Summer Strategies for Keeping Kids with Learning Disabilities or ADHD on Track: A Parent's Guide

Summer vacation is a much-needed break for kids and parents alike, but for children with learning disabilities or ADHD, two or three months away from the classroom can lead to a significant loss of hard-earned academic skills. The good news is that keeping those skills strong doesnt have' to mean sitting at a desk doing worksheets all day. Here are some evidence-based, practical tips for integrating skill-building into your

child's summer routine so they are confident and ready for the next school year.

Get a Head Start on Next School Year’s Reading

One of the most effective ways to reduce anxiety and workload for the upcoming academic year is to start early. Ask your child's future teachers for a list of required readings or textbooks for the next grade.

• Pre-familiarize: Having your child read or listen to these books over the summer builds a foundation of familiarity. Once the school year begins, they will find it much easier to keep up with class discussions and assignments.

• Embrace Audiobooks: If decoding text is a struggle, utilize audiobooks.

• Resources like Learning Ally or Bookshare provide access to grade-level content.

Listening to stories over the summer allows your child to build their vocabulary and comprehension skills without the frustration of traditional reading.

Turn Everyday Chores into Math and Sequencing Games

You can build your child's math, working memory, and executive functioning skills through everyday life activities.

• Grocery Shopping: Bring your child to the store and have them help you budget, look at sales, and make change. This is a highly effective way to translate abstract math story problems into concrete, real-life applications.

• Cooking and Baking: Following a recipe requires organization and sequential memory. Talk through each step as you bake, and afterward, ask your child to recount what you did first, second, and third to build their sequencing skills.

• Board Games: Classic board games like Candyland, Sorry, or Mancala naturally build counting, simple arithmetic, and fine motor skills in a relaxing and fun environment.

Consider Summer-Specific Tutoring

Without the pressure of a full course load, the summer is the perfect time to target specific areas of cognitive or academic weakness.

• Reading Specialists: For students with reading disabilities, summer is a great time to focus on extra reading instruction with a reading specialist using evidence-based reading interventions.

• Executive Functioning Coaches/ Tutors: Engage a tutor who specializes in executive functioning and study skills. They can explicitly teach your child how to organize their materials, plan projects, manage their time, and initiate tasks without procrastinating.

• Educational Therapy: For middle and high school students, strongly consider hiring an educational therapist or specialized tutor for the summer. They can spend these months explicitly teaching your child writing conventions, reading comprehension strategies, and efficient study/test-taking skills, which will help compensate for slow processing speeds during the busy school year.

Keep Up the Structure (and the Medication)

It can be tempting to abandon all routines during the summer, but children with attention and executive functioning deficits thrive on predictability.

• Medication Consistency: If your child takes medication for ADHD, discuss with your prescribing pediatrician the need to continue it during vacations and non-school hours. Maintaining medication can help your child control their behavior, learn from peers, and avoid negative feedback in summer camps or social programs.

• Visual Schedules: Keep using a visual schedule or a daily "to-do" list. This helps your child know what to anticipate each day and provides a sense of accomplishment when they check tasks off.

Strategize for High School and College Transitions

If you have an older teen, summer is a critical time for preparing for the increased demands of high school or college.

• Textbook Prep: College-bound students should obtain their textbooks during the summer prior to the academic year so they can read and review the material before their courses begin.

• Lighten the Fall Load: Consider having your student take a summer school or junior college course. Focusing on a single, challenging class over the summer can significantly reduce their course load and stress levels in the fall.

• Life Skills: Transitioning to adulthood requires independence. Use the summer to teach life skills, such as how to do laundry from start to finish or how to manage time using digital calendars, phone alarms, or smart devices.

Balance Screen Time with Movement and Sensory Play

Finally, make sure the summer remains restorative. Screen time can easily take over, so actively set limits on video games and television.

• Physical Outlets: Maximize opportunities for gross motor play that promotes strength and endurance, such as swimming, martial arts, climbing, or tumbling.

• Individual sports are highly recommended because they allow kids to progress at their own pace, develop self-discipline, and build self-confidence without the

  pressures of team competition.

By blending targeted academic preparation with life skills and plenty of physical play, you can help your child return to school in the fall feeling refreshed, confident, and

ready to learn!

About the Author: Lisa Palmer, Psy.D., NCSP is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist with over 10 years of experience in educational settings, holding a Psy.D. from Capella University and dual certification as both a Georgia School Psychologist (PK-12) and a Nationally Certified School Psychologist.