I’m working as a day camp counselor this summer (i’m 19), and one of the children in my group has ADHD. He’s 5 years old, and according to his school district doesn’t qualify for a shadow. His mother, based on the conversations I’ve had with her so far, doesn’t really have much advice.
The problem, mainly, is that we have a large group—there are 14-16 children at any given time, all going into kindergarten. There are 3 counselors, and usually one of us is taking kids to the bathroom or the nurse’s office or something like that, so often there are only 2 counselors with the group. This means that none of us can give J, the child with ADHD, the kind of individual attention that he really needs.
As a result he wanders away from us constantly. Sometimes this presents problems for his physical safety—I’m forever catching him trying to shut himself into lockers when we’re changing for swim. Chasing after him and trying to explain things to him takes a great deal of attention away from the other campers, which is firstly unsafe and secondly unfair. I do know that the best things are to give him lots of personal attention, short tasks, and patient, repeated explanations… but in a large group setting this is very rarely possible.
He also has a bad habit of throwing temper tantrums and refusing to do things because he “can’t.” I think this is partly due to his age, but some of the things he “can’t” do are really things that he won’t—such as throwing a piece of trash away, or picking something up off the floor. My co-counselors and I end up having to yell at him frequently, just to get his attention—agian, because we’re with a large group. We also have to move him physically a lot of the time, and although he doesn’t wander if he’s holding one of our hands, we can’t keep him holding on without holding tightly.
I’m not comfortable with the yelling or the physical efforts, at least not to the degree that we’re forced to do it… I have another 6 weeks of working with this child in the group, and I’m hoping to find ways to help him and keep him under control, that are more effective and less unpleasant.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Jessie
Also, my e-mail address is [email protected], if anyone wants to reply that way.
ADHD student
“My co-counselors and I end up having to yell at him frequently, just to get his attention”
How about some positive reinforcement for the kids. A points system where the kids get a gold star for good behavior or something. Then they can use the gold stars for something they want like a kickball or something else that this child might be interested in. It seems like yelling to get his attention isnt working so I suggest trying something else.
Perhaps one of the co-counselors could be designated as good cop who provides positive reinforcement when they say “liitle J you did a good job today at Arts and Crafts of staying seated with the rest of the children. And the other conselors take the more authoritative role of screaming and getting his attention when he is running around.
Re: I could *really* use some help/advice
I agree with Sara. If this child is in danger because of not being able to follow the rules, the administrators may want to consider their liability in this situation. This child obviously needs a structured behavior plan, but I think it is a bit much to expect teenage camp counselors to have the expertise to create it. I think that is the parents’ responsibility in this instance. They need to be the experts on their child and provide the resources if they want him included in a regular day camp. If they can’t, then they need to find a camp that deals with special needs. That may sound harsh, but my child has attended a YMCA day camp for part of the summer and it is essential for the safety of all the children that children be able to follow instructions.
Janis
Full disclosure to the parents
I would discuss the entire matter with the parents so they know that the child is not doing well. You could actually be helpful because the parents may push for that aid at school or find other ways to deal with the ADHD. It may be hard and intimidating to discuss this with the parents but they really need to know. Camp is only reinforcing that he is a “bad boy” and what he really needs is help from professionals so that he can overcome his issues. Also, this child could really get hurt or hurt another child because of his ADHD. Everyone is being poorly served as things are now. I am a Mom of a child with ADHD and I would want to know what was going on. Personally, I would volunteer myself and be my child’s personal aid. A grandparent possibly could possibly work well also as an aid. Terry
it doesn’t sound as if this child’s special needs can be well met in your camp setting. At the least, I’d have a conference with the parent and share your concerns. And have your shared your concerns about his physical safety with your camp administrators? This sounds like a child that you might not want back in the summers to come and it’s always a possibility to refund a parent’s money and ask that their child attend a different camp based on your camp’s group size.
Such a child would be better served - as you yourself are saying - in a camp with smaller group sizes. While patience can go a long way, summer is too short to have a long way to go with this child.
Or - does anybody have a teenage daughter sitting home doing nothing over the summer? If you could find the right person, you could provide this child with the equilvalent of a wrap around aide.
Good luck.