Summer is a great time to focus on your child’s developmental progress while they enjoy a break from school routines. Whether your child receives physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), or speech therapy (ST) during the school year, finding the right therapy program over the summer can help support their progress.
In this guide, we’ll explore why summer therapy is beneficial, what to look for in a program, and how to ensure your child stays engaged in their therapy goals while having fun!
Why Consider Summer Therapy?
Many children receive therapy services through their school-based IEP (Individualized Education Program), but these services typically pause during summer break. Without continued support, children can experience regression in their skills. Summer therapy helps by:
- Preventing skill regression – Continuing therapy ensures your child retains and builds upon the progress they’ve made during the school year.
- Providing consistency – Regular therapy sessions help children stay on track toward their developmental goals.
- Offering more flexibility – Summer schedules allow for intensive therapy programs or additional sessions that may not fit into the school year.
- Focusing on new skills – Summer can be a great time to work on specific goals like handwriting, social skills, or sensory integration in a relaxed setting.
What to Look for in a Summer Therapy Program
Not all therapy programs are the same, and choosing the right one depends on your child’s needs. Here are key factors to consider:
- Individualized Therapy: One-on-one therapy allows for targeted interventions tailored to your child’s unique challenges that focus more on functional goals versus school-based goals that are typically used through school-based IEP’s.
- Specialization and Experience: Choose a clinic or therapist experienced in treating your child’s specific condition, such as cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorder, or developmental delays. Look for licensed physical, occupational, and speech therapists who provide evidence-based treatments.
- Engaging & Play-Based Approach: Summer therapy should be fun and engaging to keep kids motivated. Look for programs that incorporate play-based learning, outdoor activities, or creative approaches like water play, obstacle courses, or sports-based therapy.
- Intensive Therapy Options: Our clinics offer intensive therapy programs, where children attend multiple sessions per week to progress in a short timeframe. This is ideal for children recovering from an injury, surgery, or needing a boost in skill development.
- Parent Involvement & Home Programs: A good summer therapy program should include parent education and home exercises. Ask about strategies you can use at home to support your child’s progress beyond therapy sessions.
Types of Summer Therapy Programs to Consider
Depending on your child’s needs, different therapy models may be beneficial:
Physical Therapy (PT) Summer Programs
- Focus on strength, balance, coordination, and mobility.
- Activities may include gait training, aquatic therapy, or sports-based therapy.
- Helps children with gross motor delays, neurological disorders, or post-surgical rehabilitation.
Occupational Therapy (OT) Summer Programs
- Works on fine motor skills, self-care tasks, and sensory processing.
- Activities may include crafts, handwriting practice, sensory play, and daily living skills training.
- Beneficial for children with motor coordination difficulties, sensory processing disorders, or autism.
Speech Therapy (ST) Summer Programs
- Focus on communication, articulation, social skills, and feeding therapy.
- Can include one-on-one speech sessions, language groups, or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) training.
- Ideal for children with speech delays, apraxia, stuttering, or language comprehension challenges.
How to Prepare for Summer Therapy
Once you’ve selected a therapy program, follow these steps to ensure a smooth transition into summer therapy:
- Schedule an evaluation – If your child is new to therapy or hasn’t had services in a while, an evaluation helps set goals for summer therapy.
- Plan around vacations – Many families travel in the summer, so discuss a flexible therapy schedule with your provider.
- Incorporate therapy into daily life – Find ways to practice therapy skills at home, like strengthening exercises at the park or speech practice during mealtimes.
- Communicate with therapists – Share any concerns, goals, or progress updates with the therapy team to maximize your child’s success.
CWJR’s Summer Therapy Programs
At Crawl Walk Jump Run Therapy Clinic, we offer several treatment approaches designed to help children maintain and build essential skills during the summer months. Our team provides:
- Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy services tailored to your child’s needs.
- Fun, play-based approaches to keep therapy engaging and enjoyable.
- Intensive therapy options for faster skill development.
- Parent education and home exercise plans to support progress beyond therapy sessions.
Spots fill up quickly for summer therapy! Contact us today to schedule an evaluation and secure your child’s place.
