As school-based OTs, the end of the school year is always a bit of a transition period. For a lot of students, especially those who rely on routine, sensory supports, or structured environments, summer break can feel like a pretty big shift.
And sometimes that shift shows up as more dysregulation, less engagement, or a bit of regression in skills they worked hard on all year.
The goal isn’t to recreate school at home, the goal is to help families set up enough structure and support so summer feels manageable, enjoyable and successful. Here are five ways to set students up for a successful summer break:
1. Keep Some Kind of Routine: Kids do best when they know what to expect. That doesn’t mean every minute needs to be planned, but having some predictable anchors in the day helps a lot. Things like waking up around the same time, meals, some movement or play, downtime, and bedtime routines can go a long way. Even a simple visual schedule on the fridge or a whiteboard can help kids see what’s coming next and reduce a lot of back-and-forth or anxiety about transitions.
2. Allow For Sensory Opportunities: During the school year, many students are getting sensory input without even realizing it: movement breaks, structured seating, fidgets, or just the rhythm of the school day. In summer, that often disappears. This is where a simple “sensory ideas list” for home can be helpful.
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Carrying laundry baskets or helping bring in the groceries
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Playground time or bike riding
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Water play like spray bottles or washing toys
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Quiet time options like a cozy corner or headphones
3. Keep Skills Going in a Real-Life Way: Summer is actually a great time for functional skill building, and the fun part is it just doesn’t look or feel like therapy. Cooking, crafts, water play, building forts, helping around the house — these all naturally support fine motor skills, coordination, and independence. Summer is the perfect opportunity to all build on all the same underlying skills we target in school sessions, just in a more meaningful way.
4. Ease Into the Back-to-School Transition: One thing that often gets overlooked is how helpful it can be to prepare for the return to school before it happens. A few days before school starts, families can slowly bring back morning routines, practice getting dressed on a schedule, or look at school visuals again. For students who really struggle with transitions, even just talking about what to expect or driving by the school can help ease back into school transitions.
5. Support the Caregivers, Not Just the Student: At the end of the day, families don’t need a full program. What they do need is realistic ideas that actually fit into their life. The simpler the strategies, the more likely they are to stick and become implemented. A “successful” summer doesn’t mean no challenges. It just means students stay regulated enough, confident enough, and supported enough to come back in the fall ready to re-engage without starting from scratch.
Author: Kimberlee Manly, OTR/L
