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Remember, when school breaks come around, every child is trying to transition from a scheduled day to one with significantly more free time!
Every child could probably use a little support transitioning from a busy, planned school day, to a summer day laden with free time! But, for a child with special needs, the management of this transition is even more important. You want them to have a fun, stress-free summer, but you don’t want them to regress on key skills such as socialization, self-regulation, academics, etc…
An unmanaged summer schedule can create disorder and stress at home, especially for younger children with special needs.
Sure, breaks can be essential and very good for allowing your child to regroup, decompress, and destress. However, also maintaining structure within your child’s summer schedule can help them feel less anxious or overwhelmed.
Make sure you are clear on your child’s current IEP progress. What skills do they seem to have mastered? What skills are they just starting to pick up? What are their strengths and struggles? Understanding your child’s progress can help you structure a summer break that helps your child maintain mastered skills, and avoid regression of newer skills.
Extended School Year (ESY) is also a service for which your child may qualify. This summer program is specifically designed to work with students on some, or all of their IEP goals. Qualification for this program is decided by the IEP team (of which you are a member), and dependent upon the student’s needs.
Include your child in making a summer schedule! Write down ideas of what “should/must be done” and also the “want to do’s”… for example:
Once you have a list, organize it into a daily or weekly schedule. List approximate times and and include “free time” as an activity.
You can obviously make your schedule as specific or as general as you want. Everyone just needs to know what is on the list for each day. Use a whiteboard/blackboard or visuals/pictures to post the schedule – this is both accessible and easily adjusted.
As a parent you know this… having you child at home full-time can create a range of emotions for you both!
It may be exciting, stressful, happy… and you may both be feeling different emotions at different times. So, remember to take breaks. Try to have a space that provides what your child usually needs to destress; a space that is calm, quiet, can be made dark if necessary, has the distractions they enjoy, etc…
Then remember to take this time for yourself as well if you can. As a parent of a child with special needs you are constantly running, and busy doing things for others. It may be hard to find the time, but even if it is only 15 minutes… nap, call a friend, eat some ice cream, exercise… do something for you!
For the best summer fun, schedule play/hang-out time with faces that are familiar to your child. Having time with friends can be fun, distracting, and keeps your child socialized over the break – making “back to school” an easier time.
You can even make some suggestions for activities that help you child maintain/build skills:
Regardless of the activity – even if it is just sitting together – socializing is an important part of summer.
See if you can schedule time to be active with your child. Exercise is important for everyone.
Particularly for a child with special needs, it can be a great release of tension & anxiety. It is a great way to outwardly express joy, and can even create some wonderful teaching moments.
You know you child and what they are capable of. Explore new activities with them, or enjoy old favorites.
Some students still need to learn or practice how to have leisure time. Use the summer break to explore new things your child may or may not like.
Just like continued socialization, continued structured time spent on “school work” can help your child transition more smoothly back into school after a break. I put “school work” in quotes because it doesn’t have to feel like a classroom for your child – make it fun. Maybe it is flashcards, or a board game that helps them with new skills. Perhaps it’s scheduled reading time, or creating a card for special relative or friend. It could involve a puzzle or work with stacking or shapes.
This is again all about what you know you child needs and what they were working on during the school year. When they try hard and/or succeed, tell them how proud their teacher will be when they see the progress they are making!
The key to all this, is to have the best summer, you probably need to do some planning. Don’t just let the summer overtake you. Know that it is coming, and plan for how it is best handled in your household. Maybe this means ESY, or a day camp – that is great! Just know how you are going to proceed, and make sure that you are prepared for change… because we all know that if one thing is certain, not everything will go to plan!
Remember, if you need help advocating for your child in school, I am just a call away, and I offer a free initial consultation.
Leah Sansone, M.Ed. | 919-510-3180 | Rtadvocacy.com
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