No Extended School Year, No Problem – Head Outdoors to Improve Fine and Gross Motor Skills
Did your child not qualify for extended school year services? Many times if therapists and teachers are not concerned that the child will regress over the summer, extended school year services are not recommended. If you are concerned as a parent, teacher or therapist, here are some suggestions to help maintain skills over the summer.
Benefits to No Extended School Year
If you are disappointed that your child did not qualify, try to change your mindset about this. First of all, no extended school year recommendation means that the teachers and therapists are confident that your child will maintain their skills over the summer. Second of all, be happy about not having to be bogged down by a summer schedule. Today’s families are SO BUSY so to have an open calendar sometimes is refreshing.
Best Suggestion to Maintain Skills over the Summer
My #1 tip to maintain skills over the summer is to use that time to create new habits of outdoor play time. The sensory-motor and cognitive gains can be amazing throughout the whole body including vision, attention span, muscle strengthening, sensory input and more!
Simple Activities to Maintain Skills
1. Play in the sand – tactile input, foot strengthening, balance, core strengthening (working on hands and knees) and proprioceptive input (carrying buckets of sand, packing the sand down, etc). If your child dislikes sand, read this post on Progression of Tactile Input Using Sensory Bins.
2. Walk barefoot – children will receive tactile input on foot, small muscles of the feet work harder and balance skills will be challenged.
3. Swimming – overall strength, endurance, aerobic fitness, proprioceptive input, and FUN!
4. Playground time – climbing equipment, swinging, slides, and FUN!
5. FREE PLAY with friends! – this is crucial. Children can practice social, emotional, creative, physical, and cognitive skills when they simply play! Make sure to provide time for independent play. Read some suggestions here on making time to play.
More resources to prevent the Summer Slide
Instead of just turning on the TV or tossing your child a tablet, check out the fun activity packs. Many of the digital download packets from Your Therapy Source encourage fine motor, gross motor, and visual perceptual skills. Children will have FUN while maintaining their skills. Check out the Summer Sensory Motor Packet or the Beach Packet. Just print and play.
You can view all of the Themed Sensory Motor Packets here.
