Autism Soccer: Camping With Special Needs Children

Organize activities for your child to entertain him/her on the campsite.

As a parent, you never stop trying your best for those you love: you work all day, pay the bills, buy everything your house needs and look out for your partner and children. You do all those things non-stop. Giving yourself a time off to relax and have a good time with your children sounds like the perfect plan. Why not go camping and disconnect from the routine? Leave the city lights and electronics behind, have some quality time out there. Of course, if you want things to work out, there are some ground rules you must establish before camping:

Planning: Gather all the things you’ll need for the experience. A standard list includes flashlights, tents, water, newspaper (for making the campfire), lighters, scissors, food, ropes and garbage bags. Talk with your kid about the trip, make sure he understands every detail about it.

Rules: It may sound boring, but it’s necessary to establish rules. From the basic rule of “do not get separated from the group” to more specific rules like “sleep time will be at 10:00 pm”. Also, don’t forget to schedule activities and games for the camping.

With rules and preparation set, it’s time to get to the camping site. When you arrive, make sure everything on the list is checked and ready to be organized. Set the tent and after everything is in place, prepare some lunch. At this point, it would be a good idea to play some games so your kid doesn’t feel bored or starts to wander off. Do not overdo it, though, you just arrived, you’ll have enough time to play with your kid the following day.

When the night comes, prepare the campfire and food for everyone to eat, gather them around and play some quiet games, or tell some stories (if your child is afraid of the dark, avoid horror stories at all costs). You all should be preparing to sleep by now, tomorrow the adventure continues and your kid needs resting.

Camping is a great experience to bond with your kid while enjoying a break from the stress of the daily routine. Always look for moments like those, plan ahead for the future. Children nowadays are too deep into technologies, so if you feel like they need experiencing something outside the TV or games, make them practice some sports with the people at Autism Soccer. They’ll be fit and learn new things in the process.