You might remember summer as carefree days with friends and no responsibilities. As a parent or caregiver, it probably feels very different – summer is full of joy, but also a juggling act of schedules, activities, and family dynamics.
For families of children with autism or other developmental differences, summer comes with a few extra layers. From keeping up with therapy appointments to navigating sensory needs at places like the beach or pool, outings may take more planning and flexibility.
This article offers practical, supportive tips to help you create a summer that works for your child – and allows your whole family to thrive.
Easing the Transition to New Routines
Routines provide a sense of comfort and predictability for children. The structure of the school day helps them know what to expect and when, which can reduce anxiety and make it easier to manage transitions. When summer break arrives and that daily structure disappears, it can lead to uncertainty.
Here are a few simple ways to add structure to the summer months without over-scheduling:
- Create a loose daily schedule. Having a general routine – like morning activities, outdoor play, quiet time, and bedtime – can help your child feel more grounded throughout the day.
- Use visual schedules or timers. These tools give kids a visual reference for what’s coming next, making transitions smoother and expectations clearer.
- Stick to consistent bedtimes and mealtimes. Even if the rest of the day is more relaxed, keeping these anchor points steady helps provide a sense of routine. Summer bedtime doesn’t necessarily need to be the same as what it was during the school year, but we do recommend keeping a consistent time across the summer months.
- Be flexible, but predictable. You don’t need to plan every minute, but offering a daily rhythm with some built-in flexibility helps kids feel safe while still enjoying summer’s spontaneity.
If you need help, your child’s Westside therapy team can help you create visual schedules and routines to help you ease into summer.
Managing Sensory Sensitivities at the Beach or Pool
For children with sensory sensitivities, the beach or pool can be both exciting and overwhelming. Loud noises, bright sunlight, the feel of sand, the scent of sunscreen, and the sensation of water on the skin can all trigger sensory overload. What’s fun for some can feel uncomfortable or distressing for others.
Tips to support your child:
- Practice at home. Use a sandbox, water table, or small bins filled with water or sand to help your child gradually get used to different textures in a low-pressure setting.
It’s also a great idea to practice applying sunscreen at home. The smell and feel of sunscreen can be upsetting for some children, and the beach or pool isn’t the best place to discover that! Try introducing sunscreen when you’re not in a rush, and consider experimenting with different types – sprays, lotions, sticks – to see what your child tolerates best.
Pro tip: Involve your child in the process. Let them start by applying it to their legs or arms, where it may feel less intrusive. Avoid beginning with the face, which can be more distressing if they’re not yet comfortable. Giving them some control can make the experience more manageable.
- Go slow. Let your child observe their surroundings before jumping in. Sometimes watching from a distance or dipping a toe in the water first can make all the difference. Allow them to move at their own pace.
Travel Tips for Sensory-Friendly Vacations
Whether you’re hopping on a plane or just taking a day trip, preparation is key. Children with sensory differences may seek extra input (hyposensitive) or avoid it (hypersensitive). If you’re unsure about your child’s sensory needs, their occupational therapist can offer personalized guidance and recommendations.
Tips for a smoother travel experience:
- Bring familiar items. Comfort items like a favorite blanket, stuffed animal, toy, fidgets, or preferred snacks can provide a sense of security and familiarity during travel and in new places.
- Use social stories or visual guides. Prepare your child with a simple, visual step-by-step explanation of what to expect, whether it’s going through airport security or staying at a hotel.
- Pack for sensory needs. Noise-cancelling headphones, sunglasses, fidget toys, and even a weighted lap pad can help your child cope with sensory overload on planes, in crowds, or during long car rides.
- Build in downtime. Try not to overpack your itinerary. Scheduling quiet breaks between activities gives your child time to recharge and can help prevent meltdowns or burnout.
- Practice ahead of time. If you’re flying or going on a long drive, try role-playing travel scenarios at home. Watch videos of airport security lines, or take a short “practice run” car ride to help your child know what to expect.
Managing Screen Time
One of the most common concerns during summer is how to manage screen time, and how much is too much. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers age-specific guidelines to help families create healthy, developmentally appropriate screen time habits.
AAP Screen Time Recommendations by Age
Infants (0–18 months):
- Avoid screen media use, except for video chatting with family and friends.
Toddlers (18–24 months):
- If you choose to introduce digital media, ensure it’s high-quality programming.
- Engage in co-viewing with your child to help them understand what they’re seeing.
Preschoolers (2–5 years):
- Limit screen use to one hour per day of high-quality programming.
- Co-view with your child to help them understand and apply what they see to the world around them.
Children 6 years and older:
- Place consistent limits on the time spent using media and the types of media.
- Ensure that screen time does not interfere with adequate sleep, physical activity, and other behaviors essential to health.
- Designate media-free times together, such as dinner or driving, as well as media-free locations at home, such as bedrooms.
At Westside, we’re not here to prescribe how much screen time your child should have. Every family is different. For some children, screens can be calming, regulating, and even educational. For others, they may be overstimulating or trigger a dopamine surge that makes it tough to turn them off without a meltdown. What matters most is finding what works best for your family’s unique dynamic.
We do recommend creating a clear, consistent media plan and posting it somewhere visible. This plan might outline:
- Specific times of day when screens are allowed
- Which types of screens are permitted (TV, tablet, gaming devices, etc.)
- What types of content are allowed (e.g., Gaming Apps, Netflix, YouTube)
- Tasks or responsibilities to complete before screen time
Screen time can be a great motivator to build skills. For example, if your child is working on fine motor development, you might ask them to color or do a craft for 10 minutes before turning on a show. Older kids might be asked to complete small chores, like picking up their room or watering plants.
The goal isn’t perfection. It’s predictability, balance, and making screen time work for you.
How Westside Can Help
Summer can be a great time to re-evaluate what is working well for your child, and areas that they might benefit from more support. At Westside, we offer one-on-one therapy in a variety of specialties, including Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, feeding therapy, and occupational therapy. All sessions are led by our exceptional pediatric therapists in bright, kid-friendly clinics throughout Chicagoland.
For more information on Westside services, please click the link below or call us at (815) 469-1500.
