Safe, Summer Strategies

Date Published: July 6, 2023
Author: Alania Sabankaya, Behavior Therapist

With summer comes longer and hotter days, and more free time for families. Here are some strategies that can help fulfill sensory needs that are both safe and fun in the summer weather.

A really important tip is to try to provide frequent opportunities to hydrate with water or your child’s favorite cold drink. Another helpful tip is to freeze preferred foods and liquids in popsicle molds for your child’s sensory enjoyment. Note that with the possibility of your child’s daytime care provider or clinic being on summer break, it could be that some of their social needs might need extra engagement. Sometimes, going to school may be more engaging than staying at home. A strategy that could be helpful is to incorporate some activities that your child has done at school previously. This can help provide a sense of their routine while at home for the summer. With more time allowed to focus on special interests, summer can provide great opportunities for your child to relax and practice honing in on their craft. Examples of socially mediated play could be an I-Spy game, an arts and crafts activity, or a guessing game.

Here are some additional tips and strategies:

• Sandboxes for sensory play: Sandboxes can come in all sizes, and can include a variety of toys following a theme, or a mixed array of toys and tools.
• Try seasonal foods through cooking activities: Going to a farmers market in the summertime may be overstimulating for some individuals. Try bringing home some new fruits or vegetables to try cooking campfire style and talk about the experience.
• Build an obstacle course together: Using items from around the house or yard, create a fun course to do together or independently.

These are a few strategies to encourage safe thinking. If you need help with ways to introduce and practice summer strategies, contact your BCBA through CentralReach or ask to discuss the topic during Caregiver Collaboration meetings.

About the Author:

Alania Sabankaya is a Behavior Therapist on the Faces Behavioral Services team and is currently studying to become a BCBA. Faces Behavioral Services is a department of the Pacific Autism Center for Education that supports children with autism in reaching their full potential utilizing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).