is. I’m just not sure how to explain that to the teacher, without it sounding like I’m making excuses for bad behaviour. She does know he is Autistic but she’s very young so may not have experience of other children who have similar difficulties.

I'm really pleased you spoke to his Leader again.

I think my top tip - with the swimming and the Beavers and anything else he goes to in future - it really makes sense to say "I know that every child with autism presents differently, can I just let you know things I think he might find difficult".

So, with the camp, the Leaders wouldn't necessarily anticipate that he doesn't go to sleep until two hours after you put him to bed, just because they have been told he has autism, so actually, you letting them know that is really helpful, as they won't want him upset, or others being disturbed by him both for his sake and for everyone's lack of sleep.
For the swimming teacher, again, by stating that everyone with autism is individual, and this is how he will be confused, it doesn't come across as a criticism, so no-one needs to be defensive, and the whole experience gets easier for the swimming teacher, the other children in the group, and mostly of course, for your ds.

Thanks for this Kite. I’ve only just seen your post sorry. I really doubt myself when it comes to asking for adjustments for him, which isn’t like me. So it’s definitely something I need to work on.
Your advice makes sense and like you say all children with autism are different.