ESY vs camp

[toastie]

ds1 will be old enough this summer to attend the week long sleep away camp for special needs kids.

the concern is that we are offered ESY every summer.  It's broken up into 2 sessions so I could just send him half the time.

what do you think would be more beneficial?
esy is m-f 9-3, regular school program just shortened.
camp is 6 days, 1-1 aide, works on social and recreational skills.  Pool, splash pad, playground

ds1 is nonverbal, significantly ID, but ambulatory.  He doesn't really struggle with the transition to and from school.  He does thrive on the routine simply because he can't anticipate what's next.  He doesn't understand much so if you explain to him what's going to happen he just can't undrestand. Once he realizes what's happening he is fine and adjusts, it's just that short time in between.

for example, he doesn't like driving towards school when anyone else is in the car because he knows just I drive them to school and he wants to stay and play not go to school.  As soon as we get on the highway, right after the turn for school, he calms down.

an hour into the drive he starts getting upset, until he sees the six flags, then he knows what's going on.  He doesn't love loud chaotic places that the sound bounces around, like indoor water parks.  But other than that minimal sensory issues.  Eats and wears anything but is not potty trained. He loves excitement and other people and kids though, like amusement parks, playgrounds, splash pad, etc.

Should I discuss this with his teacher? Doctor? I'm struggling with this because my instinct is to say no way, he is just a little baby and I want to keep him close forever.  But he is 7 and camp is an experience many 7 yo have.  

If we don't send him this year there is always next year and so on, but I doubt I'll ever feel different about letting him go lol. 

Eta: DH is in the camp of never letting him out of our sight.  He is too scared of something happened to him abuse wise and that he isn't safe with anyone else.  We're a little overprotective.  

[spooko]

DS first went to camp this past summer for a week and he had just turned 9. Apparently there are other kids that do go to his camp at 7yo, but he wasn't ready until this last year. I don't think there's anything wrong with holding off if you're uncomfortable at this point.

[akafred]

I think it would be very individual. Do you think he would benefit from the diversity of experiences, new caregivers, new peers, etc or even being pushed outside his comfort zone at camp? Or would it be challenging for him without benefit? Hard to say without knowing him. I think you and his teachers could say.

I'm assuming you would send him for one 6-day session, right? Do you not have the option of sending him to ESY but taking him out for that one week? Don't families who do ESY get to take a vacation during the summer session at all without losing the whole half-summer session? That is sort of what this would be in my mind. In other words, is it absolutely one or the other?

[mrsbuttinski]

I think camp to supplement ESY is a terrific idea for any child assuming the camp has a program appropriate to his needs. Nothing grows a kid like camp. That said, if he and your family aren't ready this year, you know best. Seven is generally the earliest typically developing children attend sleepaway camp; you may want to adjust that to 8 or even 10 if that feels better for you.

I think camp could be good for you, too. Not to be nosy, but what are your plans for your sons living arrangements as adults? If you envision a group home setting to give them a community of peers, camp can be the first step toward realizing that goal for parent and child. I won't lie, the first time DS attended camp DH and I were physically ill for the first couple days.

[toastie]

Jan 7, 2017 16:39:23 GMT -5 mrsbuttinski said:

I think camp to supplement ESY is a terrific idea for any child assuming the camp has a program appropriate to his needs. Nothing grows a kid like camp. That said, if he and your family aren't ready this year, you know best. Seven is generally the earliest typically developing children attend sleepaway camp; you may want to adjust that to 8 or even 10 if that feels better for you.

I think camp could be good for you, too. Not to be nosy, but what are your plans for your sons living arrangements as adults? If you envision a group home setting to give them a community of peers, camp can be the first step toward realizing that goal for parent and child. I won't lie, the first time DS attended camp DH and I were physically ill for the first couple days.


I envision them as 5 and 7 yo for the rest of their life, living with me forever and being my cute little babies, end of story.  Lol. I am very aware that I am too attached in a sense, but I try very hard not to let it get in the way. As much as I hated sending my kids to preschool full time, I did it because it was best for them. This is why I need help with this decision.  My gut and heart say never! But logically my brian says that I have to investigate it and see if it could be best for him.  I can see ds2 in a group home at this time, ds1 still seems far too impaired. 

This camp would be very appropriate, it's for children who are multiply disabled, lots of kids with Down syndrome, cp, etc. 

[toastie]

Jan 7, 2017 15:05:34 GMT -5 akafred said:

I think it would be very individual. Do you think he would benefit from the diversity of experiences, new caregivers, new peers, etc or even being pushed outside his comfort zone at camp? Or would it be challenging for him without benefit? Hard to say without knowing him. I think you and his teachers could say.

I'm assuming you would send him for one 6-day session, right? Do you not have the option of sending him to ESY but taking him out for that one week? Don't families who do ESY get to take a vacation during the summer session at all without losing the whole half-summer session? That is sort of what this would be in my mind. In other words, is it absolutely one or the other?

He loves new people, other kids so I think the environment would be good for him.  he's very social so I don't think it would be a challenge for him in that aspect. Our esy is broken up into 2 programs, July and aug. our school district is very fussy about paying if you take your kid out too much. So I'm assuming the session that he misses the week for camp they would not let him attend. 

[akafred]

Jan 7, 2017 19:09:34 GMT -5 toastie said:

Jan 7, 2017 15:05:34 GMT -5 akafred said:

I think it would be very individual. Do you think he would benefit from the diversity of experiences, new caregivers, new peers, etc or even being pushed outside his comfort zone at camp? Or would it be challenging for him without benefit? Hard to say without knowing him. I think you and his teachers could say.

I'm assuming you would send him for one 6-day session, right? Do you not have the option of sending him to ESY but taking him out for that one week? Don't families who do ESY get to take a vacation during the summer session at all without losing the whole half-summer session? That is sort of what this would be in my mind. In other words, is it absolutely one or the other?

He loves new people, other kids so I think the environment would be good for him.  he's very social so I don't think it would be a challenge for him in that aspect. Our esy is broken up into 2 programs, July and aug. our school district is very fussy about paying if you take your kid out too much. So I'm assuming the session that he misses the week for camp they would not let him attend. 

It's definitely outside my area of expertise, but if this is the only expected absence, I would at least ask about it.

[Deleted]

I think it is probably fine to send him this year. However, DS won't be attending until he is almost 8. They don't do his grade this year. So I think you are totally fine waiting a year, so that is what I would do.