Whether you have a busy summer with lots of traveling or a more low-key summer in town, we have tips for you! Summer provides many rich opportunities for strengthening your child’s development through play.
Read below for our Top Summer Tips
When traveling
If flying is a source of stress or anxiety for your child:
Consider “heavy work” before boarding such as helping to carry or drag heavy luggage, taking the stairs, jumping over cracks on the floor, doing wall or chair push ups.
Stretching, taking deep breaths, and practicing positive mindfulness.
Listening to calming music, holding a comfort item such as a stuffed animal, or smelling a calming smell (lavender oil, mom’s perfume).
While in-flight consider non-screen activities for your child such as:
Theraputty or non-messy putty/playdough
Handwriting or visual motor activity books (mazes, dot to dots, hidden pictures)
Where’s Waldo books
Sticker books or simple magnet activities
Portable games such as Spot-it (visual perception), Tangrams (visual praxis), or Alphabots (fine motor and letter recognition).
Paracord or braiding crafts are easy to take on the go and great for working on shoe-tying goals.
outdoor play
Unstructured, outdoor play is one of the best ways to support your child’s development over the summer.
Find a playground or a park that they love.
Any opportunities for heavy work will support their nervous system (pushing, pulling, lifting, dragging, climbing, jumping)
Outdoor play has the added bonus of going barefoot on the sand or grass. Be aware, if your child is tactily-defensive, this may be overwhelming to their system. However, if they are enjoying play while barefoot this provides rich sensory input.
Bike riding provides heavy work, balance, and bilateral opportunties
Swimming and water sports provide heavy work and vestibular opportunities
Ball sports and playing catch may be difficult if your child is experiencing praxis or visual challenges. However, in a no-stress and fun context, this is a perfect opportunity to build those skills.
Water play which involves heavy work can support your child’s sensory processing too! For example: gardening, slip and slides, active play such as a sport or game of tag while the sprinklers are on. Just be aware if your child is sensitive to the sensation of being wet, certain water activities may be stressful for them.
in the community
There are lots of outings and activities you can enjoy as a family that will support your child’s development.
Amusement park rides
Trampoline parks or indoor “ninja” playgrounds
Mini golf
Going to the beach
Hiking or going on a nature walk
Riding bikes, scooters, or skateboards together
Discovery Cube or other children’s museums
At home
Family games:
Light strategy games are great for praxis such as Monopoly, Clue, Sorry, Uno, and Rush Hour
Fine motor games such as High Ho Cherry-O, Jenga, Kerplunk, Thin Ice, Mancala, and Hungry Hippos
Visual motor games such as Spot-it and Guess Who
Other activities for at home include:
Fort building for praxis
Obstacle courses
Jumping on a trampoline
Constructional toys such as legos, train tracks, or blocks
Step by step drawing together
Beading or craft activities
Chores (setting the table, taking out the trash, carrying in groceries)
Helping to prep or cook a meal
Your Golden TIcket
The best thing you can do for your child is to take care of yourself. If you are feeling like every day is a battle, your golden ticket is understanding your own state of regulation and level of stress. When we are stressed out, we have less capacity for our kids. If you find you are not responding to or being present for your child in the way you wish, do some things for yourself that bring joy! Take yourself on a “date”, take some time to experience peace yourself to ensure you are well-regulated for your children.
Looking for further resources and tools for your own regulation and holding space for your child’s emotions? Check out Evolving Mothers, an online 6-week course and support group from Kiera Merkovsky LCSW .
Also check out HBCC and The Collaborative Problem Solving Method for more parenting tools and support groups.