Summer camp and ADHD meds

[Anonymous]

Longtime camp staff member here. Please don’t send your child to camp without ADHD meds, if they usually take them for school. I understand all about wanting a break from med side effects, but camp is a novel environment, many new kids that don’t know your kid who are not going to be as forgiving as his friends and usual classmates might be, and there are many safety rules that must be followed for activities outdoors. Overnight camp especially is harder, because kids are expected to take care of their own belongings. If your kid misses swim because they forgot their suit, that sucks, and that logical consequence will not help an ADHD brain remember unless it happens over and over.

Give the camp staff clear tips on helping your kid, outlining supports you have in place at home and at school. I’d hand a list of tips to the counselor directly at drop off, along with adding that information to camper registration, because you want to be sure it gets to unit staff.

[Anonymous]

I know it different for each kid, but my ADHDer might actually need his meds more for camp than school. Camp is overstimulating, all the time. The demands are lower, but the stimulation is high.