Summer Brave Bingo: Keep Your Child's Brave Voice Strong All Summer
Summer can mean slow mornings, long afternoons, and a welcome break from routine. For most kids, that downtime is exactly what they need. But for children working hard to find their voice — especially those navigating selective mutism or social anxiety — the school break can quietly remove the daily practice that helps confidence grow. For our kids who struggle with social (pragmatic) language, continual practice is also key to keeping skills over summer.
That's where Summer Bravery Bingo comes in.
At Child and Family Therapy Collective, we built this challenge to turn ordinary summer moments into small, doable bravery opportunities. No worksheets. No pressure. Just everyday outings, reframed as chances to practice using a brave voice.
How Summer Bravery Bingo Works
Each square invites your child to speak up in the real world. Order the ice cream. Wave to a neighbor. Ask the librarian a question. Say thank you to the lifeguard. These moments feel ordinary to most people. For a child whose struggle to participate in new social situations (the body sees a safe situation as risky), these small situations are wins.
Print the board, keep it somewhere visible, and color in a square each time your child takes a brave step. If you are in treatment with us, you already know how to break down situations to the right level of challenge.
Why Small Brave Moments Matter
Communication confidence is built through practice, not avoidance. When children use their voice often, in low-stakes and familiar settings, speaking up slowly starts to feel less scary. Summer offers a steady stream of these chances. The bingo board simply makes them easier to spot.
A few tips as you play:
Start small. Choose squares that feel like a gentle stretch, not a leap.
Celebrate effort over outcome. A whispered word still counts (if this is the appropriate goal for the child at the time).
Let your child pick the next goal. Ownership builds motivation.
Keep it light. Bravery grows best with less pressure.
Progress in social confidence is rarely a straight line. Every brave moment, however small, helps lay the groundwork for a smoother return to school in the fall. All of these skills on the Brave Bingo card build skills children need this fall.
Join the Challenge!
Whether you're already part of our practice or just beginning to explore support for your child's anxiety or selective mutism, we'd love for you to play along. Print the board, head into your summer, and watch those brave voices grow — one square at a time.
General Selective Mutism Recommendations:
Work with a specialist! You can reach out to out team, linked at top of page, or find the SMA list of specialized providers here via our partners at Selective Mutism Association
Goals should be tailored to the current functioning of the person with SM
If you are in clinical care, please consult your clinician for consultation.