Camping with ASD kids

[SilkStalkings]

Help needed here please Camping thread

What are you looking for - advice re a site?
Tips from those who have camped before?
Have you camped before?
Age of children etc

I think you need to be a bit clearer about what you are asking.

I guess I'm just after places where ASD families have had a good holiday! DH is getting cold feet about idea of camping with DS2 so I'm looking for places that I can say families like us have managed to have a good time.

What exactly is he worried about? Is it something like losing ds on a busy site, or rather the way ds will cope with being in a tent/away from familiar things and routines?

Camping has been a wonderful choice for us once ds (14 aspergers/hfa) got used to the setup of the tent and everything around him. Once he got that settled ( he found the first few trips quite taxing)we were away! The wonderful thing about it is that wherever we go, his base is exactly the same... and camping is quite routine based ... He knows what to expect.

I have no ASD dx for my DS yet but he loves camping. We go to a place called www.fforestfields.co.uk

There's no club or playground or anything like that, but the kids just love it. When we went in August there was a little boy in the tent opposite who I presumed had ASD. It was lovely to see the freedom he had as the site is so safe. There is water around - a small pond, a boating lake which the site lend you kayaks to go on, and a fishing lake, but apart from the pond, they are all away from the main site.

I think you should give it a go silk. Give it a practice in the garden if you can so your DC can get used to the tent and then go for it!

We adore camping although don't think we will get the chance to go this year :( Not been to the south coast, but we tend to pick quiet campsites, without lots of child activities, but based on a farm. As these tend to be less busy there is lots of places for the children to run about unhampered. Camped opposite a family who were home-edding their children the other year, which was great as their kids were happy to socialise with my slightly odd kids, as they didn't get a lot of socialising themselves.

Was thinking the same as cwtch, when I replied on your other thread. What age is your ds2? And what kind of things is he normally worried about. what do you think he will be particularly worried about, re the camping issue:? Tell us that and we may be able to help you out a bit more.

Have you ever considered camping with a group ?
Only asking because we camp every year with www.specialkidsintheuk.org/ another fab internet forum.. (quite a few members here I know!) Started as a handful of friends and became a big group..last year I think it was 47 families camping for a week.. old friends, new friends.. every one has children with special needs from ASD to life limiting illnesses and the atmosphere is amazing.. and everyone is supportive and helpful.

We always go to safe, accessible sites and have our own rally field (with electric hookups) where the children are safe. Worth having a look at the forum some time maybe:)

Thanks all. I think the main issue is DS2's avoidance issues and consequent meltdowns so I guess an element of enclosure/clear boundaries and maybe not too peaceful a place. Or perhaps as Medusa says, going with other SN families may be a good way forward, thanks for that link it looks great!