4 Fun Ways to Teach New Skills This Summer

Note: This post was originally written in 2022 and has been updated to reflect more current information (2026).

Summer is a wonderful time to step away from the usual routine and try something new. Fear not — here are four fun ways you can help your student build new academic and social skills that you can start anytime.

1. Go to the movies.

Summer is a great time to work on movie theater skills because several major chains offer discounted kids' showings throughout June, July, and August. Regal Cinemas brings back their Summer Movie Express with tickets as low as $1 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Cinemark's Summer Movie Clubhouse runs 10 weeks of films for just $1.75 per ticket. AMC's Summer Movie Camp offers tickets for around $3 on select days. Always check your local theater's website to confirm participation and showtimes, as they vary by location.

The low ticket price is genuinely helpful for special needs families, because it removes the pressure to stay for the entire film. Many of our students can only manage 10 to 15 minutes at first, and that is perfectly okay. A short, positive experience is the whole point. As an added bonus, AMC offers Sensory Friendly Film screenings on the second and fourth Saturday of each month — lower sound, brighter lights, and a welcoming environment for families like ours.

2. Go out to eat.

A great way to begin building restaurant skills is to start small — a donut shop, an ice cream counter, or a smoothie spot. The limited choices, quick service, and relaxed atmosphere make these ideal first outings for nonspeaking diners. Lazy summer mornings allow you to take your time, keep things low pressure, and turn the experience into a genuinely positive one.

3. Learn with a floor puzzle.

Nonspeaking autistic students are often great at puzzles, and floor puzzles are excellent teaching tools because they do not require sitting at a table. An alphabet floor puzzle is a particularly useful one — if your student can put it together easily, that is a strong signal they are ready to begin reading. Our favorite for ABCs is the Melissa and Doug Alphabet Floor Puzzle, available on Amazon.

4. Take swimming lessons.

Water safety is one of the most important skills we can give our students. Autistic children are significantly more likely to experience drowning incidents than neurotypical children, which makes adaptive swimming lessons a genuine priority.

If cost is a barrier, there are resources worth exploring. The Autism Society of America has an adaptive aquatics program that connects families with swim lessons in their communities. California families can also check with their regional center about funding through Social Recreation. Searching "autism adaptive swimming scholarship" along with your city or county is a good starting point for finding local options.

Enjoy your summer and happy learning!