Worried about overstimulation this summer? 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 Kelli Smith and Occupational Therapist Katie Krcal have these tips for families:
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."
For all the above: try a sensory diet. “The real idea behind the sensory diet is self-regulation and to find that just-right place for our children [sensorily] so they can actually function,” Occupational Therapist Kelli Smith says. “It’s really to help our children understand why they may like something or not like something.” Some examples include wearing noise-canceling headphones when overstimulated by sound, wearing compression and/or weighted clothing to reduce physical anxiety from sensory overwhelm, or exploring sensory rooms, which can help kids take a break from feelings of overwhelm and help them regulate when seeking more sensory input. Read more tips for sensory processing issues in our article Sensory Processing Disorder and Sensory Diets.
"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."
"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.”
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 in California 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
When summer break hits, routines often go out the window, and that can seriously throw off sleep. Between later bedtimes, excitement about the days ahead, or even anxiety about the lack of structure, it’s no surprise that sleep schedules get disrupted. And just like us, kids who don’t get enough rest can struggle to focus, follow directions, or even just get along with others. Sleep plays a huge role in how kids feel and behave.
Many parents are all too familiar with the challenge of getting kids to fall asleep — and stay asleep! So what can parents do to help kids get the rest they need — whether they’re staying up too late watching movies, sleeping in too long, or having trouble winding down without the usual school-day routine?
The best thing you can do is try to stick to that original sleep routine as much as possible. For example, if you’re traveling across different time zones, having an earlier dinner to keep the same bedtime may help with the adjustment process on the first day. You can also ease into the change by slowly shifting your child’s bedtime a few days before a trip if that will help with the different time zone when you get to your destination.
Enter sleep hygiene: healthy habits, behaviors and environmental factors to help your child have a good night’s sleep. It’s a big factor in sleep health and something you can do at home, especially as kids get older and may want to stay up texting friends, watching tv, or playing games during the summer. Check out our tip tips in our article Top 10 Sleep Hygiene Tips for Kids and Teens.
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.
Yes, summer often means more free time — and for many kids, that translates to more screen time. As parents, summer break is a great time to hit pause and rethink our kids’ tech habits. With more downtime, it’s easy for screen time — especially gaming — to take over. That’s why it’s so important for us to set clear boundaries. Licensed Clinical Psychologist Erin Cantwell, PhD, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Doctoral Extern Alishia Quadri explains how establishing healthy tech habits, managing expectations, and guiding kids toward more face-to-face interactions can create a healthier balance. It’s not about cutting out screens entirely — it’s about creating balance and building stronger connections both online and off.
They also share that instead of battling over the controller, try leaning in. Engaging with your child during their gaming sessions isn’t just about watching them play, it’s a chance to step into their world and connect in meaningful ways.
Vacations are supposed to be a break, but for families of kids with disabilities, travel itself can be the biggest challenge. Whether you're road-tripping to grandma’s or flying somewhere new, unpredictable environments (tight spaces, long waits, sensory overload!) can test everyone’s patience.
Stick to your usual routine as much as possible, even if it's just keeping mealtimes or bedtime rituals consistent. And before you hit the road or take to the skies, prep your child for the changes ahead. Pack plenty of snacks, favorite activities, and comfort items like noise-canceling headphones or a cozy blanket to help them stay regulated.
Bathroom stops? Give a heads-up! Let your child know when and where you’ll be stopping so it doesn’t catch them off guard. And when it comes to sleeping in a new place, whether it’s a hotel or a relative’s house, help ease anxiety by showing pictures ahead of time.
And let’s be real, behavior challenges will probably pop up. Travel can throw everyone off, and your patience will be tested at some point. Before you leave, take a minute to think through a few go-to strategies—for helping your child and yourself stay regulated when things get tough. Setting a few simple ground rules ahead of time can give your child a sense of structure. Go over them together, write them down, or even create a little visual reminder to bring along.
And if there’s time before a long car ride or flight, try to get in some movement: jumping, stretching, even a dance party. A little exercise can help burn off nervous energy and make sitting still feel less stressful (for everyone). You can also make your own travel Social Story.
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!
Adventuring in California?
Whether you’re hitting the open road in an RV, flying across the world, or setting up camp in a state park, we’ve got you covered with these ideas for family travel this summer! Plan a trip for everyone to one of the Best Vacation Spots for Kids with Disabilities. And if going somewhere farther from home, be sure to review our airplane travel tips, plus tips for flying with a service dog. And if you want to take to the open road, here are our Road Trip Tips for Kids with Disabilities.
Planning for a disability-friendly day at an amusement park with the kiddos isn’t the easiest thing on our to-do lists. Bright lights, loud noises, long lines, people everywhere — if only there was a guidebook on how to do this…sigh You’re in luck! While prepping for a day at the theme park does require some planning beforehand, it’ll save you tons of time and headaches once you’re there. A little prep now means more smiles and fewer surprises later! To help you get started, we’ve created these theme park guides (with lots of insider tips) to help you navigate everything from disability passes to accessibility, sensory, and medication tips, to food and bathrooms accommodations, and more.
Research strongly supports the social benefits of inclusion. Effective inclusion gives children a sense of belonging and ensures that they will have access to the same extracurricular opportunities as their peers. Make sure your child has equal opportunities to participate in activities that interest them, like choir or drama, with appropriate support.
Summer’s a great time to explore therapies that feel more like fun than work! Horse therapy (hippotherapy) offers kids the chance to build strength and confidence while connecting with gentle, empathetic animals. Art in therapy lets kids get creative while supporting emotional expression and sensory needs — think of it as healing through paint and play. And music therapy uses rhythm, melody, and movement to boost everything from communication to social skills, making it a joyful way to grow and connect.
Adolescence and puberty is hard for everyone. Joining a group of like-minded children can help our kids cope in a safe space with many of the challenges of socialization and puberty they face. Finding a local community or social group, or even a virtual group, can be a great option. Look for social and recreational programs that focus on communication and social differences through fun group activities (such as art classes, swimming, horseback riding, and movie nights) as well as relationship building, self-care skills (for example, personal hygiene and positive emotional and behavioral practices), and self-determination and individual autonomy. For example, PEERS at UCLA offers social skills groups for teens and their parents, and even offers a virtual program.
Many family-centered community activities can be an opportunity to network with other parents and connect children to peers, too. Remember that some aspects of raising children are the same whether they have disabilities or not. Some opportunities and resources in your community may include the following:
Scouts can be a great source for structured social activities outside of school. If a club isn’t as welcoming as you’d like, reach out to the Scouts’ Special Needs Chair for support, or consider becoming a pack leader yourself.
Organizations such as Friendship Foundation create myriad fun opportunities for neurotypical and neurodivergent kids to become friends, from summer camps to “Zoom Pals.”
Activity-based groups such as Anchorless Productions unite children with disabilities and typically developing peers around activities such as producing plays.
Your local parks and recreation department likely has offerings such as dance, arts and crafts, or Zumba classes as well as summer camps and sports leagues.
Local chapters of Autism Society, Down syndrome organizations like Club 21, and similar organizations offer parent support, recreational activities, and other resources.
Sports leagues — and not just leagues for kids with disabilities — provide great opportunities for fun, meaningful peer interaction. Your child has the right to access the same opportunities as other children. Leagues and camps on public grounds are required to accommodate children with disabilities.
Martial arts clubs provide a consistent social outlet, and some research has shown it to have social benefits, particularly for children with autism.
Other state-supported programs may be available. For example, California Regional Centers offer social-recreational funding so that families can access opportunities for their children to participate in recreational activities such as theater and sport programs, swimming lessons, and summer camps with peers.
Creating opportunities for your child to socialize with peers when they are young is important, and often easier than when they are older. What we know from research is that children are most likely to form friendships where there’s close proximity and frequent opportunity. When school's out, it's even more important to create those opportunities, whether it's playing with the children across the street, or with play dates with friends from swimming class.
Help your child foster peer relationships and make friends this summer with ideas in our article Socialization and Inclusion: Nurturing Authentic Peer Relationships.
Summertime might be the perfect time to take the kiddos to those appointments on your to-do list. But many kids have sensory issues around these experiences — the feel of another person touching their hair and face, noise of clippers or scissors, the sensation of cut hair falling, the strong smells of hair product, the strong smells of hair and dental products, sitting in a dentist’s or stylist’s chair for a long period of time — all can lead to sensory overload.
Here’s a tip for you: before the appointments, build some familiarity and prime them with books, videos, Social Stories, and pretend play. This can involve watching videos about haircuts and dentist appointments, playing with toy dental and haircut kits, or showing your child someone their age who is calmly going through the same activity. Here are some we found:
Find more helpful tips in our articles 10 Tips for Making Haircuts Easier for Kids with Sensory Processing Issues and 10 Tips for Making a Dentist Visit Easier for Kids with Disabilities.
We all need a little support to get through the summer months. If you're on the hunt for a caregiver for your child, check out our article Finding Child Care for Kids with Extra Support Needs. Disability awareness months and days are also great opportunities to get involved in your community and your child’s school to promote disability acceptance resources for kids (and for adults!). We’ve created a calendar of days to celebrate neurodiversity and developmental disabilities, even during the summer months. Check out our calendar of Disability Awareness Throughout the Year.
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