Summer Learning

By: Cristina Martínez M.B.A, M.S, BCBA, LBA Coauthor: Ariadna Martin MS

Summer often brings something children have less of during the school year: time. Time to explore, linger, try new things, and experience the world at a different pace. It also offers something we recently discussed through Natural Environment Teaching (NET): the chance to let learning happen where life is already happening.

For children receiving ABA therapy, summer can create valuable opportunities that do not always fit neatly into a therapy session. A family vacation, a visit to a grandparent’s house, a trip to the zoo, a summer camp, or even a slower morning routine can expose children to new people, places, and experiences. These moments naturally encourage flexibility, communication, problem-solving, and independence.

Summer can also be a season for discovering interests. A child who develops a love for gardening, swimming, cooking, nature walks, water play, or building projects is doing more than having fun. They are exploring preferences, building confidence, and finding new ways to engage with the world around them.

At the same time, summer can bring challenges. School routines may disappear, favorite teachers may not be around, vacations can disrupt familiar schedules, and family gatherings can introduce crowded, noisy environments. A child who is comfortable with predictability may suddenly find themselves navigating new places, different expectations, and unexpected changes. While these moments can be difficult, they can also become valuable opportunities to practice coping skills, flexibility, communication, and self-advocacy with support from trusted adults.

For parents, this can be a helpful reminder that growth does not only happen when someone is actively teaching. Sometimes growth happens when children are given opportunities to participate, experience new things, solve small problems, and learn from the world around them. In fact, many of the skills worked on during therapy, such as waiting, tolerating changes, asking for help, handling disappointment, or trying something new, often come to life during everyday summer experiences. And whenever questions or challenges arise, families can always turn to their ABA team for guidance and support in making the most of these natural learning opportunities.

That does not mean every outing will go smoothly, and it does not mean every challenge needs to become a teaching moment. Sometimes children simply need support, patience, and understanding. The goal is not to create a perfect summer. The goal is to create opportunities for participation while respecting each child’s pace and needs… Because in many ways, summer is not just a break from learning, it is an opportunity for a different kind of learning.