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Strategies for Teaching Based on Autism Research

June 2025 Newsletter | Supporting Sensory Sensitivities This Summer

HomeJune 2025 Newsletter | Supporting Sensory Sensitivities This Summer

children playing in summer

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Supporting Sensory Sensitivities This Summer  

Summer brings sunshine, celebrations, and a wide range of sensory experiences. From fireworks and cookouts to vacations and summer camps, these events can be exciting—but also overwhelming—for students with sensory sensitivities. Understanding and managing sensory input is a vital part of daily life, and summer offers a great opportunity to explore strategies that support comfort, regulation, and participation.

sensory sensitivities

Identifying Sensory Sensitivities

Sensory sensitivities can be triggered by a variety of environmental factors. Imagine a social gathering outdoors on a hot June afternoon—what might that feel like for someone with sensory sensitivities?

Here are some common sensory triggers to consider:

  • Temperature: Is it hot or humid? Are there options for shade or cooling?

  • Clothing: Are layers needed? Are fabrics soft and breathable?

  • Lighting: Will the event include bright sunlight or flashing lights?

  • Sound: Is there music, loud conversation, or fireworks?

  • Food: What smells or textures might be overwhelming or comforting?

  • Motion: Will there be travel, crowds, or uneven surfaces?

  • Pressure: Are there changes in air pressure (e.g., during travel or weather shifts)?

These factors can vary across settings—home, school, transportation, or public spaces. It’s helpful to ask: What hurts? What helps? Identifying these patterns allows students and caregivers to plan ahead and use tools that support regulation.

tools and tips

Managing Sensitivities: Tools and Tips

Whether at home or school, proactive strategies can make a big difference. Here are some ideas to try:

  • Create a sensory-friendly space: A quiet room or corner with preferred items can offer a calming retreat.

  • Build sensory check-ins into routines: During transitions, ask about temperature, noise, or lighting to help students assess and respond to changes in their environment.

  • Use preferred objects—and explore new ones: Familiar textures, sounds, or visuals can be grounding. Gradually introducing new sensory tools can expand comfort zones.

  • Organize tools in accessible spaces: Practice finding and using sensory supports independently.

  • Model sensory management: Adults can demonstrate how they adapt to sensory input—like putting on sunglasses or taking a deep breath—showing students that everyone uses strategies to self-monitor.

  • Practice communication: What does asking for help look like? When is it needed? Role-playing can help build confidence.

Planning ahead is key. Whether it’s a summer dentist appointment, a vacation, or a camp day, previewing the experience and practicing responses can reduce anxiety and increase success.

Resources to Explore

Looking for ways to build sensory awareness into learning and play? Try these examples of STAR curriculum tools and activities:

  • Themes First! Science Explorers: Use sensory-focused lessons to explore the world through touch, sound, and sight. For example, students can learn about the concepts of dirty and clean through hands-on exploration involving water (English | Español).

  • Themes First! Art: Create a fireworks painting using straws to explore sound and motion through art in this Fireworks Straw Painting lesson (English: Instructions and Step-by-Step Guide | Español: Instructions and Step-by-Step Guide | Video).

  • Links ATU Life Skills: Use cooking content from Links to make a favorite summer treat—a vanilla milkshake (English | Español)—to experience food preparation involving a variety of temperatures and textures, along with the use of a loud kitchen tool like the blender.

  • Routine Essentials: Use visual supports like the “Trying New Foods” choice wheel (English | Español) to explore new tastes in a simple, low-pressure way.

For more sensory-management ideas:

  • Media Center users can explore the NEW Thematic Play content in Themes First! starting with our Back to School unit, which includes lessons designed to support play exploration in structured, sensory-engaging ways.

  • SOLER users have access to a wide range of lessons for self-awareness and self-management! Use the materials provided in these SOLER lessons to guide practice with self-monitoring and self-advocacy.