How to handle the summer vacation with your Aspergers teenager!

The summer vacation, in fact any break of a week or more can be a nightmare for parents, especially working parents. Children need to be minded, but they also need to be entertained, and you hope for a truce by the end of the break, and a family that still likes each other!

Add an Aspergers teen into the mix and you can understand why there are some parents who absolutely dread summer vacation, and unsurprisingly, some teens that are actually glad when school resumes in the fall! Preparation is the key to handling the summer vacation, planning, preparation, and, if possible, some funds set aside to spend wisely for maximum return.

Planning tips for the summer vacation and your Aspergers teen

• Warn your Aspergers teen of what is coming; if possible find out what they think is on the horizon


• If you are going away then you need to maintain as much familiarity as possible for your teen


• Do not spring last minute decisions on your teen, they will go into an anxiety induced spin and you will not be able to get them to do anything!


• Do not try to change your Aspergers teen over the vacation, yes they have habits they need to lose, but the change should be introduced gradually when nothing else is different


• Aspergers teens can only handle so much change at once, so if you are going to send them to camp you will have to have done your homework


• Do not rule out summer camp, there are very good teen camps for Aspergers teens, it just takes more preparation than usual (see "Summer Camp for Teens with Aspergers Syndrome")


• Give your teen something familiar for journeys, such as music, a book, a story on disc, anything that gives them a sense of security and helps the journey pass


• Planning the journey with the Aspergers teen can be a good way to engage them in the adventure, give them a map, they can mark off progress, decide with you when to stop, what to see on the way. You will not get lost with an Aspergers teen in the car, they will know every turn!


• The days do not have to have every minute scheduled, but a loose but regular structure is a good idea, late bedtimes and late mornings tend not to work with Aspergers children.


• Schedule activities on a calendar, visual hints are good because Aspergers children tend to be visual learners


• Take into account any specific phobias, eating disorders or allergies your teen has if going to camp; the organizers need to know these in advance.

You know your Aspergers teen best, but do not be afraid to give them new experiences such as teen camp. A well planned, well structured change can be very enriching and developmental for a teen with Aspergers, and some time off for their parents refreshes them too, and gives those parents a well deserved break!