How to Keep Therapy Progress Going Strong Over the Summer: Tips for PT, OT, and SLP Goals

Summer is often seen as a time for relaxation, fun, and a break from the daily routine. For many kids and families, this also includes stepping away from school for a while. However, taking a break from school doesn't have to mean taking a break from progress! Whether your child is working on physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), or speech-language pathology (SLP) goals, there are plenty of ways to keep the momentum going during the summer months.

Here’s how you can continue to support your child’s development without sacrificing summer fun with family & friends:

1. Stay Consistent with Weekly Sessions

Even though school is on a break, continuing weekly therapy sessions is important for maintaining progress. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are all about developing skills that take time and practice. That being said, incorporating these sessions into a busy summer schedule may take a little creativity! You can work with your child's therapist and our front desk team to determine the best schedule during the summer months, ensuring that your child is still receiving the support they need. Remember: keeping regular appointments helps to ensure that skills are practiced consistently, and progress is maintained.

2. Work with Your PT, OT, or SLP on At-Home Activities

Before the summer begins, collaborate with your child’s clinician for specific activities or exercises to work on at home. They will provide a personalized plan of action and recommend simple, effective activities to incorporate into your daily routines. Clinicians can also suggest ways to adapt & modify your child's favorite summer games or activities to align with their unique goals, so even seemingly unstructured playtime can serve as a rich learning experience.

3. Stay in Communication with Your Child’s Clinician

If you are taking an extended break for the summer due to summer camps or travel plans, stay in touch with your child's PT, OT, and/or SLP to discuss any changes in your child’s needs or progress as the summer goes on. Together, you can revisit those home exercise programs and at-home activity recommendations and modify them accordingly.

4. Incorporate Therapy Goals Into Everyday Summer Activities

Summer provides a perfect backdrop for natural practice of FUNctional skills! Whether you’re going to the beach, playing in the park, or just relaxing at home, here are some examples of how you can seamlessly integrate PT, OT, and SLP goals into your summer fun:

Sample Physical Therapy (PT) Goals:

• Set up an obstacle course in your backyard using whatever you've got in the garage - cones, hula hoops, pool noodles, etc. These activities encourage balance, coordination, and motor planning skills.

• Head to a local playground or park to practice climbing, swinging, and jumping. Set a goal to explore an unfamiliar playground at least once per month, and encourage your children to try new pieces of equipment (or use a familiar piece of equipment in a new way!).

• Take a family walk or bike ride, or enjoy some active water play (we're thinking swimming pools, splash pads, and sprinklers!) to improve strength and endurance.

  
  

Sample Occupational Therapy (OT) Goals:

• Try drawing with sidewalk chalk, using a spray bottle to water your plants, or squeezing soapy sponges while washing toy cars (or better yet, a bicycle or the family car!) to facilitate fine motor development without feeling trapped indoors, strapped to a chair with paper and pencil.

• Summer is a great time to practice independence with daily living skills. Have your children help with tasks like gardening, making their own snack, or packing their bag for a trip.

• Summer offers a variety of exciting tactile experiences for kids to explore and enjoy! From the cool, squishy sensation of wet sand at the beach to the soft, squelchy feeling of mud between their toes, the summer months are full of opportunities for sensory exploration. Water play is a favorite, of course - we're big fans of water balloons at the BAC! Nature walks offer a chance to feel many different textures, from the rough bark of trees to the cool softness of a big mossy rock.

  
  

Sample Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Goals:

• Read books that introduce new words related to summer activities and locations (e.g. vacation, trip, museum) - and then actually visit those places to provide endless opportunities for language learning! When you get home, encourage your child to describe events and retell stories as you share a family meal together.

• Break out the bubbles! Use bubbles to target concepts (e.g. up vs down, open vs close), articulation (e.g. /b/ (bubble), /pop/ (pop)), vocabulary (e.g. run, chase, wand), following directions (e.g. Pop the big bubble!) and turn taking.

• On a long car ride, play games like “I Spy” or sing songs with repetitive words and sounds.

  
  

5. Set Small Goals and Make Progress Motivating

One of the keys to staying consistent is to make goal-setting a fun part of your child’s summer. You can create a simple chart to track progress on therapy goals, celebrating small milestones along the way. This can help your children understand that learning doesn’t stop just because school is out, and they can still have a great time while progressing toward their goals.

6. Set Up Playdates or Group Activities

One of the best parts of summer is the opportunity for kids to socialize in new, fun ways! Picnic lunches, playdates at the playground, and swimming at the community pool can all offer opportunities for your child to practice all that they've learned alongside peers. And for parents, getting together with other families it's a reminder that you're not in this alone - it's important for your kid to have friends, and it's equally as important for you to find that supportive village, too!

With a little planning and creativity, you can easily incorporate physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy goals into your family’s summer routine while still savoring fun in the sun. Staying consistent with therapy sessions, engaging in fun activities that align with goals, and maintaining communication with your child’s therapist will help ensure that your child’s progress continues, even while school is out.

Questions? Contact the Boston Ability Center by calling 781-239-0100 or emailing frontdesk@bostonabilitycenter.com. Happy Summer!