The warm weather is finally here, bringing plenty of opportunities to spend quality time with your family! Here are a few of our favorite summer activities that develop crucial learning skills for your child.

Infants: Guide your baby along for a relaxing walk around the neighborhood. Begin with properly dressing up for the occasion, making sure to explain what each item is for. Try phrases like "Shorts are what you wear on your legs, and socks go on your feet!" Once outside, talk about what you see, and point out events such as a passing bird or a red flower.

Toddlers: Take a trip to the local park! Encourage your toddler to explore various terrains such as a small hill, or inside a sandbox. Play basic games that encourage visual perception skills, like rolling a ball back and forth, or playing catch.

Pre-Kindergarten: Go for a nature hike! Explore the various plants and wildlife, making sure to emphasize which items are bigger or smaller than the other. Develop scientific thinking skills by asking your child to spot the differences between similar looking trees, or to spot the different colors that appear on the leaves.

Kindergarten: Plan a short trip around your town or city. Ask questions that encourages thinking skills and social development, such as why certain buildings are in the community. Try questions like "Who places the fire hydrants on the sidewalks?" or "Where do the vegetable in this garden come from?" Take digital pictures and review them after the trip to go over missed details or to re-emphasize important facts.

It can be a challenge to set aside time to relax and rejuvenate from daily routine. Vacations are a great way to enjoy some time off with your family, and can be a great source of fun memories! Here are a few tips to remember when planning your vacation with your special needs child.

Plan your destination: Don't rush the pre-vacation steps of planning ahead, or you run the risk of something going wrong that could be avoided. Book reservations and scope out google maps for nearby food stores and pharmacies. Check that your location of choice provides accommodations for your child's needs. The best vacations do not happen by accident—they are planned for success.

Bring favorite items: Always keep favorite toys or snacks on hand to give your child entertainment during long car rides or flights. Food may be especially important if a special diet must be met. Try not to rely on a single form of entertainment, such as watching a movie on a mobile device, to be appropriate or available for all situations.

Stay organized: For larger families, keeping track of items may be cause for concern. In an emergency situation, nothing is more important than having easy access to important items. Try packing smaller, individual bags into larger bags to save space and keep track of various necessities.