Summer is a time of carefree fun and relaxation for many kids, but there are several challenges that can arise for the highly sensitive child. Here are 5 summer strategies for the highly sensitive child that will help you and your HSC have a more enjoyable season. This post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure page for more information.

5 Strategies for a Successful Summer Break with your HSC

1. Maintain a routine

Summertime brings a more relaxed schedule and free time in a child’s day. While a slower pace can really benefit a highly sensitive child, some type of structure is still needed.

Try to keep some consistent structure to your child’s days as much as possible. You may want to keep meals and sleep schedules close to the same time each day. Scheduling specific activities for certain days or times is also a good idea. For example, every Monday could be library day or after lunch at 1:00 it’s pool time. Develop a schedule with your child and let them have some input if they are old enough. Then put the schedule on a calendar and display it somewhere that your whole family can see.

2. Pick the right sunscreen

Summer means longer days and more time spent outside, so sun protection is necessary. But what do you when your child freaks out by the thought of suntan lotion touching their skin?

Both of our kids have struggled with tactile defensiveness and hate lotion of every kind, so we’ve had to get creative when it comes to keeping them protected from the sun.

When they were little we used Babyganics Sunscreen stick on their whole body. It goes on dry without the greasy feel of lotion. Plus it’s fragrance-free! You really need to rub it in to avoid looking like a ghost, but this is a good opportunity to provide calming proprioceptive input through deep pressure.

Now we use and LOVE Sun Bum Kids SPF 50 Clear Sunscreen Face Stick. It goes on clear and the kids love the smell- they describe it as banana bubblegum!

sunscreen sensitive kids

When rubbing in sunscreen on arms and legs use rhythmic deep pressure to massage the sunscreen in which can help calm your child. You can even do this prior to applying the sunscreen to help your child relax if they are nervous about the applying process.

As they have grown, we now only use the Sun Bum Kids SPF 50 Clear Sunscreen Face Stick, on their faces and are able to use a sunscreen spray on their arms and legs, which is much quicker. If your child struggles with you touching them in anyway when it comes to sunscreen, a sunscreen spray is a great solution.

If your child struggles with the smell of sunscreen, try a fragrance-free brand. We have found that suntan lotion fragrances vary drastically by brand. After much trial and error, we discovered and now love the spray version of Sun Bum- Sun Bum Original Sunscreen Spray which has the same wonderful banana bumblegum scent and comes in SPF 30, 50 and 70.

3. Choose Camps Carefully

Going to camp in the summer can be an exciting time for a child who easily adapts to new environments and experiences. There are new activities to experience, places to explore and friends to meet. For a sensitive and/or anxious child who has trouble adapting to new situations though, the whole experience can be quite scary and overwhelming. Camps come in all different shapes and sizes. What is best for one child, may not work for another. Learn more about picking a summer camp in my article, How to Choose a Summer Camp for your Sensitive Child

4. Be Flexible with Family Vacations

Family vacations provide the opportunity to escape the day-to-day norm and enjoy family time together, but if you are vacationing with a highly sensitive child (HSC), the reality may be very different. The demands of travel and leaving familiarity behind can be very challenging for your child, so it’s important to be flexible when it comes to where you will vacation and the activities you plan to do there. For tips on planning a family vacation with an HSC, click here.

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5. Prepare for summer sensory experiences

Pools

Pools are ripe with sensory input. If you swimming sensitive child are planning to take your HSC swimming or are going to be spending time at a pool this summer, you need to understand the challenges that often arise with water and swimming. Learn 10 tips to make your trip to the pool more pleasant in my article, Why your Highly Sensitive Child Struggles with the Pool.

Beach

The beach can be a very difficult place for an HSC. There is so much tactile stimulation! Sand (dry and wet) can be particularly challenging, along with the hot sun, cold water, wet bathing suits, and often times, wind. Beaches are also typically crowded with only a few feet of space separating you from your neighbor.

Then if all that wasn’t enough, there is that vast ocean with large, intimidating waves crashing with thunderous roars on the beachfront every few seconds.

No wonder highly sensitive kids struggle with the beach!

The beach was a nightmare for our oldest son when he was a toddler. We avoided it for a year, because he just couldn’t handle the sand on his feet or the sound of the ocean. My husband and I love the beach though, so we slowly began to try some new strategies.

Since sand was hard for him we invested in a beach tent and a quick drying, sand proof beach blanket that was large enough for him to move around on and play with his toys. This helped a ton!

Flip flops can also be a sensory nightmare for sensitive kids. We switched to crocs for the beach and during the summer, which has eliminated many shoe meltdowns.

Fireworks

fireworks sensory sensitive child Summer lends itself to fireworks shows, which can be very stressful for a sensitive child. I recommend avoiding them all together if your child is triggered by loud noises, crowds and/or the dark, because it won’t be a pleasant experience for your child or yourself.

If you do decide to attend a fireworks show, I strongly recommend noise cancelling headphones or ear plugs, which are a huge help in lessening the noise. We have used these in the past for both of my sons. My 8 year old no longer needs them, but my 5 year old loves his and they help him feel safe when the loud booms start.

If your child has trouble with crowds, consider sitting as far away as possible while still being able to see. This will not only help your child feel more secure, but you can make a quick exit and beat the crowds when it’s time to leave.

Happy Summer!

You now have 5 strategies to help your highly sensitive child have a more enjoyable summer. How will you enjoy the season with your child? Have a tip I didn’t mention? Please share it in the comments below to help out other parents and kids.