By John Willson, MS, TRS/CTRS, Director of LD and ADHD Services at Camp SOAR
(Success Oriented Achievement Realized)

Enjoying Family Time
It has long been stated that "families that play together - stay together." As the summer months come upon you, look for some unique opportunities to enjoy time together. Here are a few ideas:

• You can't beat a picnic, especially if you are enjoying time in a unique location.
  
  
• Find a place to bike or hike near your home, then add the flavor of seeing who can find the most interesting item on the hike.
  
  
• Create a family night each week, then rotate which member of the family gets to choose the activity, plan the logistics and create the budget.
  
  
• Many children with ADHD have an adventurous streak. Tap into that strength and find a climbing wall or other type of adventure that is high in perceived risk only.
  
  
• Go camping for one or two nights and get everyone in the family committed to a job or role during the campout. Some roles would include:
  
  
  • Chef
    
    
  • Equipment manager
    
    
  • Activity coordinator
    
    
  • Scribe for a keepsake journal
    
    
  • Campfire safety manager
    
    
• Don't forget about family game night. Put a consistent structure in place to ensure that this experience imparts important social skills.
  
  

Outdoor Family Fun Food Recipes
Let's face it, food makes everything more fun. Here are a few recipes everyone will enjoy and anyone can make.

Preparing for a Safe Summer
Before engaging in summer fun parents must plan ahead in order to prevent accidents. Making a checklist prior to the end of the school term is a good place to start. All parents must plan for precautions to keep their children safe while off school, but parents of children with ADHD are especially challenged to provide their child(ren) with independence that is balanced with the necessary structure. Here are some important safety tips to keep in mind:

• Make sure your child's schedule is filled with plenty of activities to prevent boredom. Accidents often occur when children start finding unique ways to fill "downtime."
  
  
• Impulsive children require more supervision than many other young people. If you are leaving your son or daughter in someone else's care, make sure they understand what is expected - vigilance. It is also a good idea to leave important emergency information with anyone supervising your child.
  
  
• Keep a sharp eye out for potential hazards. Children that have symptoms of impulsivity may be especially prone to accidents.
  
  
• Communication is key. Be clear and consistent about your expectations regarding participation in activities. Any unsafe behavior that cannot be altered with one or two re-directive remarks should result in the suspension of that activity. You know your children and it is important that you create a culture of accountability that helps your children understand what is expected of them.
  
  

• Always have plenty of cool drinking water on hand.
  
  
• Sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher and bug spray can prevent sunburn and problematic insect bites. Make sure you choose products you are comfortable with and that will work based on your child's level of outdoor activity. Playing in the yard, around the house and camping out in the wilderness may require different choices.
  
  
• Always have a small first aid kit that includes:
  • Bandages/Band-Aids®
  • Ace wrap
  • Athletic tape
  • Triple antibiotic ointment
  • Anti-itch and burn creams
  
  
• It is important to know if anyone in the family is allergic to bee stings and have an Epi Pen® if necessary.
  
  
• Be prepared for whatever Mother Nature wants to throw your child's way. Make sure your child has access to these three essential items at all times:
  • Raingear
  • Water
  • Flashlight
  
  
  

Return to Enjoying Summertime main page | Read next section: Download Summer Achievement Certificate of Success (PDF)

Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed to view/print PDF files. Click here to download for free.