Summer is Coming!

This month's blog article was featured in the May 2025 issue of our digital newsletter, Aspire Wire.

By Jill Dyment, MEd, CAGS
Manager, Group Programming and Parent Services

 

Summer is coming! The days of longer sunshine, slower schedules and no homework demands lie just around the corner. Dreamy, right? Realistically, these longer days and slower schedules can also lead to less structure, predictability and routine which can be very challenging for our autistic loved ones and their families.  So, what can we do? How do we find the balance between enjoying the slow, joyful pace of summer and keeping enough structure to support our loved ones?

Same but different
For some families, the week will continue to have the rhythm of work and school or work and camp. While the transition from school-year schedule to summer schedule may need support, these routines can help provide continued predictability and security.

Keep some structure and routines
If your family has less structured opportunities over the summer, you can be intentional about maintaining some structures and routines. This might mean you intentionally keep consistent bedtimes or nighttime routines. Maybe this means you keep the routine of eating dinner together each night. Which routines are important and realistic for your family?  Continuing some of these important structures through the summer can give the day an anchor and keep some predictability.

Label it
Even with your chosen routines, there can be room for flexibility. Labeling something as an ‘exception’ or a ‘Plan B’ helps your loved one know that they can generally rely on the routine but will need to practice flexibility right now. For example, “Usually we eat at home, but we’re having a ‘Plan B’ dinner tonight and we’ll eat at a restaurant.” Labeling times of day can give home days purpose and structure, and it provides common, concrete language about what is expected or available during that time. ‘Morning routine’, ‘downtime’, ‘outside time’ ‘screentime’ and ‘summer work’ are examples of ways to label the times of day.  Many kids and teens do not know how to spend ‘downtime’ or ‘leisure time’ (especially if screens are not an option!) It can be useful for you and your loved one to discuss what they like to do when they have downtime. Make a visual list and entitle it ‘downtime’. The list may change as interests and hobbies change. 

Make it visual and preview
Keeping a visual schedule or calendar can help your child or teen know what is coming up and what to expect. Summer weeks tend to vary, especially if your child is participating in summer programs that run weekly.  You might keep a family calendar in your kitchen or have your child keep a calendar in their bedroom. Other individuals might use a calendar on their phone or connected to their email. Depending on their age and their needs, the calendar might include the day, a full week or the whole month. Crossing off days as they pass can provide a concrete symbol for the passing of time and help orient individuals to a weekly rhythm they are used to during the school year. It can also help preview events such as vacations or family gatherings.

Keeping some structure can increase the likelihood that longer days and slower schedules will actually be filled with joy, discovery and rest.