Summer Camp: Late Talkers, Children with Autism (Ages 2-5) June 10-13, 2024

Summer Camp for Late Talkers and Children with Autism or Suspected Autism (Ages 2-5)

Hosted by A by G Therapyand Consulting Services - www.abygtherapy.com

Summer Camp for Late Talkers or Children with Autism or Suspected Autism Birmingham, AL

Join us for a fantastic four-day (Monday- Thursday) Summer Camp dedicated to children age 2-5 who are late talkers and children with autism or those showing suspected signs of autism. Camp is for 4 weeks with the option to attend weekly or your child can attend the entire camp. Each week will have a different theme.

Week 2 is from June 10 to June 13, 2024, let's come together for a fun and engaging experience designed to support and empower these incredible kids! Embrace new activities, make new friends, and create lasting memories.

WEEK 2's Theme: FOOD!

Each day we will target a different food group, such as fruits, vegetables, desserts, and pizza of course! This week's theme presents a unique opportunity for these children to explore, engage with, and gradually desensitize to various foods in a supportive and non-threatening environment as well as learning food vocabulary and how to request foods.

Benefits:

1. Exposure Therapy: A food-themed summer camp provides structured exposure to different foods in a controlled setting. Through repeated exposure during activities such as cooking classes, sensory exploration, and themed meals, children can become more familiar and comfortable with a wider range of foods.
2. Positive Reinforcement: Encouraging and positive experiences with food in a fun and interactive setting can help shift children's perceptions from aversion to curiosity and interest. Celebrating small victories and achievements can reinforce positive associations with food.
3. Social Interaction: Engaging in food-related activities alongside peers can provide opportunities for social interaction and modeling of appropriate eating behaviors. Peer encouragement and support can further motivate children to try new foods and expand their food preferences.
4. Sensory Exploration: Many children have sensory sensitivities that contribute to their food aversions. A food-themed camp can incorporate sensory play with different textures, colors, and smells, helping children become more comfortable with sensory experiences associated with food.
5. Skill Development: Participating in cooking and food preparation activities can help children develop practical skills related to meal planning, food handling, and kitchen safety. These skills promote independence and confidence in food-related tasks.
6. Parent Consultation: Involving parents in the camp experience allows for continuity of strategies and support at home. Parents can gain insight into their child's progress and receive guidance on how to continue fostering positive eating habits beyond the camp setting.

A food-themed summer camp provides a structured and supportive environment for children to explore, experiment, and learn more food vocabulary. By fostering positive associations, providing sensory experiences, and promoting social interaction, children can develop greater comfort and confidence with a wider range of foods, laying the foundation for improved eating habits, requesting food, and overall well-being.

The camp will also feature our Play It Super Safe Program! The Play It Super Safe program, www.abygtherapy.com/autism, is a service offered through our speech therapy clinic. It is a comprehensive initiative designed to support children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)and children with decreased auditory, speech, and language skills in general. This program works well in various social and recreational settings. It focuses on helping the child inclusively respond to their environment helping them thrive, learn, and interact comfortably with their peers. It is a musical intervention that the campers will benefit from simply by listening to the therapeutic music. For a detailed description of the program, visit: www.abygtherapy.com/autism.

Implemented within our summer camp, the Play It Super Safe program will involve several key components:

1. Specialized Intervention: On top of speech, language, and fine motor intervention, campers will also participate in a musical intervention evidenced to help with regulation of the central nervous system in turn helping with speech and language skills and much more!
2. Specialized Training: Camp staff are certified speech-language pathologists or occupational therapists with experience and training to understand the unique needs of children who are late talkers and/or children with ASD.
3. Structured Activities: The program will offer a variety of structured activities designed to promote social interaction, communication skills, and sensory exploration. These activities will be carefully planned to accommodate the diverse interests and abilities of all campers.
4. Visual Supports and Schedules: Visual supports such as visual schedules, picture cards, and social stories will be used to help children navigate daily camp routines and activities, reducing anxiety and promoting independence.
5. Positive Reinforcement and Encouragement: Camp counselors will use positive reinforcement and encouragement to motivate children, building their confidence and self-esteem throughout the camp experience.
6. Community Support: Selected community leaders will visit with the children based on the week's theme to allow real-life learning and exposure.
7. Collaboration with Parents/Guardians: Open communication and collaboration with parents/guardians will be emphasized to ensure continuity of support between home and camp. Feedback will be solicited and incorporated to continually improve the program.

Overall, the Play It Super Safe program aims to create a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment where children who are late talkers and children with ASD can participate fully in the summer camp experience, build friendships, and create lasting memories.