If you’re like me, you probably have fond memories of summer vacation as a child. Maybe you played all day with your neighborhood friends. You went swimming at the city pool or played at the park for hours. And when you became a parent, you probably dreamed of providing the same thing for your child. But then you met your child. Carefree, unplanned days were not to be. In fact, as summer approaches each year, it brings with it a sense of panic. What will you do all day long with your challenging child? As much as you want to let your child be a child this summer, you know that isn’t what’s best for him. But there is a way to achieve a balance between what you want and what he needs. Your family can still experience those spontaneous activities that make summer so relaxing and fun, while also meeting the needs of your challenging child.
Create a Relaxed Schedule
Many children with disabilities are challenged by downtime. When the last bell of the school year rings, he knows things will change, and he doesn’t like it one bit. Or maybe he is looking forward to it, but you know from experience that by day two he’ll be driving you up a wall. This year instead of letting the days fall together as they may, create a schedule for your child.
Begin by cutting 3X5 index cards in half; write or illustrate a part of the day on each. For example, for breakfast, either write down the word breakfast or draw a picture of a cereal bowl to represent it. Think about what a typical summer day will be like and include a card for each activity. If you know that your child will have some special events, that don’t occur on a daily basis, use markers to draw a border around the card to give him a visual cue. Next, draw a graph on poster board; write the days of the week across the top and times of day down the side. Purchase self-adhesive Velcro squares at an office store; each set will include a soft side and a rough side. Stick one square on each square of the graph and the other half on the back of the schedule cards. When you finish, you will have a week-at-a-glance schedule for your child that can be changed when necessary.
Before school is out for the year, present the schedule to your child. Explain how you will use it. For younger children or children with limited understanding, you may want to have a jar labeled, “Finished!” beside the chart. When they have completed the activity, they simply pull the Velcro card off the chart and put it away in the finished jar. Older children, or those with a good grasp of schedules can simply use the chart as a reference.
For more Summer Strategies, visit the A Wild Ride Web site.
