Working with highly active campers.

Dear Bob:

Every summer we have a number of campers who have an extraordinary level of energy. Some people call these children "hyperactive," others just say they are overenthusiastic.

My question concerns my staff, who, after all, are the ones who work with these campers every day. What advice can you give us about working with these children?

Practical Camp Director

Dear Practical:

You are not alone in your concern about highly active campers. In addition to generally enthusiastic youngsters, camps across the country reported an increase in the number of children enrolled last summer either with the diagnosis of "ADD/ADHD" or on Ritalin (or some similar medication). Indeed, about 3 to 5 percent of American school children have an attention deficit disorder of some type, and more of them are coming to camp.

Many children can, from time to time, act "hyperactive." Hyperactivity can be caused by many "non-clinical" factors - excitement about being at camp; anxiety about being away from home or in the company of unfamiliar people; or nervousness about performing in a new activity.

There are also "clinical" reasons for a child's overactive behavior. These include: 1. having an attention deficit disorder that is organic (based in the brain); 2. having had a trauma (death of a parent, divorce, etc.), from which a child has not yet recovered; or 3. being over-stimulated by highly charged material or information (which may or may not be sexual in nature - like having seen an "X" rated video, etc.)

It is important for counselors to know whether a camper has a true attention deficit disorder, since campers with ADD/ADHD are not simply being defiant or consciously misbehaving, they are showing the effects of their disorder. Children with ADD/ADHD often exhibit behavior that is not willful, such as not listening, "messing up" on rules that were just talked about, or going ahead without permission of the staff.

It is important to note that some children who look "hyper" may be sending us a "coded message" that is actually a cry for help. In some cases the help is for better self-control, while in other cases it may be a sign that a child is struggling with an emotional injury he or she cannot cope with on his or her own.

The good news is that, at camp, most of the same approaches and strategies that work with campers who have ADD/ADHD can be used successfully with all campers who are highly active. For example, most youngsters with ADD/ADHD need more frequent and more immediate feedback from counselors than other children. They need to know when they are doing well and when they are about to go astray or do something not so well.

Children with ADD/ADHD also respond better when feedback is positive, when instructions are simplified, when commands and rules are stated positively (when they are told what to do as opposed to what not to do), when the counselor makes better eye contact with them or uses light, appropriate, reassuring touch, like a hand on the shoulder. All of these tactics would work just as well with other children who are highly active - or with most campers in general!

Children who don't have ADD, who can control their behavior if they try, need help being accountable for their actions. One of the ways to do this is to stress clearly and simply what your expectations as a counselor are, and then to be equally clear about the consequences. For children who do not have an organically based problem, and even for children who can gain better control with some effort on their part, such things as earning privilege or taking time out are effective strategies. Remember that your goal as a counselor is to help children master new behaviors. This means being firm, without humiliating a child. Even if they are angry with you, you can help them do some good growing up!

Other strategies that help children who are highly active include: In the bunk or with the group, have the rules stated clearly and post them so campers can see them. Keep the rules simple. Have campers repeat them back to you so you can confirm that they understand what is expected. Put your commands and rules in positive terms. Break tasks down into smaller steps so they are easier to follow.

"Prompt" campers with what you want from them. That means giving diem a hint or suggestion before they do something. With very active campers, using rewards works, but you will find that you will have to change the reward frequently, since highly active children get "bored" quickly with whatever you use as the "prize." Try rewards like a special time with you, special time in a favorite activity or getting to help out with something fun - like helping to light the camp fire that night, or blowing the whistle at a game, etc. Good supervision in anything you do with an active child is essential!

When coming to the end of an activity period, give the group a several-minute "warning" that the activity is about to come to a close. This helps everyone get used to the idea that they will have to stop and put things away. Keep highly active children nearer to you - the closer they are, the easier you can see when they are about to "go off' and the easier it is to monitor them.

Also, get extra help if you can. A junior counselor or counselor-in-training (CIT) can help free you up to spend some extra time with a camper who needs it. But be sure not to spend so much time with special needs that the needs of the entire group get sacrificed.

With some care, counselors can have more success helping "fast kids," so that they and the children thrive at camp.

Bob Ditter is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in child and adolescent treatment. Camp directors are invited to write to Bob at: Bob Ditter, "In the Trenches," 93 Union St., Ste. 307, Newton, MA02159. Letters should be signed, although requests for confidentiality will be honored. "In the Trenches" is sponsored by American Income Life Insurance.