When school lets out for summer, many parents may want their kids to relax and enjoy not having a routine. But while childhood summers offer treasured time with families, the complete absence of routine and structure can be difficult for students on the spectrum.
Jodi Moore, co-director at TLS Central, said students benefit from a schedule and consistency.
“When you have these developmental delays, every minute counts, as far as intervention, therapy and support,” she says. “And when they go 12 weeks without it, they come back in the fall and it’s really challenging to transition them back into the school year.”
When school resumes, it can often take a month or two for students to regain the behaviors and learning they lost over the summer. Classroom behaviors are amplified because students are suddenly expected to follow a schedule and guidelines that they haven’t been accustomed to all summer.
Jodi said there are things parents can do to keep their child engaged and learning over the summer.
- Enroll the child in a structured program. Local programs and summer camps offer predictability and consistency for a child over the summer. Many students will be attending summer camp at TLS. Funding options for TLS summer camp include the community respite waiver, Delaware County funding, the autism scholarship or Medicaid. Contact us for more information or current openings at our four locations.
- Look for programs in the community. Check out community programs such as the YMCA, or the local library’s schedule of events, and try to attend on a regular basis.
- Have a schedule. Even if a child will be home all summer, adhere to a schedule. Have them get up and dressed at a certain time, eat breakfast, play outside, etc. Make a schedule and communicate that schedule to them.
- Use visual support. If the kids are old enough, use clocks and timers to visually enforce the schedule. Have the schedule written out with words or pictures so they can follow and understand.
- Communicate changes. If a change in the schedule is going to occur, be sure to communicate that clearly so they can prepare and adjust.
- Stay consistent with therapies. If a child is not enrolled in a full summer camp program, consider continuing their speech or occupational therapies over summer break. Little pieces of consistency are better than nothing at all.
For more information about keeping your child engaged and learning over the summer, or to inquire about our summer camp program, contact us at 614-844-5433.