PLX Academy · Personal Experiences · 17 June 2022
While kids have a variety of experiences during the summertime, there is evidence that access to high-quality experiences may have positive effects on their development. Summer can be an excellent opportunity to bond as a family, to explore, and to create lasting positive memories for your kids. It also is challenging to find the proper balance of fun, relaxation, enrichment, and positive mental health.
Let the summer be filled with happy and quality time, not time of worry for patients and caretakers. “Help Is Here” has gathered some strategies for children and families to keep mental health a top priority during the hottest period:
Create structure through schedules
Most children thrive with routine, but summertime means the end of their normal schedule. Even though summer is supposed to be a break and a fun time, kids should still have structure and responsibility. The chores can be simple and can rotate daily or can be steps towards a larger project that may take weeks or months. Trying to keep a schedule will also help to ensure that your kids do not sleep until noon and waste away the summer. It will also make transition back to school in the fall much easier.
“A predictable rhythm and routine can help reduce stress and anxiety for kids,” says Dayna Watson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Education. “Consider keeping a consistent bedtime and wake-up time, making regular meals a priority, and instituting some daily activities or chores.”
Maintain interaction with other children
Depending on a family’s plans for summer, kids could end up feeling isolated or lonely. Consider healthy, safe ways for them to interact with peers. This is an important method for learning and improving social skills. It also enables kids to problem solve and explore. There is nothing wrong with a TV marathon here and there, but too much time in front of a screen may actually increase anxiety and depression.
While this can be hard when temperatures soar, kids benefit greatly from physical activity and getting out of the house for a while. Going for a bike ride in the evening, swimming or even just a walk around the block will increase Vitamin D levels and ensure children feel a little more cheerful.
“If your kids are going to be on social media or other electronic communication platforms, be sure to have safeguards in place to ensure that they are only able to access appropriate content, and have regular talks about cyberbullying,” Watson said.
Make family time a priority
During the summer, kids may be spending more time with parents or family members and that can be a great time to invest in or focus on mental health. Not all parents can get time off during the summer months, but kids do not need a parent with a month off to have quality family time. Even just doing normal things together, such as cooking or a family movie night can make a world of difference to children.
“Connection and communication are the two best ways for parents and caregivers to invest in their kids’ mental health,”Watson said. “Be open in discussing your emotions with your kids (in a developmentally appropriate way), talk about how the family can take care of their bodies and minds, and spend time connecting and having positive interactions.”
Find a balance
Summer time is about being fun and playful. However, if it is only play and fun, then play and fun are no longer that anymore. The important part to remember during summertime is to balance both work and play, structured and unstructured time, and time alone and in groups. This balance can help children sustain their mood and mental health through the whole summer.