Supporting Executive Function Over Summer Break

Many families of school aged students may struggle with the transition from the structured days of the school year to the unstructured nature of summer break. Summer can present especially unique challenges for students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and other executive functioning (EF) challenges. 

Instead of viewing the summer as a mountain of new challenges, families can view this time as an opportunity to practice self management skills in real-world settings. Research suggests that continued engagement in executive functioning during school breaks can prevent skill regression. It is also a great opportunity to shift focus from academic goals to personal, social and emotional executive function goals. Summer offers many opportunities for informal skill building through experiential learning such as managing responsibilities at a summer job, organizing a family trip or working on a personal project. For many families, a combination of executive functioning coaching and medication management can support skill regression and even promote skill building over the summer months. 

This is where Executive Functioning Coaching and ADHD Medication Management at Philadelphia Integrative Psychiatry come into play. Our team of skilled Executive Function Coaches and Medication Providers can support students by collaborating to ensure that your student has the best summer possible. 

Effective Strategies for Executive Function Growth in the Summer 

1. Establish a Balance Between Structure and Flexibility 

   • While summer should be a time to rest and rejuvenate, maintaining light   structure helps students practice planning and organization skills. 

2. Try to establish an expected bed time and wake time, especially during the week, to minimize sleep schedule disruptions in the fall 

3. Work with your child and/or Executive Function Coach to map out daily and weekly plans and activities - especially ones that involve child lead outdoor play! 

4. Manage Screen Time 

• While it may be tempting to allow unlimited screen time for your students over the summer to keep them busy, research shows that interactive screen use (such as video games and social media) can increase dysregulation in young adults, especially those with ADHD. 

• If you had screen limits set during the school year, continue them over the summer! Examples: no screens until chores are completed. Or no screens after 8pm. 

• Work with your Executive Function Coach to create a plan for a Screen Free Summer

5. Focus on Personal, Social and Emotional Executive Function Skills:

1. Sometimes these skills can be put on the backburner during the school year when academic skills are prioritized. Now is the best time to focus on them!

6. Sign your child up for activities such as summer camps and workshops. If they are too old for camp, support your teenager with securing a summer job! 

7. Tackle those projects that you have been putting off. It could be a project that you can model or one that you can tackle together (ex: purging and donating clothes, cleaning out garage, learning a new skill, etc.). 

Executive function coaching does not have to pause when school lets out - it can be a powerful tool for helping students build confidence, independence, and self regulation in ways traditional classroom settings don’t always allow. Whether through structured coaching sessions or informal summer activities, students with ADHD benefit immensely from Executive Function development during the summer break. 

Related Posts:

Here is a list of resources including ideas for symptom relief, information on comorbidities, and many other resources for learning how to best help your child with ADHD. 

Here is an overview of Executive Function Coaching and how it can benefit people with ADHD

Sources: 

1. ADDitude Mag: A Summer Well Spent: How to Orchestrate Fun & Learning: What to Do Over the Summer: Fun & Learning for ADHD Kids

2. ADDitude Mag: How to Hone Executive Functioning Skills This Summer: 4 Fun, Easy Ideas: Executive Functioning Skills: Activities for Summer