NOTE: This is a special guest post from FloatMissouri Facebook fan Cari. If you’d like to submit an article like hers, click here.
I spent so much time outdoors as a child; camping, floating, hiking, swimming, and more! I knew that when I had children, I wanted them to have the same fun enriching experiences that I did. My husband and I had our first child, Robert, in 2013. Followed by two girls, Riley and Reagan, in 2015 and 2017.
When Robert was two, we knew something was different about him. He hardly said any words, and we couldn’t get him to do many things an average two year could do. Around two and a half, we started consulting specialists and doctors to figure out what was going on. After many doctors’ visits, visits with specialists, evaluations, and two and a half years later he was fully diagnosed. Robert was diagnosed with a speech delay, developmental delays, and sensory processing disorder.
Our family loves being outdoors, and that was something we didn’t want to change due to Robert’s diagnoses. Being outdoors with a child that has special needs takes extra planning, time, energy, and well basically everything. It is worth it though?
Before we spend time outdoors, we do a few things to ensure everything goes smoothly. We tell him what we are going to do, where we are going, and how long we will be gone. We read books or tell stories about hiking, camping, and swimming. We even role play a little beforehand. We play hike by hiking in the basement. (The stairs are a huge hill we must climb.) We build play fires, build a tent, and roast marshmallows in the living room. We also make lists. One list for what we must pack, and another list for our meals. This way we cover everything, and we don’t miss a beat.
When we hike, we take extra socks and shoes for him because face it who doesn’t love puddle jumping, but Robert takes it to the extreme. Extra clothes for the same reason. This little boy loves his mud and will tell you so. I also take an extra potty seat in the car, so he does not have to go into loud bathrooms he is not familiar with. (That’s when you know you’re an outdoor mama. Ha!)
Camping is another story. Food is something we try to make easier as possible. Before we go, we meal plan each meal, and all our snacks. (This also makes it easier to go grocery shopping.) We pack easy meals, and easy snacks. (We also bring extra food, in case he has a meltdown over something he isn’t in the mood for.) So, we don’t spend too much time of preparing the food. We pack all the foods that he likes. Examples: green peppers, watermelons, Oreo’s, cheese-its, juice boxes or pouches, Lunchables, macaroni and cheese, and the list goes on. We make sure to pack enough clothes by packing two outfits for each day we are camping. (This includes underwear.) We pack all the socks, and all his shoes! We end up packing 4-5 pairs of shoes; water shoes, regular tennis shoes, rain boots, and/or sandals. When we get to the campground, we walk him around and talk about all the different places; campsites, bathrooms, parks, and/or playgrounds. We do this for him to ensure everything runs smoothly. Where he can or cannot play basically. We try to make the living quarters as close to home as possible, too. We bring toys he plays with at home, his regular pillow, blankets, and his stuffed animals he sleeps with. To make it easier for bedtime, we bring a radio and listen to static for white noise. That way he doesn’t get over stimulated while he is sleeping because of all the new and unfamiliar sounds. We also pack anti-bacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, and extra hand soap for when he touches something that he doesn’t like. We also try to keep his routine like what it is at home. He is such a creature of habit.
We have even set up a “play place” for when everything gets to be too much for him. We setup a special place with toys, markers, paper, sensory bottles, books, chalk, and more. We have even setup a small toddler tent for him. He really enjoys taking a break from it all when it gets to be too much for him. His younger sisters love this too.
Camping with a sensory need’s child has been a haven for us. He has less meltdowns, and he knows that when he needs down time he can always play in mud. That is his peace, and it grounds him. Camping is a great experience for him. Every sense is in swing, and yet it is calming. He has the colors he sees, the smells of nature, and the feel of the earthy mud below his feet. Nature is his happy place. It is so indescribable. He is like a whole new kid.
I know camping with a special need’s child can be intimidating but it can also be quite rewarding.
