The Awesome Benefits of Summer Camp for Neurodivergent Kids

Photo by Mike Bowman on Unsplash

It’s camp-scheduling season, y’all!

I am what they call “a camp person” and if you know, you know. I grew up going to a sleep-away camp for girls in the North Carolina mountains and was hooked by age 10. Not all children will want to go to sleep-away camp and not all families can afford it, but any camp atmosphere has great benefits for learning outside of the four walls of a classroom.

Many parents raising neurodivergent kids think their children can’t go to camp, but with the right fit it’s not only possible but there are some awesome benefits, so read on!

Why Day Camp?

The #1 benefit of day camp for neurodivergent kids is that it’s not academic. I have watched children have extremely difficult school years, filled with high anxiety and physically aggressive stress responses to work demands in the classroom, yet when we take away those four walls in the non-academic environment of day camp, they thrive! Now, this often needs to be a specialized camp and is often one with staff who understands your child’s strengths and needs for support, but I want you to know that it’s possible. So, let’s take a look at all the options.

Why Do Preschoolers Benefit from Camp?

Day camp for preschoolers is usually a lot like the preschool day minus the academic curriculum. Children under five years old benefit from an extension of a routine outside the home into the summer months with lots of play! All children do better with routine and those idle weeks and months of summer usually become filled with sibling conflict and late bedtimes that throw everyone off. Just having a routine of a half-day camp can help keep a child emotionally regulated and keep everyone’s anxiety down due to predictable schedules.

Why Do School-Age Kids Benefit from Day Camp?

Day camp allows school-age children to continue practicing their skills but without the demands of academics. These skills include learning new games, practicing compromise, trying new things, building frustration tolerance, and following a routine that does not include non-preferred academic tasks. I have seen children thrive in a camp routine likely because the academic demands are taken away and the focus is play. Their body is moving, it’s engaging, and silliness is encouraged! Many school-age children I’ve worked with find success and confidence at camp before they feel it at school.

When Is My Child Ready For Sleep-Away Camp?

Sleep-away camp builds independence and confidence, but your child has to be developmentally ready for the challenge. So, how do you know when your child is ready?

There is no magical age. Many neurotypical children are ready for sleep-away camp between 8-10 years old. This decision is often based on the independence of their self-care skills and their emotional maturity to solve problems with trusted adults other than parents. Can they solve peer conflicts with only a small amount of adult support? Can they follow their morning and nighttime routines on their own? Be careful not to underestimate them. It’s amazing how children will step it up in a camp situation when their peers are all cleaning a cabin or setting a table together.

What About Specialized Camps?

Many autistic children as well as those diagnosed with ADHD and/or anxiety find success at a specialized camp with low camper-counselor ratios and highly-trained staff. The added benefit of specialized camps is giving families respite from caregiving. However, it’s also harder to decide when children with such variable abilities are ready to be away from home, even for a short time. Asking your child’s therapists and teachers is a good first step. They see your child more objectively than you do and will likely have an opinion.

So Why Am I So Passionate About Camp?

Well, because school is just so hard for many neurodivergent kids. They need a break from the demands of moving through activities they don't find interesting and the opportunity to thrive in a routine that engages them!

And…camp is fun! Swimming, music, hiking, boating, and crafts…these are all things that are building motor skills, social skills, and self-confidence without the pressures of grades, tests, time, and paying attention to things that they just find boring.

Most camp activities are by design highly regulating to our body because they include nature, animals, music, movement, and learning in community. Feeling successful is a crucial part of children’s mental wellness, especially when they don’t feel it in the classroom.

Let’s Stay Connected!

~Dr. Emily

P.S. Share ideas and ask questions in the CAMP Advice Thread (threads are for paid subscribers) about day camps, sleep away camps, and specialized camps!

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I’m Dr. Emily, child psychologist and former school psychologist, and I’m on a mission to help parents and teachers be the best adults they can be for the neurodivergent kids and teens in our lives. This isn’t about changing the kids, it’s about changing us. Learn more with me at www.learnwithdremily.com.

**All content provided is protected under applicable copyright, patent, trademark, and other proprietary rights. All content is provided for informational and education purposes only. No content is intended to be a substitute for professional medical or psychological diagnosis, advice or treatment. Information provided does not create an agreement for service between Dr. Emily W. King and the recipient. Consult your physician regarding the applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to you or your child's symptoms or medical condition. Children or adults who show signs of dangerous behavior toward themselves and/or others, should be placed immediately under the care of a qualified professional.**