Long days, big feelings: supporting your child through the summer holidays

Transitions are part of everyday life that include changes to a routine or environment that require someone to adapt. For some children, these changes can feel more overwhelming, as many children have a greater need for structure, consistency, and predictability.

The long summer holidays often disrupt existing routines, and it is completely normal for your child to be affected by these changes. You may notice some differences in your child’s behaviour and emotions, which may bring challenges to you as a parent during this time.

School holidays

School holidays can be a time many families look forward to, as a break from end-of-year assessments or tiring activities such as school plays or sports days. For some children, school events and special treats can also be overwhelming and worrying. The summer holidays can therefore provide relief from the often overstimulating school environment.

However, other children thrive within the structure of the school environment, where predictable routines, known travel routes and familiar people provide them comfort and certainty. The sudden loss of routine and increased sensory or social demand associated with the holidays can lead to your child becoming dysregulated, which might increase your parental worry.

Environments such as summer clubs or camps may create a slightly more expected routine, but can still be an adjustment for your child and are often a potentially unfamiliar environment, with a new set of social and sensory demands.

Day-to-day transitions

Daily transitions are small routine shifts that are frequent throughout the day and can feel difficult for neurodivergent children due to changes in focus, expectations, or environment.

Task transitions

Some children struggle with shifting between everyday tasks, such as switching off their device to come to the dinner table. During summer holidays, this may be more prevalent because of the lack of a structured and familiar routine.

You may have noticed your child having more difficulties shifting attention between tasks, especially if they are transitioning from a more preferred to less preferred task, or from a familiar activity to the unfamiliar.

Getting ready for the day

It’s not unusual for children to experience challenges with skills such as planning and organisation, as the area of their brain responsible for these skills is still developing. This can mean they can get overwhelmed by seemingly simple tasks such as getting ready for the day.

Additionally, your child may struggle to process verbal instructions, particularly if they involve multiple steps.

Starting the day can also involve a lot of sensory challenges, such as waking up to a noisy alarm, getting out of the warm bed or having to change into new clothes. These transitions can include multiple stimuli, including the bright lights from bathrooms, the sound and pressure of the water, and the feeling of different textures, these can all be very overwhelming, especially for those with sensory differences.

Holding space for the summer

The summer holidays can bring a mix of freedom, fun, and emotional challenges for both children and parents. Long days without familiar routines can feel overwhelming, but small, thoughtful adjustments can go a long way in helping your child feel grounded and safe.

There’s no need for perfection; just your steady presence, a bit of planning, and plenty of compassion.

Whether your child is thriving with the freedom of the summer holidays or is looking forward to the structure of September, understanding their individual needs, from emotional regulation to self-esteem, is the best starting point for supporting them.