How to Maintain Structure for Children with Disabilities Over Summer Break

Many children with special needs and disabilities thrive on structure and routine. But when school gets out for long breaks, transitioning to being at home all day can be painful for both our children and for us. Over the years, our family has discovered these 5 Tips that can help create structure and routine throughout the break.

1. Create a Daily Schedule

It can be very challenging to establish a daily routine during summer break. But even if the schedule may not look exactly the same every day of the week, having a visual of what to expect each day can lower our children’s anxiety, improve cooperation, make transitions go smoother, and reduce meltdowns.

When we consistently utilize Beth’s schedule board, she transitions between activities much easier.

We’ve found that taking actual pics of items, activities, and of Beth is most effective. One of my best investments when the kids were young was a laminator. I’ll explain more.

If your child is not developmentally ready for using a full schedule board, you might begin with a 1st-Then Board.

Create a Schedule Board

1. Take pictures of your child throughout the day engaging in different activities
2. Take pictures of your child’s preferred items such as electronics
3. Take pictures of your vehicle and places you might go
4. Create a document with all the pics
5. Label the pic if appropriate for your child
6. Print the pics and laminate
7. Cut out each pic and put a piece of Velcro on the back (the fuzzy side)
8. Cut a piece of foam board to desired size
9. Run a strip of Velcro from top to bottom (the opposite side of the Velcro)
10. Attach an envelope or pocket at the bottom of the board for “All Done”

Using the Visual Support

1. Place the first 3-5 activities of the day on the board starting with the first activity on top
2. As your child completes an activity, help them pull off that pic and put it in the “All Done” envelope
3. Then begin the next activity

• You may need to use hand-over-hand to guide your child through the process.
• If possible, run errands around the same time everyday. The places you go may be different, but the pic of your vehicle on the schedule board will alert your child that you will be going in the car.
• If your child is able and would like to help decorate their schedule board, this might help them become more interested in trying the schedule.

Believe me, I realize that this will take time and energy. But trust me–in the long run, you will be glad you did this! There are lots of sites that offer free downloads of images and videos to explain the process. Or if you prefer, you can also purchase a premade kit.

You can also break down tasks even more. The more concrete the visual directions, the better.

When our son was older and favored words over images, we began to type up a daily schedule with his input. This one intervention dramatically improved our days.

Consistency is the key-this also takes energy, but your investment will pay off!

Learn more about visual supports and visit the National Autistic Society for free templates.

2. Use a Visual Timer

Consistently setting timers can help our children mentally prepare for transitions, especially to activities that they don’t like. With practice, when the timer goes off it will signal that it’s time to check the schedule.

Being able to see the amount of time shrinking helps take away the ambiguity of how much time they have left.

It’s important to use the timer for all types of activities. This way our children know how much time they have left to play on their tablets, when it’s time to use the restroom, or when it’s time to get ready to go out to the car.

Visual timers range in price based on brand and size. There are also free phone apps that use an image like an animal to visually show how much time is left.

3. Implement a Token Reward System

There are many different ways to utilize a token reward system. The main goal is to reinforce when your child engages in the appropriate target behavior.

Positive reward will also help your child feel successful and praised for a job well done with the specific task (e.g., using their schedule board well).

We started with a treasure box. Each time Beth completed the schedule transition, she received a small prize.

You can make the system as basic or advanced as appropriate for your child. A more advanced example of how to use the board would be each time your child transitions well from activity to activity, they receive a token. Tokens can be the same laminated images that they like (such as their favorite character or TV show, favorite toy, etc.).

When they fill up their card at the end of the day, then they get to choose a prize from the treasure box. Begin with a difficulty level for which they can be successful. For example, if there are 8 transitions throughout the day, make only five spaces on the card.

And–we learned the hard way that it’s best to put very inexpensive items in the treasure box or using the token system will break the bank!

Over the years, Beth has worked up to earning six butterfly tokens over the course of the week in order to receive a prize.

Learn how to implement a token board.

4. Designate Set Places for Activities

The more our children associate the same location with an activity, the easier it will be to get in the habit of transitioning to that task.

Beth enjoys arts and crafts in her activity chair.

If possible, create different areas in the house–a book reading corner, tablet use area, developmental activities table, sensory zone, etc. Making signs for the area would reinforce the structure.

5. Take These Supports on Trips

Traveling can add a whole new level to feeling out of sorts for the entire family. If it’s possible to already have established these schedule routines at home, this will make using them on vacation that much easier.

You may need to print some additional schedule pics to take on the trip (e.g., of a plane, theme park, the outside of the hotel, restaurants, beach, swimming pool, etc.).

Using the supports on the trip will also help with the transition back home. Learn more tips for traveling with disabilities and special needs and our 7 Beach Hacks for Special Needs Families.

What tip would you add to the list?

Please share your ideas in the comments!

Blessings,

Kristin

Learn more by watching my podcast interview on the Water Prairie Chronicles Podcast

Traveling to the beach? Try these Beach Hacks!

Kristin Faith Evans, MA, MS, LMSW

Kristin is an author, a speaker, a mental health therapist, and a special needs mom. Her greatest passion is walking with others on their journey to deeper faith and mental health wholeness. As a Licensed Masters Social Worker and with her Masters in Christian Spiritual Formation, she has served in youth, camping, and retreat ministries and is experienced in Christian counseling, couples and family therapy, substance abuse treatment, and crisis counseling. Kristin lives with her husband, Todd, and their two children in the Nashville, TN area. When she is not enjoying life with her family, writing or working with clients, you can find Kristin training for triathlons, reading, or simply being out in nature. Visit her author website at www.KristinFaithEvans.com