Re: Re: What do your kids do in the summer???

[Guest guest]

My 8 year old son has horrible summers if he is not kept busy and scheuled with a predictable routine. He goes to a summer program called Maplegrove Aspergers Day Treatment and soem special needs camps run by Easter Seals. it is like a summer camp with scheduled activities and all the social skills mixed in with the fun. I know it is not something available everywhere, but I would look for something that has a schedule and is predictable and gives the kids the opportunity to expel their energy outside and have quiet time inside to relax. This seems to be the combination that works for my son anyways. you can ceehck this out if you are in WI / northern IL at http://maplegrovetreatmentcenter.com/summerexplore.htm

Sample Schedule

8:45-9:30- Stations: Fine Motor for Life, Getting Around Town, and Map Making- Participants work in stations on skills that they will apply later in the day.

9:30-9:45- Orientation (Behavioral Expectations/Rules): Participants learn about the behavioral management system for the program and become familiar with the concept of naturally occurring hierarchies and how they occur across environments (family, school, workforce, etc.).

9:45-10:15- ative Activities/Team Building: Scavenger Hunt and Captain on Deck are activities that teach the participants about interacting with people to function better in their community.

10:15-10:30- Snack Time

10:30-11:30- Daily Living Skill: Getting Ready in The Morning part I. Participants learn the steps to independently get dressed in the morning, including how to access clothing, making decisions based on

weather, and coordinating clothing.

11:30-12:00- Lunch

12:00-12:30- Interactive Choices: Participants are taught how to engage each other in making decisions on preferred activities.

12:30-1:15- Fitness Activity: Yoga Calm- Participants learn calming techniques to engage in when anxious or frustrated.

1:30-1:45- Afternoon Snack

1:45-2:45- Daily Living Skill: Rehearse and Role-Play "Getting Ready in the Morning".

2:45-3:00- Wrap up

Ages of Participants Last Year

6 to 10 years-old: 14 participants

11 to 14 years-old: 22 participants

15 to 20 years-old: 14 participants

From: Catcelia <c2cats@...> Sent: Tue, March 29, 2011 8:08:39 AMSubject: ( ) Re: What do your kids do in the summer???

From 1st thru 5th grade my son went to a day camp run by our town. They had arts & crafts in the morning then went to the local pond for the afternoon. They had field trips 1x/wk. It worked well because my son really needed the down time after a long school year. I liked the fact that he was with other kids and was outside for most of the day. The director had a spec ed back ground so that helped as well. When my son aged out of this camp we tried a computer camp for a week - it was a disaster.Caroline>> Based on how the start of our 1st grade year went (horribly), I want to keep my son fairly busy this summer so it's not as much of a shock to him at the start of 2nd grade.> > I have been

looking at classes through our park district and there are a few I am thinking of registering him for, but I would love to know > what everyone else does to keep their kids still on a schedule, active, etc. > > I think a mix of sports and some kind of educational class would be good. So far gymnastics, art, swimming, a cooking class, and an afternoon camp are what I am looing into, but I also think it would be good for him to sit and do some academic type things.> > Any ideas? > > >