Be prepared

Communicating with the camp staff is essential to making sure children are safe while in someone else’s care.

Be sure to understand the camp’s policies, including:

• Protocols for prescription and over-the-counter medications, including inhalers and EpiPens.
• Helmet use. Whether riding a scooter or bike, horseback riding, etc., children should always wear a properly fitted helmet. If the camp does not provide them, can you supply a helmet for your child?
• Swim safety measures, including lifeguard supervision, required life jackets for non-swimmers, and swimming ability assessments.
• Who will deliver health care at camp?
• Travel protocols, including vehicle safety and extreme heat precautions.
• Food and snack availability and precautions.

Plan to schedule a pre-camp physical, where your child’s pediatrician can review medications, allergies, health conditions, and immunizations. Some camps require pre-camp physicals, and many have health forms that will need to be filled out in advance. Be thorough with these forms, so the camp staff is prepared to meet your child’s health needs, including emotional and social.

Children may also need to be prepared for the camp experience. Feelings of nervousness, anxiety, or homesickness should be acknowledged to validate their feelings. Help them prepare by:

• Sharing specific camp activities or visiting the camp before so they can become familiar with the environment.
• Making sure they know what to expect, including the daily routine, activities, and rules.
• Discussing a communication plan with them, so they know you are accessible.
• Letting them choose their camp gear and clothing, as well as activities, so they feel more confident.
• Reminding them that camp is all about having fun, making friends, learning new skills, and indulging in interests they may not have time for during the school year.

Swim Safety

Many camps offer swimming activities, making water safety a critical consideration. Parents should discuss the following swim safety measures with their children and camp supervisors:

• Never swim alone. Only swim when there is an adult present or a lifeguard on duty.
• Parents should inform camp supervisors whether their children are strong swimmers.
• Never jump into the water to rescue someone in distress. Instead, call for help and use a flotation device, such as a swim noodle or pole, to reach the person and pull them to safety.
• Never dive into water headfirst. This can result in serious injury if the depth is unknown.
• Life jackets should be worn while boating or using rafts, inner tubes, or docks. If a child is an inexperienced swimmer, a properly fitted life jacket should be used in the water.

Healthy hand habits

Summer camp is just like school, with children in close contact with each other during the day, playing outdoors, sharing playground equipment and toys, and eating meals together. Just like during the school year, proper hand hygiene can prevent common illnesses like colds, stomach flu, and other contagious diseases. Are hand-washing facilities available, and is hand washing encouraged?
In addition, children should be discouraged from sharing helmets, hats, hair brushes, or pillows. Make sure children understand they should not eat or drink using the same utensils or cup after their friends.

Sun safety

The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that all kids, regardless of their skin tone, wear water-resistant sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher applied every two hours.

Kids should use generous amounts of sunscreen on every exposed body part including arms, legs, face, ears, hands, feet, shoulders, and the front and back of the neck. If the camp asks children to apply their own sunscreen, practice with your child ahead of time.

Clothing also offers a layer of protection from the sun. Look for lightweight, tightly woven clothes or items labeled “sun protective.” Encourage children to find shade whenever possible, and make sure they understand the signs of overheating, so they know when to seek help.

Hydration

Good hydration habits start long before summer camp, so be sure your child has developed them. Children have a higher ratio of body surface to area body mass, making them more prone to heat-related illnesses from dehydration, especially during an active, hot summer.

Ask about the camp’s hydration policies. Is the camp staff trained to spot signs of heat-related illness?
Summer camp is more relaxed than the school routine, providing time for free play and screen-free exploration. With a little preparation, summer camp can also be a safe, fun experience.

The post Tips for a Happy, Healthy Summer Camp Experience in SWFL appeared first on SWFL Family.

While there is no cure, the following tips can help families support a child with ADHD.

Learn all you can about the disorder

This will help you better understand how ADHD affects your child. This information also will be important as you work with their pediatrician to develop a treatment plan to meet your child’s specific needs.

Fortunately, there is a lot of information on ADHD out there, from support groups to websites to books. Just make sure your source is reputable. Generally websites registered by government and

educational institutions are credible. Additionally, nonprofit

websites such as https://chadd.org (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) can be excellent resources. Take the time to review the site for signs of reliability.

Talk to your child about their diagnosis

No matter what their age, it is important your child understands why they may feel different or have difficulty managing their symptoms. When a child understands their diagnosis, they are more likely to work on skills to improve self-control.

Be sure to use words they can understand and encourage questions to diffuse potential fears and anxieties about their diagnosis. Explain ADHD is a condition they are born with, and it is not something they caused, but they need to work to manage it. Remember, one conversation is just the beginning. As your child grows, conversations will continue to be important to help them cope with new challenges.

Create structure

Children with ADHD often have difficulty maintaining their focus. The predictable and repetitive nature of a daily routine is helpful because it takes much of the guesswork out of their day and allows them to focus on one thing at time.

Consider establishing routines around waking up, homework, meals, playtime, and bedtime. This may include designating a time and quiet space for homework. Children stay more focused when an adult is nearby, so be sure to keep them in sight.

To be effective, routines should be regularly followed by all adults that care for your child, including grandparents and babysitters.

Praise your child

It is important to correct all children when they misbehave; however, due to their lack of impulse control, kids with ADHD often receive a lot of correction and criticism in school and at home. Constant critiques of their behavior such as “sit still, focus, and stop doing that” can be discouraging and wearing on their self-esteem.

Praise not only boosts self-esteem but also can encourage repeated good behaviors. Praise should be sincere, immediate, and specific. For example, rather than saying “good job” or “thank you” be more specific, such as “Wow, you did a great job listening when I asked you to set the dinner table.” or “Thank you for staying by my side at the store.”

Add activity

It is well known that consistent physical activity is important to overall health and well-being. For this reason, I recommend all kids have at least 60 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity every day. However, children with ADHD especially benefit from exercise because it burns excess energy and stimulates the brain by boosting dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin levels – all of which affect focus and attention. If you sense your child needs a break, especially with tasks that require lengthy concentration such as homework, encourage them to get up and move for a few minutes.

Partner with school

Sitting still, listening, and concentrating for long periods of time are necessary classroom skills children with ADHD often struggle with. To help your child succeed, work with their teacher to determine realistic goals for improving weaknesses, such as rule following, peer relations, and academic success. Talk to your child’s teacher about their strengths and problem areas, and share strategies that have worked at home to keep your child on track.

Encourage teachers to share their observations. At times it may be hard to hear feedback about your child’s behavior, but try not to take it personally. Instead, use these conversations as opportunities to focus on solutions. Like you, teachers want to see your child do well. If your child’s ADHD is getting in the way of their ability to learn, ask if your child would be eligible for special services through an individualized education program or a 504 special education plan.

Get help

Behavior therapy for children is an effective treatment option that helps strengthen positive behaviors and eliminate problem behaviors. I often recommend parents also participate in behavioral parent training to learn skills and strategies to help their child consistently manage ADHD symptoms.

At times caring for a child with ADHD can leave parents feeling frustrated, stressed, and embarrassed. It is important to remember that you are not alone. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates 6.1 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD. However, with the right treatment, support, time, and patience, children with ADHD can thrive.

Could you have adult ADHD?

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