Special Needs Summer Camps Provide Unforgettable Adventures for Kids and Teens Living with Asthma

A majority of the time when people think of special needs children they don’t picture a child with asthma, but kids living with asthma struggle to maintain a normal, consistent routine. Parents of children with asthma know the stress of dealing with asthma can affect the whole family, especially when symptoms and attacks are severe.  According to Medline Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, approximately 20 million people in America have been diagnosed with asthma and approximately 9 million of them are children. If you are a kid with asthma or a parent caring for a child with asthma, you are not alone.

Dealing with the Every Day Reality of Childhood Asthma

Asthma is often provoked by allergens such as mold, pollen or animals, irritants such as air pollution or cigarette smoke, changes in weather,
exercise, or infections such as the common cold or flu. Many children suffer symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, chest tightness or shortness of breath in the early morning and during the night. Parents of kids with asthma must manage and attend to these symptoms every day and regular medication or treatment is often necessary. It is essential that as your child grows older he or she  understands how to manage asthma carefully and effectively. If children and parents work together kids can gain independence and live a fully active life in spite of asthma.

Youth Summer Camps for Kids with Asthma

Oftentimes children with asthma are unable to participate in athletic and outdoor activities due to the potential for irritation created by exercise, weather changes and allergens. Generally at home and school someone experienced with or trained to handle asthma attacks  and emergencies is available to help in any situation, but the rest of the time there is no guarantee your child will have the support he or she needs. This makes it difficult for parents to feel comfortable letting kids go on school trips, attend summer camp, stay with friends overnight and other common experiences other children take for granted. Luckily it is easy to find special needs summer camps for kids with asthma and give your child the chance to have an unforgettable adventure.

Summer camps created especially for kids with asthma are more common than parents may think. In various states in the U.S. and in Canada many summer camps offer specific dates for children with this unique special need. These camps offer day and overnight camp programs that include various sports, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, canoeing, arts, music and much more. All activities are monitored by staff members trained to manage asthma symptoms and attacks in any situation and a certified medical professional is available if needed. Summer camp staff also help kids monitor medication and stay on schedule. Asthma summer camps can help teach kids to be responsible and cautious, while having an exciting time and exploring life fully.

Helping Parents Cope

In a family affected by asthma it’s not only the child that experiences stress and is affected by the illness. Parents also carry fear and anxiety, as well as sympathy and sadness. Seeing a child sick is never an easy task. Special needs and asthma summer camps can give parents some much needed time off for relaxation and  rejuvenation. The knowledge that your child is attending a special needs camp and is safe in a supportive, stable and inspiring environment, makes  giving kids the freedom to travel on a journey of self discovery much simpler.

There are also many resources available online in in local areas to support families dealing with asthma. Ask your doctor for more information on community resources near you and explore websites like Medline Plus, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, and the American Lung Association.

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