When considering the summer holidays/vacation time careful thought and planning needs to be done well in advance.

It would be great if every child qualified for an extended school year if that’s what they require and is in their best interests but, for many this isn’t the case. In fact in many countries an extended school year is unheard of and so many parents find themselves dreading what they’re doing to do with their special needs child for those 8 weeks at home.

So what can we do to have the happiest summer holidays/vacation possible?

•Summer Camps

These seem to be more popular in the USA than anywhere else. There are a few different options that are available and in fact more mainstream camps are becoming inclusive to include children with special needs. There are also specialist camps for children with special needs and the option of weekend camps or day camps.

Summer Camp can be great for children with special needs and the right one will ensure that your child is surrounded by adults who understand them and what their particular needs/difficulties are. The best camps will help work on your child’s strengths and abilities, thus building their independence, confidence and self-esteem.

The downside however is that there may not be any camps locally and they may have to travel a distance in order to attend. They can also be quite costly and may not be a viable financial option for some families, especially if there is more than one child to consider. However, there can be a possibility of obtaining a scholarship, which is why it’s a good idea to plan well in advance, to ensure that funding is available.

It may be that your child has never been away from home and this can prove challenging for them (and you!). This may be where day camp is the best choice until you both feel more confident.

•Specialist Holidays/Vacations for Children & Their Families with Special Needs

There are many websites on the internet offering specialist holidays for not just the child with special needs but their families too. Whilst a lot of them are highly rated this may prove difficult for families with limited finances. There is also limited availability and vacations would need to be booked well in advance.

•Local Area Activities

Another alternative is organised activities within the local area. Parks, community halls, church halls. Some of these places have organised family fun days, barbecues. So it’s a good idea to look at community forums and centres for this type of information.


•Playgroups/Playschemes

Within Scotland there are activities that are organised by local council called “playschemes”. This is organised activities on an almost daily basis throughout the summer that children can attend without their parents which may include arts & crafts, sports, music and some unstructured play. However parents often find that they are mainstream with little or no accommodation for children with special needs.

A way to solve this is for parents to set up their own version. The parents organise the funding through fundraising activities, and funding applications and grants and pay a childcare provider with special needs experience to run the service. The upside is that both the children and parents have time away from one another, the children become more independent and parents know they’re children are being well looked after.

The downside of this however is of course the funding. It may be that you have to continually fundraise but setting something like this up can pay enormous dividends and makes the efforts of fundraising well worth it. Another alternative is to recruit volunteers if funding is an issue. People are more willing to help than we sometimes give them credit for.

•Do It Yourself Playgroups/ Get Together With Other Families

In my local area a group of mums got together and decided to create an afterschool club for our children for a couple of hours each week. The children have unstructured play and just get to “be themselves”, for that time. The parents also benefit as it creates a social and supportive environment where it may have been difficult to obtain childcare. This is also extended into school holidays and everyone benefits. Ask at local church halls or community halls if they will donate space to unite families with a common cause.

•Plan Days Out With Your Own Family/Friends

Even if you don’t manage to go on vacation, it’s good to plan time to do some activities together. This may involve going to the park, going swimming, even going out into nature for walks. However, summer holidays can be very difficult for children. There are some children who are so exhausted and stressed having been at school all term/semester that even the thought of doing anything through the summer is just too much for them. If this is the case, try not to be too hard on them or yourself and accept that you’re all doing the best you can.

I remember spending a whole summer indoors feeling like a terrible mom because my daughter didn’t want to leave the house. I felt she should have been out in the fresh air, enjoying herself. However, the truth is that being indoors is what was right for her and what she needed at that time - due to a stressful school term. It was me who struggled and had cabin fever! So if this is the case plan some time for yourself if possible. You need it and deserve it.


•Ask For Help

As parents sometimes we forget to ask for help with our children or don’t want to because we don’t want to be a burden. But it’s ok to ask. People may surprise you and be delighted to help you out. They may say no but even then you’re no worse off.

The summer is a time when we should be enjoying ourselves and our children. Perhaps if there was more in place to help and support families with special needs then we could all have more fun.

If you have questions about any of the above, please feel free to contact me via submissions page.