3 COOL SUMMER ACTIVITIES TO DO WITH CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Summer is well underway with heat waves and beautiful weather sweeping across the country. It is the perfect time for children to be out playing, exploring, socialising, and relaxing. But, wanting your child to enjoy the summer while maintaining a solid routine has its challenges. But don’t worry. There is always something for everyone to do in the summer regardless of their additional needs. We have outlined some possible fun, summer activities for children with special needs. But, don’t be afraid to get in touch and share your wisdom if you think of any others that may benefit people this summer.

1.Tent time

Going out early on a sunny day is perfect for this idea. All you need is a few old blankets, pillows, battery fairy lights, or a lamp, and the rest is up to you. Find a lovely wooded area or a space with a few trees close together and let your child build a den using what you have brought, and anything else they can find in the wood. You should get involved too to give a helping hand or even a little artistic inspiration. Once it’s done, you now have the perfect outdoor space to enjoy the weather. It's also a place of comfort if your child needs to retreat.

In the tent, you can play a multitude of other games that you usually play indoors, or perhaps you can practice reading with your child in a fun, relaxed way. Stay as long as you like, or for however long your child is comfortable, maybe even until it starts to get dark. Just sitting, and interacting with nature this way can teach your child so much about the natural world, and you can have a little bonding time.

2. Pool games

There is no better time for pool games than the summer so you can cool off. They are even better with an outdoor pool but, this is not a must. Children learn a lot through play. By incorporating some well-planned water-based activities into their summer routine, you can increase muscle strength, endurance, balance, and work on social skills.

If your child is a confident swimmer, you can drop exciting items at the bottom of the pool for them to find and learn about. If they are not such a confident swimmer, incorporating pool noodles and floats can be the perfect way to ensure your child is safely having a great time. Try having an old western police chase, where you use the pool noodles as horses and chase each other around the pool. Or maybe you can be stranded on a raft (lilo) and have your child come and save you.

3. Science experiments

Science experiments are cool, and there are many exciting, but safe science experiments you can do with your children. However, they can get a little messy. There’s no better excuse to take things outside, enjoy the weather, and enjoy learning.

Children are fascinated and amazed by science and how the world works. Let your child do some of the experiments themselves, or do some captivating demonstrations. There are hundreds of simple fun science experiments for children to be found on Youtube. Many of them require nothing more than everyday household items. By showing these to your children, they can learn about science, have fun, and maybe even get a little messy. We recommend the Coke and Mentos rocket experiment. Your child could even design the rocket.