Finding Balance During School Breaks: Supporting Children Through Unstructured Time

Creating Predictability, Flexibility, and Meaningful Learning Opportunities During Summer and School Vacations

For many children, school provides much more than academics—it provides structure, consistency, social opportunities, and predictable routines. Children know when they'll eat lunch, participate in preferred activities, transition between tasks, and return home at the end of the day. For children with autism and other developmental differences, these predictable routines often provide comfort and support throughout their daily lives.

When school vacations, holiday breaks, or summer months arrive, that familiar structure can suddenly disappear. Days may become less predictable, bedtime routines may change, favorite teachers and peers may not be readily available, and expectations may become less consistent from one day to the next. While time away from school can provide valuable opportunities for rest, family activities, and new experiences, unstructured time can also present unique challenges for many children and families.

At A Big Heart ABA, we recognize that behaviors are often forms of communication. When routines change significantly, children may communicate feelings of uncertainty, frustration, anxiety, or sensory overwhelm through challenging behaviors. The good news is that with preparation, consistency, and compassionate support, children can successfully navigate less structured periods while continuing to build flexibility, confidence, and independence.

Why Can School Breaks Be Challenging?

Children thrive when they understand what to expect. School naturally provides:

• Predictable schedules

• Clear expectations

• Social opportunities

• Consistent routines

• Frequent movement breaks

• Opportunities for reinforcement and success

• Structured transitions throughout the day

During vacations or summer breaks, children may experience:

• Increased screen time

• Changes in sleep schedules

• Fewer opportunities for social interactions

• Less predictable routines

• Reduced physical activity

• Increased downtime

• Unexpected schedule changes

• More difficult transitions throughout the day

While these changes may seem relatively small to adults, they can feel overwhelming for children who rely heavily upon structure and predictability.

Common Behaviors Families May Observe

During periods of unstructured time, families may notice increases in:

• 🚂 Difficulty transitioning between activities

• 💛 Emotional dysregulation

• 🗣️ Increased frustration or communication challenges

• 📺 Difficulty transitioning away from preferred activities

• 😟 Increased anxiety

• ⏰ Sleep disruptions

• 🌈 Sensory sensitivities

• 🔄 Increased rigidity surrounding routines

• 🏃 Elopement or refusal behaviors

• 🍎 Changes in eating patterns

• 📱 Increased dependence upon electronics

• 👫 Difficulties during social activities

• ⭐ Increased challenging behaviors throughout the day

These behaviors do not necessarily indicate regression. Often, they are simply communicating that children require additional support while adapting to changing expectations and routines.

Structure Doesn't Mean Every Minute Needs to Be Planned

One of the biggest misconceptions about supporting children during school breaks is believing that every moment must be scheduled. In reality, our goal isn't to eliminate flexibility—it's to provide enough predictability that children feel successful while gradually building their tolerance for change.

Think of structure as creating anchors throughout the day.

Examples include:

Wake Up

Breakfast

Morning Activity

Outside Play

Lunch

Quiet Time

Community Activity

Dinner

Evening Routine

Bedtime

Children don't necessarily need to know exactly what every activity will be—they simply benefit from knowing what comes next.

Predictability often creates opportunities for greater flexibility.

Create Summer Visual Schedules

Visual schedules can be extremely helpful during less structured periods.

Examples may include:

Morning Routine

• Wake up

• Brush teeth

• Get dressed

• Eat breakfast

• Morning activity

Afternoon Routine

• Lunch

• Outside play

• Reading time

• Preferred activity

• Community outing

Evening Routine

• Dinner

• Family activity

• Bath time

• Story time

• Bedtime

Visual schedules can be as simple or detailed as your child requires. Some children benefit from written schedules while others may prefer photographs or picture icons.

Maintain Important Routines

While vacations naturally bring changes, maintaining several consistent routines throughout the week can significantly improve success.

Consider maintaining:

• Bedtime routines

• Morning routines

• Mealtime expectations

• Physical activity

• Reading time

• Opportunities for social interactions

• Community outings

• Daily responsibilities

Consistency provides children with valuable opportunities to practice independence and flexibility throughout changing environments.

Practice Flexibility During Preferred Activities

Summer and school breaks provide wonderful opportunities for teaching flexibility in natural environments.

Examples include:

Instead of:

We always go to the playground after lunch.

Consider:

Today we're going to the playground after lunch.

Tomorrow may be:

Today we're having a picnic instead.

Teaching children that:

Different doesn't mean bad.

can become an incredibly valuable lifelong skill.

Practice flexibility by introducing:

• New activities

• Small changes in routines

• Different community outings

• Alternative play activities

• Opportunities for waiting appropriately

• Unexpected but enjoyable experiences

Remember to provide praise and reinforcement when children successfully tolerate changes.

Limit Screen Time Through Predictability

Electronics often become increasingly preferred during vacations and summer breaks. Rather than eliminating electronics entirely, consider creating predictable expectations surrounding their use.

Examples include:

First outside play, then iPad time.

First lunch, then television.

First clean up, then preferred activity.

Timers and visual countdowns can also help children prepare for transitions away from preferred activities.

Predictability often decreases power struggles surrounding electronics while increasing successful transitions.

Create Meaningful Learning Opportunities

Learning doesn't stop when school ends.

Children can continue developing important skills throughout everyday activities such as:

• Grocery shopping

• Cooking together

• Gardening

• Playing board games

• Visiting local parks

• Swimming lessons

• Community outings

• Library visits

• Family game nights

These experiences naturally support:

• Communication skills

• Independence

• Social interactions

• Emotional regulation

• Problem-solving

• Flexibility

• Safety awareness

• Executive functioning skills

Some of the most meaningful learning opportunities happen during everyday moments with the people children love most.

Preparing for Returning to School

Toward the end of summer, begin gradually preparing children for returning to school.

Helpful strategies include:

• Adjusting bedtime routines gradually.

• Practicing morning schedules.

• Visiting the school playground.

• Reading social stories.

• Reviewing classroom expectations.

• Preparing backpacks together.

• Creating countdown calendars when appropriate.

• Celebrating the excitement surrounding returning to familiar routines.

Transitions are often more successful when children are provided with opportunities to practice before expectations change.

Celebrate Small Victories

Progress during less structured periods may look different from progress during the school year.

Celebrate successes such as:

• Successfully transitioning away from preferred activities.

• Trying a new activity.

• Demonstrating flexibility during schedule changes.

• Asking for help appropriately.

• Participating in community activities.

• Completing morning routines independently.

• Using coping strategies successfully.

• Building new friendships and experiences.

Every small success contributes to meaningful long-term growth.

Growing Through Every Season

School vacations, holiday breaks, and summer months provide valuable opportunities for children to continue learning, growing, and developing meaningful life skills. While less structured periods may occasionally bring challenges, they also provide wonderful opportunities for families to build flexibility, confidence, and independence together.

At A Big Heart ABA, we believe that children thrive when they are supported with compassion, consistency, and individualized strategies that honor their unique strengths and needs. Structure does not mean eliminating spontaneity or joy—it simply means creating environments where children feel safe, successful, and prepared to embrace new experiences.

Whether your family is navigating summer vacation, holiday breaks, or preparing for another exciting school year, remember that progress happens one small moment at a time. Through preparation, collaboration, and patience, children can learn that transitions—even unexpected ones—can become opportunities for growth.

Building Skills • Growing Confidence • Changing Lives.