Summer Survival: Activities for Kids with Disabilities

It might not be too late for camp! Camps start on different dates, and you might get lucky and still snag a spot. Summer programs can be an invaluable source of growth and development for our kids, supplementing what the school district has to offer, such as extended school year (ESY), and providing enrichment once school is out for the summer. Every year, the Undivided Research Team puts together a list of camps and classes that give our kids the opportunity to make peer connections, improve social skills, have fun while learning through STEM activities and visual and performing arts, and get some physical activity to boot! For this year's list, check out our Camps and Travel decoder.

Takeaways

• There is something here for everybody. We found camps across a range of subjects and formats, from physical activity to STEM to improv, so focus on your child’s strengths, preferences, needs, and interests to find the right match.
• Camp at home! Some camps, such as the ASTEME Learning Center and Bloom OT, send out supply boxes of supplemental materials with different themes — or, in the case of ASTEME, mystery activity boxes — that your camper can look forward to using at camp (and which you won’t even have to think about providing!).
• Reframe the summer as an experiment. “Instead of using this time to shore up deficiencies, use this as a blank slate to explore and expose your child to their interests,” recommends Debbie Steinberg Kuntz, Marriage and Family Therapist. Kuntz collaborated with Dr. Temple Grandin on how to approach this summer’s unique challenges. They recommend working with your child to create a schedule that helps broaden and expand what being at home means. Share with your child that this entire summer is an “experiment.” Ask your child, “What do you think we should add to this experiment to help you to get the outcomes you want this summer?"
• Find ways to stay social. For kids who want to be social, but large groups feel intimidating, there are virtual options that allow socialization in a way that connects them with other kids with similar interests. For instance, check out an Outschool class that connects children with similar passions. Try telling your child, “Let’s run an experiment. Let’s find the people who like to do what you do online (such as LEGOs, painting, etc.). Let’s try it once and see what works.” Online improv classes are another fun way to broaden social skills in a format that feels like play.

We’re all itching to get out there and enjoy the summer, but if you’re wondering about how to keep your kids working on developing skills while still enjoying all that this season has to offer, we’ve got you covered.

• Play these memory and control-building games from our article Tips for Building Better Emotional Regulation.
• Explore cheap and easy activities to keep kids engaged, progressing, and — most importantly — outside in our article on Moving and Learning at Home.
• Learn all about functional life skills! To help our kids gain independence with their morning rituals, read our article Getting Ready for the Day. Learn about money, ordering, budgeting, communication, and more by setting up and enjoying a pretend restaurant in our article, Budgeting, Diner Style!
• Teach kids about their disability to help them build self-confidence, self-discovery, and advocacy. Check out advice from an expert about how to talk to kids about disability in our article Disability and Medical Advocacy, and for deeper conversation, check out these great Kids' Resources on Disability Awareness and Acceptance that can help spark a discussion about disability acceptance and self-advocacy! If you’re searching for some advocacy books for yourself to read this summer, check out our article filled with resources for parents!

We’re focusing on getting out of the house and exploring the beauty (and affordability!) of the great outdoors. Whether that means a weekend in nature, a staycation to just get out of the house, a road trip, or a local museum day — we've gathered some options to help you break up the groundhog-day routine!

• If you have a projector, a backyard movie night is a special treat your children can look forward to all week. Find some good films or tv shows to screen in our Kids’ Resources on Disability Awareness and Acceptance.
• Explore this user-updated Google map which is a great reference for the most up-to-date information on beaches that provide wheelchair accessibility.
• Visit a state or national park with a discount pass.
• Traveling by RV can give your family the freedom of the open road while staying safe and enjoying the comforts of what feels like home. If you have a motorhome, and your gear...where are you headed? (Hot tip: if you're really open to adventure, seasoned RVers tell us to check the app Free Roam for a comprehensive map of camping and boondocking sites, and Hipcamp where you can find and book tent camping, RV parks, cabins, treehouses, and glamping.)
• Explore this list of Open State Park Campgrounds, regularly updated by the State Parks Department, which provides information about which sites are open. Check out this website for wheelchair-accessible campgrounds, beaches, state parks, picnic areas, and more.

Find more activities in our article Accessible Outdoor Activities in California for all the information!

While most kids can't wait to dive into the sandy beach days, fun family parties, and the dazzling Fourth of July fireworks, our kiddos might find the sights, sounds, and feels of summer a bit overwhelming. Summer can be a real challenge for kids and parents alike, but guess what? A little preparation and planning can help kids with sensory issues get the most out of summertime. Occupational Therapist Katie Krcal has these tips for families:

Tips for summer parties

Socialization & overwhelm

• "Identify a safe space: discuss and locate a safe space for the party. This can be any safe location away form the action of the party. I typically recommend a bedroom or your car. If you choose the car, make sure your child is attended by an adult at all times and the air conditioning is on. In that safe space, bring some preferred comfort items, soft music, or anything that helps your child calm.

• Identify a signal: it is so important that we are proactive in preventing overwhelm. This can involve knowing your child’s nonverbal signals that they are approaching overwhelm. For older children, you can create a signal or a secret word that means they need a break. Be sure to grant this whenever possible.

• Don’t push it: advocate for your child with your friends and family. If your child has difficulty being around groups, greeting others, or playing with peers, discuss this with the adults at the party. Help your friends and family understand that this is challenging, and to not push greetings, engagement, and to grant breaks."

Food

• "Safe foods: pack a few safe foods to ensure your child will not go hungry or feel overwhelmed by the food options at the party.

• Food selection: let the child be involved in creating their plate. If it is a buffet, have the child walk along with you an choose what they would like on their plate. Try and take a backseat approach to this, gently guiding them down the line and not forcing any items to go on their plate that they don’t want to."

Sensory challenges

• "Noise: summer parties can be full of noise. Music, conversation, splashing, fireworks all going on at once can overwhelm anyone. To assist, bring some noise cancelling headphones and identify a quiet space that your child can take a break in when it gets to be too much.

• Touch: summer parties are often filled with touch based games like water balloons, swimming, sand, and crafts. Help your child engage at their speed. If they want to skip an activity, don’t force them. Let them engage at their level, modeling engaging in crafts using tools like a paintbrush or a sand shovel.

• Movement: summer parties are filled with opportunities for movement. Activities like swimming, tag, slip and slide, etc. can help sensory-seekers engage in activities and get the input they need. For children who are hesitant to movement, help them engage at their level. This could include some floating pool toys at the steps of the pool, engaging in seated party games like sidewalk chalk, and being the person who applies the dish soap to the slip and slide.

• Light: assist with light sensitivity on those sunny summer days by using some protection like sunglasses or hats. Also, get the kids involved in a shady spot, or playing hide and seek.

• Heat: summer parties can be hot, especially if they are in a park or with limited shade. Pack a few things to beat the heat. This can include lots of water and cold, hydrating snacks. Some of my favorites include fruit, cucumbers and a popsicle, if available. Other items include cooling towels, portable fans, and sun protection."

Tips for the beach

• "Prep: if this is your child’s first trip to the beach, prep them for the sand. Get some kinetic sand, or a sand box, and work your way up to a visit to a local lake or ocean beach. This way they are familiar with the feeling of the sand before your big summer travel.

• Shade: provide shade for your child. There are several options out there for a range of beaches and budgets. Some tents can double as shade and a break spot, like this one.

• Sand: some kids have difficulty with the feeling of sand. While it always feels like sand gets everywhere, there are a few things we can do about it. Wearing a quick drying rash guard can help kids dry quickly and protect their body from sand to some degree. Having a space where the sand is covered is another great way to provide a break. Having some water for kids to rinse off with is another idea. This can be the ocean or lake, or a simple bucket of water is rinse with."

Tips for fireworks

• "Prime kids in advance: discuss that there may be fireworks in the days leading up to the holiday and on the day of. Describe the sounds to them, and maybe watch a YouTube video or two. Also talk about the duration of the fireworks show, if there is one in your area. This way, they can hear the sounds at a controlled volume.

• Provide sound protection: this can look like noise-canceling headphones, ear plugs (like Loops for older kids), or simply teaching them to cover their ears. As a parent, you know what level of protection they need best.

• Discuss a safe space: if you will not be home, talk about a space in advance where your child can go if they are feeling overwhelmed. I recommend an inner room of a home or even the car. We are aiming for quiet and cozy.

• Bring a comfort item: this can help them regulate a little more.

• Co-regulate: you are your child’s biggest source of regulation. Be there with them and model coping strategies like deep breaths, wearing ear protection, and simply being a calming presence in the midst of chaos.”