Preventing Summer Regression in Children with Autism: A Minnesota Parent’s Guide

1. What Is Summer Regression—and Why Should Minnesota Parents Plan for It?

School is winding down, summer plans are taking shape, and if your child receives ABA therapy or special education services, a quiet worry may already be forming in the back of your mind: “Will my child lose the progress they’ve worked so hard for?”

That worry has a name: summer regression. It refers to the documented loss of skills—communication, social, behavioral, and daily living—that can occur during extended breaks from structured instruction. Most parents have heard of the academic “summer slide,” but for children with autism spectrum disorder, the stakes go beyond reading levels and math facts.

Research consistently shows that 70–78% of elementary students experience some decline in math skills over summer, and up to 20% of reading gains are lost. Children with autism typically regress more than their neurotypical peers because they have slower rates of skill acquisition and greater difficulty maintaining and generalizing learned skills over time. (ERIC — Regression among Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2013)

The good news? Summer regression is predictable, well-studied, and largely preventable when families plan for it. This guide gives Minnesota parents practical, evidence-based strategies to protect the gains your child made during the school year—and even build new skills when the pressure of academics lifts.

Summer regression is not inevitable. With a plan, the right supports, and a little consistency, your child’s progress can continue straight through the break.

2. Why Children with Autism Are More Vulnerable to Summer Skill Loss

Understanding why regression happens helps you prevent it. For many children with autism, three factors make summer breaks especially risky:

Loss of Routine and Predictability

Children with autism often rely on predictable routines to feel secure and function at their best. The school year provides a built-in structure—wake times, class schedules, therapy sessions, transitions. When that framework disappears in June, the loss of predictability can increase anxiety, disrupt sleep, and make it harder for children to engage in the behaviors and skills they’ve been practicing.

Reduced Structured Practice

Skills like requesting items, tolerating transitions, following multi-step directions, and engaging with peers require ongoing, structured practice to maintain. ABA therapy targets these skills through repeated trials, reinforcement, and data-driven adjustments. When structured practice decreases—even for a few weeks—skills that weren’t yet fully mastered are the first to weaken. (Behavior Analyst Certification Board)

Fewer Social Opportunities

During the school year, children interact with peers daily—in classrooms, at lunch, on the playground. Summer eliminates most of these natural social touchpoints. For children who have been working on social skills like turn-taking, shared attention, or reading social cues, the sudden lack of peer interaction can lead to noticeable regression in these areas.

Generalization Challenges

One of the hallmarks of autism is difficulty generalizing—applying a skill learned in one setting to a new environment. A child may follow a visual schedule at school but struggle without it at home. They may greet their teacher but not neighbors. Summer introduces new settings (camps, vacations, grandparents’ houses) where previously mastered skills may not transfer automatically without support.

3. Seven Strategies to Prevent Summer Regression

You don’t need to replicate the school year at home. What matters is maintaining enough consistency, practice, and support to protect your child’s gains. Here are seven evidence-based strategies that work.

Strategy 1: Keep ABA Therapy Going Through Summer

The single most effective way to prevent summer regression is to continue ABA therapy without a significant break. This doesn’t mean sessions have to look exactly like they do during the school year. Summer offers a unique opportunity to shift focus, work on goals that are easier to address without academic pressures, and practice skills in new settings like parks, pools, and community outings.

At Ability Avenues, both our in-home and center-based ABA programs continue through the summer with no break in service. Our clinical team adjusts goals and activities to take advantage of the season while keeping your child’s progress on track.

Strategy 2: Build a Predictable Daily Routine

You don’t need a minute-by-minute schedule, but your child benefits from knowing what to expect each day. A consistent morning routine is the single most protective factor against summer regression—same wake time, same sequence of activities, same expectations. This signals to your child that the world is still operating in a way that makes sense, even when school isn’t in session.

Use a visual schedule with icons or photos to help your child anticipate what comes next. Tools like First/Then boards (First brush teeth, Then breakfast) are especially helpful for younger children. Keep mealtimes and bedtimes consistent, and build in regular times for structured activities, free play, and quiet time.

Strategy 3: Practice Skills in Everyday Moments

Whatever your child has been working on in therapy, look for moments in daily life to practice it. This is where skill maintenance meets the real world:

• If they’ve been working on requesting items, let them order for themselves at a restaurant or ask for items at the grocery store
• If they’ve been working on tolerating transitions, narrate schedule changes in advance and use the same language their therapist uses
• If they’ve been working on turn-taking, play board games or card games that require waiting
• If they’ve been working on following directions, involve them in cooking, gardening, or simple household tasks

Ask your BCBA for a short list of the 2–3 most important skills to maintain over summer. Keeping it focused prevents burnout for both you and your child. For more ideas on reinforcing therapy skills at home, read our guide on 7 ways to reinforce your child’s ABA therapy at home.

Strategy 4: Maintain Social Opportunities in Small Doses

Social skills regress quickly without peer practice. But you don’t need to sign your child up for a crowded day camp. Instead, look for small, structured social opportunities:

• A playdate with one familiar peer
• A structured swim lesson or gymnastics class
• A library story time or summer reading program
• A community arts or music program designed for smaller groups

Minnesota has excellent summer programming for children with disabilities. The Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) hosts summer camps and social groups throughout the Twin Cities. Many Minneapolis and St. Paul park districts offer adaptive recreation programs that provide structured socialization with trained staff.

Strategy 5: Communicate With Your Therapy Team Before Summer Starts

The best thing you can do is have a conversation with your child’s BCBA before the school year ends. Every child’s regression risk profile is different, and a good therapist will help you understand yours. Together, you can:

• Identify which skills are most at risk of regression
• Create a realistic maintenance plan for home
• Adjust ABA therapy goals to take advantage of summer opportunities
• Plan for any schedule changes (vacations, travel, camps)
• Discuss whether additional therapy hours might be helpful during break

Strategy 6: Use Summer for Skill-Building Adventures

Summer doesn’t have to be about just holding the line. Without homework and academic demands, summer is actually an ideal time to work on life skills and community participation that are harder to practice during the busy school year:

• Visiting the Minnesota Zoo, Como Zoo, or the Science Museum with a plan for practicing transitions and social greetings
• Taking trips to the farmers’ market to practice money skills and conversations
• Swimming at local lakes or pools to build sensory tolerance and body awareness
• Exploring new parks and playgrounds to practice flexibility with new environments
• Cooking simple meals together to work on following directions and fine motor skills

Prepare your child for these outings using social stories, photos of the destination, or video walkthroughs. Pack familiar comfort items, preferred snacks, and sensory tools. Build in downtime and quiet spaces so your child isn’t overwhelmed.

Strategy 7: Take Care of Yourself, Too

Summer with a child who has autism can be both wonderful and exhausting—especially without the built-in structure of school. Remember that consistency matters more than perfection. You don’t need to fill every moment with structured learning. A predictable routine with some flexibility is far more sustainable than trying to replicate a school day at home.

If you need respite, reach out to your support network. Under Minnesota’s EIDBI benefit, family caregiver training and counseling is a covered service—your BCBA can help you develop strategies for managing the summer months while protecting your own well-being. (Minnesota DHS — EIDBI Benefit)

Structure and fun are not opposites. A predictable morning routine does not prevent an afternoon adventure. What matters is that your child has enough predictability to feel secure and enough flexibility to enjoy the season.

4. Extended School Year (ESY) Services in Minnesota

If your child has an IEP, they may be eligible for Extended School Year (ESY) services—free, school-provided services that continue during summer to prevent regression on critical IEP goals. ESY is not summer school; it’s a targeted, individualized program focused on maintaining the specific skills your child is most at risk of losing.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), school districts must provide ESY services when the IEP team determines they are necessary for a child to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). In Minnesota, ESY eligibility is based on:

• Regression/recoupment data: How much does your child lose after breaks, and how long does it take to relearn?
• Emerging or critical skills: Is your child at a breakthrough point where a break could undo significant progress?
• Severity of the disability: Does the nature and severity of the disability make regression particularly likely?
• Expert recommendation: Your BCBA or other specialists can provide data supporting the need for ESY

ESY decisions should happen at your child’s IEP meeting before summer break begins. If you believe your child needs ESY and the school hasn’t brought it up, you have the right to request it. The PACER Center in Bloomington, MN, offers free guidance on advocating for ESY services.

A Board Certified Behavior Analyst can be a powerful advocate when seeking ESY services. Your BCBA can use therapy data to demonstrate the likelihood of regression, which helps the IEP team make a well-informed eligibility decision. (Minnesota Department of Education — Special Education)

ESY and private ABA therapy are not mutually exclusive. Many Minnesota families use both—ESY to maintain school-based IEP goals and ABA therapy to continue behavioral and developmental progress. The two complement each other.

5. How EIDBI Supports Summer ABA Services in Minnesota

If your child receives ABA therapy through Minnesota’s EIDBI (Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention) benefit, here’s the important thing to know: EIDBI services do not stop for summer. The benefit provides year-round coverage for medically necessary ABA therapy and related services for children under 21 with autism or related conditions who are enrolled in Medical Assistance.

This means your child can continue receiving ABA therapy throughout the summer without any gap in funding or authorization. In fact, summer can be an ideal time to increase therapy hours since your child no longer has the competing demands of school. Many families work with their BCBA to add sessions during the summer weeks when their child would otherwise have unstructured time.

EIDBI also covers family caregiver training and counseling—which is especially valuable during summer when you’re spending more time with your child at home. Your BCBA can coach you on how to embed skill practice into daily routines, manage challenging behaviors during less-structured days, and create a summer environment that supports your child’s continued growth. (Minnesota DHS — EIDBI Provider Manual)

If your child isn’t currently receiving EIDBI services but you think they might qualify, summer is a great time to start the process. Learn more about what EIDBI is and how it works, or submit a referral to begin.

6. A Sample Summer Schedule for Children with Autism

Every child is different, but here’s a framework you can adapt. The goal isn’t rigidity—it’s predictability with room to breathe.

Morning (Structure)

• 7:00–8:00 AM: Wake up, morning routine (same sequence daily)
• 8:00–8:30 AM: Breakfast (practice mealtime skills)
• 8:30–11:30 AM: ABA therapy session or structured activity time (skill practice, learning activities)

Midday (Flexibility)

• 11:30 AM–12:00 PM: Lunch and downtime
• 12:00–2:00 PM: Free play, outdoor time, or community outing

Afternoon (Balance)

• 2:00–3:00 PM: Quiet time (reading, puzzles, sensory play)
• 3:00–4:00 PM: Social opportunity (playdate, class, park visit with a peer)
• 4:00–5:00 PM: Independent play or family activity

Evening (Wind Down)

• 5:00–6:00 PM: Dinner (practice conversation, mealtime expectations)
• 6:00–7:00 PM: Family time, calming activities
• 7:00–7:30 PM: Bedtime routine (same sequence nightly)

Post this schedule as a visual schedule where your child can see it. Use pictures for younger children and written words for older children. Let your child check off or move items as they complete them—this builds independence and reduces anxiety about what comes next.

7. Minnesota Summer Resources for Families

Minnesota families have access to excellent summer resources. Here are organizations and programs to know about:

Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM)

AuSM offers summer camps, social groups, and community events throughout the Twin Cities. Their programs are designed specifically for individuals on the autism spectrum and provide structured socialization in a supportive environment.

PACER Center

The PACER Center in Bloomington provides free advocacy support, including guidance on ESY services, IEP summer planning, and connecting with community resources. They also host the annual PACER Family Fun Day and various summer workshops for families.

Minneapolis and St. Paul Parks & Recreation

Both cities offer adaptive recreation programs during the summer, including swimming lessons, day camps, and activity programs designed for children with disabilities. These programs provide peer interaction with trained staff who understand your child’s needs.

Minnesota Governor’s Council on Autism

The Minnesota Autism Portal is a centralized hub for resources, including summer programming, recreation options, and support services organized by region. It’s regularly updated and is a great starting point for finding local opportunities.

Local Libraries

Hennepin County Library, Ramsey County Library, and other metro-area library systems run free summer reading programs with sensory-friendly story times and inclusive programming. These provide structured, low-pressure social opportunities for children with autism.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

9. Make This Summer Count

Summer doesn’t have to be a season of worry. With the right plan, the right supports, and a little intentionality, it can be a time when your child maintains their gains, builds new skills, and enjoys being a kid.

At Ability Avenues, our clinical team works with Minnesota families year-round to ensure that progress never takes a vacation. We know that every child’s needs are different, and we build individualized summer plans that balance skill maintenance, new learning, and fun.