Camping with an autistic child: a first night under canvas
A tent is a small, cosy, zip-up den, which many autistic children love. The hard parts are the dark, strange sounds, the walk to the toilet, and no routine. All of them can be planned for.
Practise in the garden
Put the tent up at home first. Play in it in the day, eat a meal in it, then try one night with the back door unlocked. Read the camping story each time. By the real trip, the tent is already home.
Pack the senses
- Own pillow and the usual bedtime comfort.
- A head torch for your child and a lantern left on low in the tent.
- Ear defenders or white noise for night sounds.
- Wellies, warm layers and a hat; cold is a common reason a first night ends early.
- Familiar breakfast and snacks.
The toilet walk
Camp near the toilet block, visit it in daylight, and make the night-time walk a known routine: torch on, hold hands, same path. A potty or a bucket in the porch is fine for a first trip.
Campfire rules
Fire is exciting; say the rule before you light it: ‘We sit on the chairs. Grown-ups touch the fire.' Marshmallows on a long stick with a hand over a hand. If the smoke or the heat is too much, watch from the tent door.
Keep it short
One night, close to home, is a complete success. Leave while it’s going well and the second trip will be asked for.
Make the free story first
Type your child’s name and get “Sam goes camping” as a picture story: one picture and one sentence a page, in their name. Read it a few times before the day, then take it with you. Print it, save it as a PDF, or read it in the Now & Next app with every routine as a story too.
Make the story (free) Open the appKits that go with this guide
- Bedtime kit (£3.49): A bedtime board, picture cards and a going-to-bed visual story.
Written by a dad to an autistic son with ADHD. This is everyday parenting advice, not medical or therapy advice. If you’re worried about your child, talk to your GP, health visitor or school SENCo.