Getting prepared for summer…

The change from familiar social groups in school, to new social groups can be tricky for some of our children. Our children have spent all year learning the way the peers in their classroom like to play and connect, while learning how they fit into that social fabric. As we transition into the summer, many of our children will try out new social settings or groupings. This means all new peers to get to know, learn how to connect with and find community with. How can we help ease that process?

Each child is different and interacts with peers in their individual way. This also means that each child will need different supports to prepare them and sustain social engagement in new settings. At home you can:

-discuss neurodiversity and how all brains are different, meaning that all children have different interests and play in different ways

-how does your child like to play? What are their interests? Are there other children with similar interests in their summer program?

-create clarity and previewing at home before going to the new social setting with visual schedules, pictures of the space and clear expectations

-make space for uncomfortable feelings about these social experiences: it’s ok to not like all friends!

-make plans to meet up with familiar peers from the school year

-make a cover letter sheet describing your child’s strengths, interests, and strategies that help to share with group leaders or summer camp teachers

-summer days are long and often filled with lots of outside activities. Our kids might be tired by the end, make plans for downtime such as playing a favorite game before dinner

-explain that all play is ok! Watching peers, playing alone, getting some space, playing together…it is all ok and they can play their own way during summer programs.