With busy school schedules turning into relaxed summer days, supporting your child’s developmental progress may become more challenging. There are still ways for your child with autism to continue progressing through a fun, interactive, and structured daily plan! Similar to how our autism services in Pittsburgh, PA, and our many other locations blend impactful learning opportunities with play-based activities, a similar strategy can be used during summer vacation.
These helpful tips may reduce learning regression and build towards developmental achievements:
Establish a Schedule That Promotes Functional Development
Organize a stable daily schedule, while remaining mindful of their unique sensory activities. For many children with autism, a visual calendar or picture board is a great option when planning a daily schedule.
Some things to consider when scheduling are:
- Include your child in the process
- Encourage your child to make suggestions
- Explain why certain activities are important if they have any questions.
Reinforce Positive Habits Through Daily Activities
Practicing important daily habits consistently is a great way to keep structure in your child’s day, while encouraging independent skill development.
- Morning Routines:
- Schedule a designated wake-up time.
- Incorporate daily day-preparation habits (getting dressed and brushing teeth).
- Meal Time:
- Prepare healthy meals for your child.
- Involve your child in the meal preparation process (setting the table).
- Use meal preparation as a medium to teach your child valuable lessons like following instructions or measuring ingredients.
- Get Outside:
- Schedule outdoor activities whether it is a walk or even trying yoga exercises.
- Find a local exercise group for kids to promote social growth and personal wellness!
Multipurpose Activities to Promote Growth and Wellbeing
Dedicate time each day to work on particular areas of growth, incorporating familiar toys or activities.
- Incorporate academic lessons into a game.
- Schedule playtime with friends or other family members to practice socialization.
- Practice motor skills by playing with fun puzzles or interactive building toys.
Incorporate Rewards or Break Times After Successful Sessions
Integrate peaceful rest breaks after stimulating play time, social interactions, or exciting sensory experiences. These will help promote a calm mindset while reducing anxiety, tension, or frustrations that may arise throughout the day.
HHF’s behavior therapy services incorporate a similar approach to the tips provided above. Our ABA therapy sessions are a wonderful complement to an at-home summer schedule. Our encouraging, play-based ABA therapy blends an evidence-based approach with personalized learning plans to help our clients progress in learning, behavior, communication, and social development.
Best of all, collaborative family involvement is a critical role in all our BCBA and RBT jobs in Philadelphia. When your child receives inclusive ABA therapy at Helping Hands Family, teaching parents and caregivers how to bring the benefits of ABA therapy home is a top priority.
