Suggestions for overwhelm at daily summer camp

[Guest guest]

I thought I would ask advice for behavior that has been very stressful for us

the last 2 weeks or so. My 6.5 yo is in a summer camp at a kids gym where he

also did afterschool last year without too many problems. Apparently there are

twice as many kids there for summercamp as there are for afterschool. He did ok

the first few weeks but all of a sudden he is having major troubles behaving

there. It starts out with him doing something he knows he is not supposed to

do- climb poles, not stay with group, etc. and leads to him biting, pinching,

scratching at counselors who are trying to get him to calm down and then he ends

up running wildly around the gym. I have tried reasoning, bribing,

consequencing him. they usually end up with him at the front desk with them for

most of the day. Obviously he is getting overwhelmed and going into fight/

flight. I need him to stay there for 2 more weeks until school starts and just

wondered if anyone who has had a similar issue with their child might have some

suggestions we haven't thought of. I am single and work. Next year I will look

for a much smaller environment. This also concerns me for 1st grade starting up

and what we will happen there. He is not officially diagnosed yet, I am trying

to find someone who will do that around here. He absolutely fits the mold with

social issues, sensory issues, speech peculiarities, fixed ideas and interests,

etc. When you ask him about his issues at school his recurring answer is if he

wants to do something he should be able to do it period. Doesn't matter if

everyone else is doing something else, he should be able to do what he wants to

do. Also it is never fair when his brother who has behaved well all day gets a

reward and he who has run, bit, scratched, been sent home from camp etc, does

not. It is exhausting. He has been in daycare for years and was in a big

summercamp last year where he pretty much did what he wanted all day- it was

much more overstimulating that this one.

Please let me know any suggestions. I thought maybe some of you who had had

behavioral type plans and interventions might be able to share some advice from

this also.

Thanks,

Kirsten