Why Summer is the Perfect Time for Play Therapy

Summer might feel like a break from school, but for many families, it’s when emotions get turned up. Less structure, longer days, and shifting routines can bring out everything from tantrums to shutdowns—and for neurodivergent kids, those changes can be especially hard.

At The Healing Playroom, we often see our most transformative work happen during the summer months. Here’s why.

1. There’s More Space for Progress
With fewer academic demands and extracurriculars, kids have more bandwidth for emotional processing. That means:

• Fewer distractions

• Less emotional fatigue from school stress

• Greater openness to new routines and skills

Play therapy thrives in that open space. Children are more available for deeper play, more reflective moments, and more connection—both with us and with you at home.

2. It Supports Smooth Transitions
Whether your child is starting kindergarten, moving up a grade, or simply adjusting to schedule changes, summer therapy provides a stable throughline.

In our Kindergarten Readiness groups, for example, we help children:

• Practice separation and reunification gently

• Build emotional vocabulary

• Strengthen frustration tolerance and flexible thinking

That makes the eventual back-to-school transition smoother—and often helps prevent those “September meltdowns.”

https://www.thehealingplayroom.com/starting-kindergarten

3. It Provides a Safe Structure for Kids Who Need It
For kids with ADHD, sensory sensitivities, or anxiety, unstructured summer days can be overwhelming. Without the predictability of school, many children feel untethered—and that’s when big behaviors show up.

That’s where summer play therapy steps in.

Our ADHD Summer Group, for instance, offers:

• Consistent weekly structure

• Peer interaction with gentle therapeutic support

• Activities that build emotional regulation, impulse control, and self-awareness

It’s fun, engaging, and rooted in developmental science—and it helps children feel successful and seen.

https://www.thehealingplayroom.com/play-therapy-adhd-group-ages-8-10

4. It Strengthens Family Dynamics
Therapy in the summer doesn’t just benefit the child—it benefits the whole family.

Without the time crunch of school mornings or homework fights, many families feel more spacious. Parents are more available to absorb therapeutic strategies, try new tools, and reflect on their own patterns.

Whether it’s through our Support for Parents training or real-time coaching during sessions, we support families in creating a more connected, regulated home environment.

https://www.thehealingplayroom.com/behavior-management-training-for-parents

Let’s Make This Summer a Season of Growth
This summer, your child can do more than “get through it.” They can thrive emotionally—with the right kind of support.

At The Healing Playroom, we create spaces where kids feel safe to explore who they are, practice new skills, and grow from the inside out. Whether it’s in our playroom, in a group, or through parent support—we’re here to make this your family’s most connected summer yet.

Ready to get started? Enrollment is open now.

Kindergarten Readiness group: https://www.thehealingplayroom.com/starting-kindergarten

ADHD Summer Group: https://www.thehealingplayroom.com/play-therapy-adhd-group-ages-8-10

Support for Parents training: https://www.thehealingplayroom.com/behavior-management-training-for-parents

Let’s build something beautiful—together.