Summer Activities for Deaf Children

Six weeks of school holidays can be brilliant or brutal, depending on what's available. Here are ideas for making the summer enjoyable and accessible.

The summer holidays stretch out ahead, full of potential and, for many parents, a quiet dread. Mainstream holiday clubs don't always cater for deaf children. The activities on offer may rely heavily on spoken instructions. Staff may have no experience of hearing loss. And the noise levels in a room full of excited children can make hearing technology all but useless.

That doesn't mean summer has to be difficult. With a bit of planning and some creative thinking, deaf children can have a summer that's every bit as fun as their hearing peers'. Here are some ideas.

Deaf-Specific Programmes

Several organisations run activities specifically for deaf children during the holidays:

  • NDCS events — the National Deaf Children's Society runs residential and day events throughout the summer. These range from technology weekends to outdoor adventure camps. They're fully accessible, and for many deaf children, being in a group where everyone signs or understands hearing technology is a revelatory experience.
  • Deaf youth clubs — some areas have youth clubs or activity groups specifically for deaf children and teenagers. These may be run by local deaf organisations or by the council's sensory support service. Ask your teacher of the deaf what's available near Croydon.
  • Our own events — we organise holiday activities for families during the summer, including craft sessions, outings, and our annual family fun day.

Making Mainstream Clubs Work

If a mainstream holiday club is the most practical option, a few steps can improve the experience:

  • Visit or call the club before enrolling. Explain your child's hearing loss and what support they need.
  • Provide a one-page profile with key information: how to communicate with your child, what their hearing equipment does, what to do if there's a problem.
  • Ask about group sizes and noise levels. Smaller, calmer settings are generally better.
  • Suggest simple adjustments: visual signals for transitions (a flashing light instead of a whistle), a quiet area for breaks, and face-to-face communication.
  • Check in after the first day. Ask your child how it went, and don't be afraid to raise concerns with the organisers.

Under the Equality Act 2010, providers of services to children are required to make reasonable adjustments for disabled children. That includes holiday clubs and activity providers.

Family Days Out

Some of the best summer activities for deaf children are the simplest:

Swimming

Most deaf children take their hearing equipment out for swimming, which levels the playing field — everyone's hearing the same underwater. It's one of the few activities where deafness is genuinely irrelevant. If your child wears hearing aids, invest in a waterproof container to keep them safe while you're at the pool.

Museums and Galleries

Visual exhibits are naturally accessible. Many London museums offer BSL-interpreted tours and have written guides available. The Science Museum, Natural History Museum, and Horniman Museum (in nearby Forest Hill) are all worth a visit. Check their accessibility pages before you go.

Parks and Nature

Croydon has some excellent green spaces. Lloyd Park, Coombe Wood Gardens, and the Wandle Trail are all free and offer open air where hearing technology works better than in echoey indoor spaces. Pack a picnic, bring a ball, and let the children run.

Creative Activities

Art, baking, den-building, and craft projects don't rely heavily on spoken instructions. They're hands-on, visual, and satisfying. Pinterest and YouTube have endless ideas — search for "easy crafts for kids" and choose projects with clear visual steps.

Technology for Summer Fun

A few tech ideas to enhance the holidays:

  • Captioned films at the cinema or at home. Many cinemas offer subtitled screenings during the holidays. At home, turn on subtitles as a default — it benefits reading skills as well as access.
  • Video calls with friends who sign. FaceTime and WhatsApp Video keep social connections alive when children can't meet in person.
  • Educational apps that reinforce reading and language in a low-pressure way. Avoid anything that relies heavily on audio without visual support.

Meeting Other Deaf Children

For deaf children who are the only deaf child in their school (which is the case for most), the summer is a chance to spend time with peers who share their experience. If your child doesn't already know other deaf children, look into NDCS events, local deaf youth groups, or our family events. The friendships formed at these gatherings often become some of the most important in a deaf child's life.

Managing Hearing Equipment in Hot Weather

A quick practical note: heat, sweat, and sun cream can all affect hearing aids and cochlear implant processors. Keep equipment in a cool, dry place when not in use. Use a sweatband or specialist cover to protect behind-the-ear devices during active play. And remember that sand is the enemy — keep hearing aids well away from the beach unless you're prepared for a trip to the audiology department afterwards.

Whatever you end up doing this summer, the most important thing is that your deaf child feels included, has fun, and gets a proper break from the hard work of the school year. For more ideas, check our events page or come along to a parent group — other families always have suggestions.