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Creating a Person‑Centered  Summer Plan Your Child Will  Actually  Follow

Parent writing a summer plan with child input, illustrating a person-centered approach to summer planning for kids.
Stop Planning for Them and Plan with Them  

Traditional schedules fail because kids had no voice in them. 


Person‑Centered Planning (P‑C P) — from MAPS and PATH models ([inclusion.com]


and 


Charting the LifeCourse framework 

fixes that by asking: What does a good day look like for you? 



Parent Tools You Can Use Today



1️⃣ Draw a “Good Day Map” Together


Mom and child drawing a Good Day Map together to plan a personalized summer routine.

Fold paper in half: one side = morning to noon, other = noon to night. 


Ask, “When are you happiest?” and “What makes you grumpy?” 


Connect dots; that’s your starter schedule. 



2️⃣ Use the LifeCourse “Integrated Supports Star”


Colorful star stickers arranged on a page, representing the LifeCourse Integrated Supports Star for summer planning.

List people (sibling helpers), places (library, Y camp), programs (ESY, therapy), and '

personal strengths. 


Every star point = one realistic summer support.



3️⃣ Set ONE Goal Per Life Domain


Parent writing one clear goal per life domain on a planning sheet for a child’s person-centered summer plan.

Examples:  


  • Daily Life: Make breakfast 2× week.  

  • Community: Join a library event.  

  • Safety: Memorize address & phone number.   


Low pressure, high payout.



4️⃣ Mix Visual Accountability with Choice


Parent standing by a board covered in sticky notes, showing visual accountability with choice for summer goals.

Create a poster board with goal icons and Velcro dots. 


Kids drag completed tasks to a “Done!” side. Instant dopamine hit without token charts. 



5️⃣ Reflect Each Weekend:

“What Worked / What Fell Apart?”


Parent sitting at a table with a thoughtful expression, reflecting on what worked and what fell apart in the weekly summer plan.

Person‑centered means iterative; plans breathe. 


When ownership shifts to the child, follow‑through skyrockets.



 Final Takeaway


The best plans grow with your family, not against it. 


A person-centered summer plan helps your child stay engaged and routines stick.


By summer’s end, you’ll have more than memories — you’ll have momentum.



References


Inclusion Press. (2024). MAPS and PATH Planning Guides. [https://inclusion.com](https://inclusion.com)  


LifeCourse Nexus. (2025). Person‑Centered Thinking Tools for Families. [https://www.lifecoursetools.com](https://www.lifecoursetools.com)


 
 
 

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