Camping with Special Needs Kids
Debbie with Zachary, Joshua and Benjamin My friends Debbie and Bryan (or, as I call them, SuperMom and SuperDad) love to go camping with their two older boys, 11-year-old Benjamin and Zachary, 7. So far Joshua, their 4-year-old, has stayed home with Mom while the older boys head out with Dad, but they plan to all camp together one day. All three kids have special needs, and preparing a camping trip to accommodate Zach and Ben takes a little more planning and flexibility than it might with some kids, but – as Debbie is quick to point out – it’s totally doable... and totally worth it! Bryan, Zachary and Benjamin on the trail Benjamin has high-functioning autism and reflux, and Zachary has a dairy allergy. To accommodate Zach’s allergy, Bryan packs simple camping food (hot dogs, bread and oatmeal, for example) and is careful to read the labels when he shops. They also pack medication. Ben’s needs are more complex. Sometimes he is afraid to try new things or feels anxious. Debbie makes...