Why is summer training important for children with special needs?

Consistent summer training maintains motor, sensory, and behavioral gains, and prevents regression in children with special needs.

What activities support special needs during the summer?

Adaptive fitness like coordination games, sensory integration, strength-building, and calming movement supported by consistent routine.

Does pausing summer training cause regression?

Yes—studies show structured breaks can lead to loss of motor competence and emotional gains unless training is maintained.

What does Fit First offer in the summer?

Fit First offers structured, sensory-informed adaptive fitness sessions—both individual and small group—for consistent summer gains.

Special Needs Training During the Summer: Why Consistency Matters

fitfirstmanager
Jul 15
2 min read

Summer feels like a break, but for children with special needs, it’s a critical season to maintain structured, adaptive fitness routines. At Fit First, we know that sustaining physical activity—even without school—helps preserve progress in motor skills, sensory regulation, and emotional growth.

Why Routine Supports Development

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental coordination disorder (DCD) benefit from predictable, structured routines. Interrupting these—which often happens during summer—can lead to regression in skills, increased anxiety, and emotional dysregulation.

Boy in an orange tank top jogging outdoors, smiling. Blurred green trees in the background create a cheerful, sunny atmosphere.

A 2010 systematic review found that engaging individuals with ASD in regular physical exercise led to reductions in maladaptive behaviors (e.g., aggression, off-task behavior) and an increase in appropriate motor and social activities Bewegen voor je brein+1Academia+1.

Prevent Summer Regression

Known as “summer slide,” regression isn’t just academic—it can occur in physical and emotional domains too. Leading research shows that motor-skill interventions greatly benefit children with DCD, especially when training is consistent and high-dose. A meta-analysis reported large, immediate improvements in both motor competence and cognitive-emotional factors, with higher gains tied to greater frequency PubMed.

Movement as Emotional and Neurological Regulation

Structured exercise doesn’t just strengthen muscles—it supports neurological development and emotional regulation, especially for children with ASD, ADHD, or sensory-processing differences. Recent reviews confirm that gross-motor interventions positively influence coordination, social interaction, behavior, and sensory control when implemented over time .

What Fit First Offers This Summer

Boy in a green shirt smiling joyfully in a park with swings. A girl in white and purple is nearby. Lush trees create a playful mood.

Our summer program delivers:

One-on-one & small group sessions
Trainers acutely aware of behavioral and sensory needs
Predictable routines with clear transitions
A mix of coordination challenges, strength work, cardio, and calming movement

We don’t just maintain progress—we push it forward, ensuring your child starts the fall stronger than ever.

Consistency is the Key

Pausing training during the summer may seem harmless—but for children with neurodevelopmental differences, consistency is growth. Regular movement helps retain physical gains, supports behavior management, and fosters confidence, emotional stability, and sensory regulation.

Sources

Lang, R. et al. (2010). Physical exercise and individuals with autism spectrum disorders: A systematic review. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Link
Smits-Engelsman, B. et al. (2018). Motor skill interventions in children with developmental coordination disorder: Meta-analysis of rehabilitation. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Link
Alghadier, M. & Alhusayni, A. I. (2024). Efficacy of gross-motor-based interventions for children with DCD: Systematic review. Journal of Clinical Medicine. Link
Shimeng Wang et al. (2025). Physical exercise interventions improve motor skills, coordination, behavioral control in ASD: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Pediatrics. Link
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