Making the Most of Summer. School's Out… But Development Doesn't Take a Vacation!

Summer is an exciting time for children. Longer days, outdoor adventures, vacations, and a break from the school routine provide endless opportunities for fun and learning. While children deserve time to relax and recharge, summer is also a wonderful season to continue building important skills through play and everyday activities.

At our pediatric outpatient occupational therapy clinic, we encourage families to use the summer months to support their child's development in ways that feel natural, enjoyable, and stress-free.

Fun Summer Activities That Support Development

Water Play

Spraying water bottles, squeezing sponges, filling cups, and using water toys help strengthen hand muscles needed for writing, dressing, and feeding skills.

Sidewalk Chalk

Drawing, coloring, tracing shapes, and creating obstacle courses with chalk support visual motor integration, pre-writing skills, and creativity.

Playground Adventures

Climbing, swinging, sliding, and balancing help develop core strength, coordination, body awareness, and motor planning.

Scavenger Hunts

Encourage children to find specific items, follow directions, and explore their environment while supporting attention, problem-solving, and sensory processing.

Cooking Together

Mixing, pouring, measuring, and stirring provide excellent opportunities to practice motor skills, sequencing, following directions, and independence.

Supporting Sensory Needs During Summer

Summer can bring exciting but sometimes overwhelming sensory experiences. Consider:

• Providing regular movement breaks.
• Creating quiet spaces for rest.
• Offering water play opportunities.
• Maintaining consistent meal and sleep routines when possible.
• Using sensory tools recommended by your occupational therapist.

Keep Play at the Center

Children learn best through play. Whether they're digging in the sand, riding a bike, building forts, or helping in the garden, meaningful experiences help strengthen the physical, cognitive, and social skills they use every day.

Happy Summer!

Our therapy team wishes all of our families a safe, fun, and active summer. If you have questions about your child's development or would like ideas for home activities tailored to their needs, we're here to help. Together, we can make this summer a season of growth, confidence, and fun!