🪺Glimmer Nest: When When Summer Plans Meet Reality

(And Why That's Actually Perfect)

Jun 08, 2025

I promised you a summer guide last week, and it's here—right in this issue! I think I’ll call them Glimmer Guides! But first, let me tell you about a moment just last week that really stopped me in my tracks. I was all ready and excited to leap into an activity that my son and I did last summer. It’s something he just loves! Turns out he no longer is interested in it … at least not right now. I’m not sure what’s behind this shift. He's always been my little fish, loving anything water-related, but suddenly even swimming feels overwhelming to him. I also had just three weeks prior talked to him about some art lessons we could do. Again, not interested. Currently he’s struggling with anxiety and depression on top of his autism. That’s a lot to process! And, this perfectly captures why this guide became something bigger than I originally planned.

“Is it ok if we do it later?” is exactly what he said. I’m choosing to look at this as a door slightly ajar, but not one to be forced open.

This perfectly captures how our kids' needs can shift, especially when they're managing multiple challenges. He was right. And it hit me: how many times have I created elaborate summer plans that looked perfect on paper but completely missed the mark for what he actually needed at that moment? Whether we plan ahead or are woefully behind, it’s often very challenging to assess what activities will land on the day that they actually happen. It could be a sensory overload issue, a bad mood, or lack of confidence. Whatever it is, I know I need to learn to listen to what he’s telling me and not to assume that I know.

From Autism-Specific to "Special Needs" (And Why That Matters)

While creating this guide, something interesting happened. I started writing specifically for autism families, but the more I worked on it, the more I realized these strategies work for any child who needs extra support, time, or understanding.

Kids with ADHD who get overwhelmed by choices? The gradual, interest-based approaches work beautifully. Children with anxiety who need predictability? Visual supports are lifesavers. Sensitive kids who get overstimulated by summer chaos? The sensory-informed activities provide exactly what they need.

The more I think about it, "special needs" strategies are often just thoughtful strategies made more intentional and visible.

Summer Fails That Became Learning

Let me share some honest moments from our summers:

Mini Camp Mix-Up ➡️
Several years ago, enrolling him in summer camp at his own elementary school seemed like a no-brainer. He had great support during the school year, and familiar teachers would be running it. What I didn't realize was that summer programs operate completely differently - no IEPs, no support staff, no accommodations. He couldn't participate without the structure he needed. The silver lining? The following year they created a buddy program with high school helpers and added clear language about what supports they could actually provide.

The Museum Meltdown ➡️
I researched autism-friendly museum hours, even a free day, brought noise-canceling headphones, planned the perfect route. Made it 15 minutes before the hand dryer in the bathroom triggered a complete meltdown and we had to leave.

The Art Studio Setup ➡️
Created an entire outdoor painting station with washable paints, thinking mess = fun. The unpredictable dripping caused immediate overwhelm and anxiety instead of creative freedom.

What Makes This Guide Different

"Expanding Horizons: A Summer Activity Guide for Neurodivergent and Special Needs Families" isn't 50 activities you'll never use. Instead, it's realistic strategies tested by real families dealing with real challenges:

Start Small Philosophy: How to make activities available without pressure
Sensory-Smart Activities: Water play, movement, and creating designed for different sensory needs
Special Interest Bridges: Concrete ways to expand from what already works
When Plans Go Sideways: Honest troubleshooting (because they often don't work!)
Free Resources Throughout: Carefully curated links that actually support these activities

A Quick Example

Here's one strategy from the guide that has transformed our summers: Instead of planning full activities, I choose one tiny thing and make it available without pressure.

A few summers ago, knowing we'd have some long indoor days, I quietly set up a simple station on our coffee table - just some painter's tape, toy cars, crayons, and butcher paper. No explanation, no expectations, just there if needed.

Two days later, when boredom struck, curiosity won. What started as "I'll just drive this car around" became an elaborate road system creation project. He used the painter's tape to make highways, colored in buildings and landscapes, then spent hours shooting videos with his phone of the cars "driving" through his created world.

This summer, with how things have been lately, that same approach will look different - maybe a basket with collage materials like stickers, magazines, construction paper, and a few old Disney Pixar coloring books for comfort. The activity changes, but the "available without pressure" philosophy stays the same.

The guide includes dozens of these gentle setups, organized by the type of input your child seeks most, and adapted for how interests and needs evolve over time.

I'm genuinely excited about sharing this guide. This summer, instead of forcing activities that don't fit, we're going to start with what works and gently expand from there.

If you'd like access to this guide and future resources, I'd be honored to have you as a a subscriber. Thank you for being part of this journey. Here's to a summer of gentle expansion and maybe a few beautiful surprises.

With excitement and gratitude,