Summer Routines for ADHD and Neurodivergent Kids
parent guide
A compassionate guide to creating structure, joy, and growth during summer break.
By Caronne Taylor Bloom, MEd, MCMHC, LPC and Education Advocate
Medically reviewed by Nicole Garber, MD, Chief Medical Officer
In this article you’ll learn why summer routines matter for ADHD and neurodivergent kids; plus:
How to build daily foundations that work for your family
Summer strategies for working parents
Guidance for navigating summer camps and transitions
Ways to nurture strengths and manage common challenges
How to turn summer into a therapeutic opportunity
The school bell rings for the last time, and suddenly you’re faced with 10 weeks of … what exactly? If you’re parenting a neurodivergent child, this moment probably brings excitement mixed with that familiar flutter of mild panic. No more structured days. No more predictable routines. Just you, your child, and a whole lot of unscheduled time—whether they're home, attending camps, or navigating a combination of both.
In my work with families, I’ve witnessed how thoughtfully structured summers can create profound positive changes—improving emotional regulation, strengthening family connections, and building confidence for the school year ahead.
Understanding why summer routines matter for people with ADHD or who identify as neurodivergent
For families with ADHD and neurodivergent children, summer’s shift from structured days to open-ended weeks significantly impacts the entire family. Understanding how to navigate this transition with intention and compassion can transform what feels overwhelming into an opportunity for connection and growth.
Since neurodivergent kids often do best with consistent daily schedules, continuing these practices into summer—in ways that honor your family’s unique needs—becomes essential. Think predictable wake-up times, nourishing meal schedules, and calming bedtime rituals that provide security while allowing for natural variation within a comfortable range.
The inhale and exhale of summer days
I like to think of supportive routines as having both an inhale and an exhale rhythm. Inhales represent your more active, engaging times, while exhales offer quieter, restorative moments. Your summer rhythm should flow naturally between these energies, creating space for both growth and rest.
This balance is especially important because summer should support your family's well-being, rather than create stress. Parent burnout is real, and summer can feel overwhelming without some structure to guide our days. Try to view summer as an opportunity for both parents and children to rest, recharge, and prepare for the next school year.
“Parents, you are the experts on your child. Some kids need every minute structured in order to thrive, others don’t. They need to just be allowed to get a bit bored.”
Building daily routines that work while you’re at work
Many parents feel overwhelmed thinking they need to entertain their children all day. This is especially true during summer when regular school routines disappear.
The reality is different. Children thrive when they have clear structure and the freedom to manage their own time within safe boundaries. This approach works whether you're working from home with children present, your kids are with another caregiver, or you're managing summer days together. Your goal isn't constant entertainment. It's creating conditions where your child feels confident making good choices throughout the day.
Example: Cooking only when mom and dad are home to supervise. No stove, no ove, no microwave when home alone.
Collaborative planning approaches that work for real families
When children participate in the creation of their schedule, they feel ownership. This reduces arguments and builds independence. This includes consequences: what do the kids think is fair if they break or don’t follow the rules? I find, kids are often more strict than their own parents.
Simple approaches that make a difference:
Set up "check-in times" when you connect briefly during the day
Prepare snacks and activities ahead of time
Give choices within structure: "Your morning activity can be reading, drawing, or building with blocks"
Create visual schedules and choice boards your child can follow alone
How to create simple visual schedules and choice boards
Visual schedules and choice boards work for kids of all ages and are great ways to take the ideas you collaborated on and make them feel “official.” These tools don’t have to be a big craft project. Many families find success with simple drawings or written lists posted where children can see them.
Try this: Use moveable pieces—whether magnetic boards, sticky notes, or digital apps—that allow your child to arrange activities in order for the day and even check off completed activities.
Teaching children to self-direct
For parents who work from home, teaching children to self-direct can be very helpful. Many children can manage parts of their day independently when given the right support. The key is understanding your individual child's abilities and providing appropriate preparation and clear expectations. Remember: Your child doesn't need you to orchestrate every moment. They need structure that helps them make good choices and feel successful on their own.
What this looks like in practice:
Morning checklists they can complete without reminders
Activity bins that rotate to maintain interest
Clear guidelines about when it's okay to interrupt your work
Simple meal and snack options they can access safely
“The goal isn’t controlling every moment but creating conditions where positive choices feel natural and your child feels empowered in their daily experience.”
Summer activities to nurture your child’s strengths
If your child is spending most of the summer at home or you’re looking for meaningful activities during downtime between programs, summer offers unique opportunities to nurture their individual strengths. Rather than viewing summer as a time to "fix" challenges, we can celebrate and cultivate each child's natural strengths.
Follow their passions
Many neurodivergent children have intense interests that rarely get full exploration during the busy school year. Summer offers the gift of time to dive deep into these passions, reinforcing that learning is joyful and personally meaningful.
Supporting deep interest exploration:
Library adventures to research everything about dinosaurs, space, or mythology, etc.
Hands-on science experiments that satisfy their need for sensory exploration
Art projects that allow for full creative expression without time constraints
Nature-based learning that combines movement with discovery
“So many of our neurodivergent kids have that one topic that they’re so interested in, but never get to explore in school because they must move to the next unit. Use the summer to allow them to go deep.”
Honoring individual energy patterns
Every child has natural rhythms for focus, creativity, and rest. Some are morning learners, others afternoon explorers. Some need quiet contemplation, others thrive with gentle background stimulation. Remember to inhale and exhale: Inhales are active and engaging activities, while exhales are quieter and restorative ones.
Blackbird pro tip: Track your child’s energy patterns for a week, noting when they’re most alert and when they need breaks. Build “energy maps” together: “You’re a morning owl for focused activities, afternoon eagle for adventure, evening turtle for winding down.”
Integrate daily movement
For neurodivergent children, movement isn't just exercise—it's neurological support that enhances learning, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. The key is weaving joyful movement throughout the day rather than treating it as a separate requirement.
Some fun options: Wobble cushions during reading time, walking conversations about their interests, sandbox play for deep pressure input, or standing workstations for activities that require focus.
Embracing “scheduled boredom”
One of summer's greatest gifts is something many parents try desperately to avoid: boredom. For neurodivergent children especially, learning to navigate unstimulated time is a crucial life skill that builds creativity, independence, and emotional resilience.
Many neurodivergent children have learned to rely on external stimulation to regulate their nervous systems. While this isn't inherently problematic, building tolerance for quiet, unstimulated moments helps them develop internal coping strategies and discover interests they might not otherwise explore.
What “scheduled boredom” looks like:
Set aside 30-60 minutes daily when no activities, screens, or entertainment are provided
Create a "boredom survival kit": art supplies, building materials, books, or simple puzzles they can access independently
Resist the urge to suggest activities when they complain
Stay nearby but don't engage unless safety is a concern
“When children aren’t constantly entertained or directed, they’re forced to look inward, use their imagination, and develop the confidence that comes from figuring things out on their own.”
Managing the inevitable complaints
Let's be honest—your child will never thank you for allowing them to be bored. The immediate reward for this brave parenting choice is whining, complaints, and possibly some dramatic declarations about how terrible life is.
Adjust to boredom gradually if necessary for your family:
Start with shorter periods (10-15 minutes) and gradually increase
Some children may need a calm-down period before they can access creativity
Big emotions during boredom are normal—this is their nervous system learning to self-regulate
Consider offering two "safe" options: "You can be bored in your room or bored in the living room."
When you reframe summer whining as evidence that you're building your child's resilience and creativity, it becomes not enjoyable, but tolerable. And you might just witness the breakthrough moment when boredom transforms into genuine engagement with their own inner world.
Navigating summer camps and camp transitions
Summer camps provide wonderful structure and social opportunities. For neurodivergent children, a little preparation goes a long way toward ensuring positive experiences.
Ways to help them feel ready:
If your child tends to worry about new places, a quick visit beforehand can help them feel more comfortable
Talk with your child about what camp will be like, focusing on any parts that might feel different from their usual activities
Discuss situations that might feel tricky for your specific child: "What if you need help but don't know which counselor to ask?" or "What if the schedule changes because of weather?"
Create a simple schedule if your child does better knowing what to expect throughout the day
Advocating effectively with camp staff
Most counselors genuinely want every child to have a great experience. They simply need to understand what helps your child succeed.
Share information that matters:
What your child loves and does well (this helps staff connect with them)
Situations that might be challenging
Strategies that work when your child feels overwhelmed
How they prefer to receive help or comfort
What to include in your camp communication
Start positive. Share something your child is excited about and one strength they bring to the group. Keep it brief and invite questions.
Give specific helpful information:
One or two situations that can be challenging for your child
What works when those situations come up
How your child prefers to receive help or comfort
Sample framework:
"Hi! [Child's name] is looking forward to [specific camp activity]. They're great at [strength/positive trait]. A couple of things that help them succeed: [specific strategy 1] and [specific strategy 2].
Feel free to call with any questions!"
Supporting daily camp transitions
The shift between camp energy and home routines can be challenging for neurodivergent children. After hours of social interaction and stimulation, many children need intentional support to transition back to home life.
Simple transition supports:
Plan for a brief "decompression window" when your child first comes home—quiet time, a snack, or simply sitting together
Keep pickup and dropoff routines consistent
Expect some big emotions after camp and plan for them with easy dinner options and lowered expectations
Many children hold it together beautifully at camp, then release big feelings once they're home. This isn't defiance—it's their nervous system processing a stimulating day. Plan for decompression time and expect some challenging moments. Remember to protect core home routines (bedtime, wake-up) even when camp schedules shift.
Managing common summer challenges with compassion
Understanding your child's unique needs helps transform potential stress points into opportunities for growth and connection.
Sleep: The foundation of summer well-being
Quality sleep remains crucial during summer's longer days and shifted schedules. The goal is gentle consistency that supports your child's natural rhythms while accommodating seasonal changes. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends 9-12 hours for elementary-aged children and 8-10 hours for teens, with gentle flexibility on weekends.
Practical sleep support for summer
If you’re changing bedtime/wakeup time—adjust sleep gradually—shifting schedules by 15-30 minutes every few days
Consistent wind-down rituals with decreasing stimulation
Room optimization: blackout curtains, cool temperatures, weighted blankets for comfort
Maintained core bedtimes within 1-2 hours of school year patterns
Screen time: Reach for intention and balance
Rather than applying universal time limits, focus on understanding how different types of screen time affect your individual child. Some children use certain technologies to regulate their nervous systems, while others become dysregulated quickly.
For families looking for additional guidance on one of summer's most common challenges, we've created this companion resource: “Screen Time Rules for Kids During Summer Break.” Download this PDF for support establishing guidelines for your family.
Signs to watch for:
Supportive use: Child appears calmer afterward, transitions well to other activities, engages socially
Problematic patterns: Increased meltdowns, sleep disruption, complete resistance to non-screen activities
When screen time becomes obsessive
Some children develop intense preoccupations with gaming or devices that go beyond typical enjoyment. Warning signs include constantly asking for screen time throughout the day, inability to think about or engage with anything else, and significant distress when screens aren't available.
In my clinical experience, some families find that completely removing problematic devices—while difficult initially—leads to children who are significantly happier and healthier once they adjust. This isn't failure; it's recognizing when a particular technology isn't serving your child's well-being and making the brave choice to prioritize their mental health.
Methods to consider: Collaborate with your child to create agreements they understand when possible and set agreed-upon limits. Join them occasionally in their digital interests to maintain connection. Have appealing alternatives ready for transition times. However, trust your instincts—if screen time has become an obsession that dominates your child's thoughts and disrupts family life, more decisive action may be necessary.
Family dynamics that meet everyone’s needs
When families have both neurodivergent and neurotypical children, summer planning requires creative approaches that honor everyone's needs without creating resentment.
Creating fair (not equal) structure
Establish family anchors that everyone participates in—morning outdoor time, afternoon quiet periods—while allowing individual choice within these frameworks. For example: The child who needs routine gets predictability; the one who craves freedom gets autonomy.
“Fair does not mean equal. Equal is everybody gets the same thing. Fair is each of you get what you need. For your child who needs more structure, they get more structure because that’s what they need in order to feel happy and successful.”
Real-world example: One child might need to wake up at the same time every day because without that consistency, they struggle to get out of bed at all. Their sibling might be able to sleep in without any negative effects on their regulation or mood. Both approaches serve each child's neurological needs—and explaining this helps siblings understand that different doesn't mean unfair.
Talk to your children and have open conversations about your family and fairness. Accommodating one child's neurological needs isn't favoritism—it's meeting medical requirements, just as we would for any health condition. Fair means each person gets what they need to thrive.
Embracing summer as a season of growth
Without homework pressures and early wake-ups, children often have more emotional energy available for growth work. Families can focus on skill-building without competing academic demands, whether addressing ADHD needs, anxiety, depression, emotional regulation, or other challenges. Many families find that summer is an ideal time to begin therapy or intensify existing support.
Therapeutic opportunities
Summer provides the flexibility to monitor medication effects more closely without the high stakes of academic performance. During the school year, parents are often hesitant to adjust medications because they're worried about disrupting their child's ability to focus in class or complete assignments.
“During the summer, families have more freedom in their schedule to devote to the work of therapy. There's also the opportunity to go more than once a week to really get those skills in place—what they struggled with the year before, they can solidify and then move into the next school year with a set of tools.”
Why summer works for growth:
Reduced performance pressure allows authentic engagement
Flexible schedules accommodate therapy appointments
Family stress often decreases, creating space for positive changes
Medication adjustments can be monitored without academic consequences
Virtual therapy for summer schedules
The Blackbird Health hybrid therapy model adapts to summer's unique rhythms. Virtual sessions maintain therapeutic momentum even during family travel or schedule disruptions (as long as they are with the same state or the state your therapist is licensed in). Sometimes the change of environment—a session from a beach house or while visiting grandparents—actually enhances the therapeutic process.
What I want every family to know
Your child doesn't need a perfect summer. Your child needs a summer that honors their brain, meets their needs, and gives them space to be themselves without constant pressure to perform or conform.
Some days will involve more screen time than you'd prefer, some days will bring unexpected breakthroughs, and both kinds of days have value. The goal is creating conditions where your child feels safe, understood, and empowered to grow at their own pace.
A final note for parents: Your well-being matters too. Self-care doesn't have to be big or extravagant, but it has to be intentional. Remember to slow down and enjoy your children because they're going to grow up.
Caronne Taylor Bloom is an Licensed Professional Counselor and Educational Advocate who specializes in supporting neurodivergent children and their families. She believes deeply in honoring each child's unique strengths while providing practical strategies that create lasting positive change.
Additional resources
For additional resources on managing specific summer challenges or to schedule a consultation with one of our pediatric specialists, visit blackbirdhealth.com.
