Summertime and Mental Health
“Summertime” by @Tuncay is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Every year summer break brings an opportunity for children to untangle from their daily responsibilities and get relief from their school grind. While this sudden lifestyle change might be comforting and exciting for some, it can have the opposite impact on others. Summertime mental health can be a struggle for sme kids and heres how to help.
How can summer break affect your child’s mental health
Summer vacations bring a disruption in daily routines. Routine and predictability are often essential for children to feel safe and secure. Children might feel a sense of comfort spending a portion of their day at school, socializing with friends, and engaging in other daily activities. When this routine is suddenly changed, children might have a problem regulating this new way of life because of the following factors.
- Most children thrive in familiar settings because they know what to expect. But with summer, when they are enrolled in day camps, overnight camps, or even stay at home all day, this can trigger anxiety and be overwhelming and may even result in meltdowns.
- Parents may see this time as an opportunity for the child to improve in the areas they lack, so they may enroll them in several classes or activities without realizing how much a child can easily take. This can add to their stress and anxiety, doing the opposite of what summer break is supposed to do which is relaxation.
- When children gain a new sense of freedom, they may revert to unproductive habits. This could include increasing screen time and evading other activities such as sports or socializing to spend time on their devices. This may also increase depression and anxiety.
- Summer break is an opportunity for children to bend the rules and enjoy their time. This could mean an increase in enjoying ice creams, eating candies, staying up late, etc. A balanced diet and sleeping at a reasonable hour are incredibly important for developing children. Summer can change eating and sleeping habits and can lead to behavioral and emotional changes.
When children are suddenly exposed to new changes, this translates to stress. A child’s way of adapting to this stress might seem undisciplined and annoying to parents. A child who keeps running around the house might be trying to discharge energy because they are not used to a sedentary lifestyle; when they ask too many questions, they might want to make sure that they are secure and that you will protect them, etc.
How can parents help kids cope and maintain a positive summertime mental health
Although it can take some time for children to adapt to a new way of living, there are some things parents can do to minimize their child’s anxiety and aide in positive summertime mental health.
- Create a relaxing and predictable summer by going back to basics. Make sure your child gets a balanced diet, proper and consistent sleep every day, has plenty of water and engages in physical activities, and has regular periods of downtime and unstructured play.
- There is no need to burden your child with extra activities and day camps. If you have to, look for centers that focus on outdoor play and downtimes.
- Screens might seem like a lifesaver during vacations or when your child stays home alone all day but set up healthy boundaries because excessive screen time can induce anxiety and stress. Talk with your children about expectations and boundaries regarding screen time.
“Row boat” by wsilver is licensed under CC BY 2.0
See summer as an opportunity to spend time together with your children. Plan for travel with your child and make sure you involve them in your decisions. Do fun things together, such as hiking, backyard picnics, or even cooking or fixing stuff together. Academics are important, but summertime can be an excellent opportunity to bond with your child and form lasting memories, which helps maintain a positive summertime mental health.
If you feel your child would benefit a counselor this summer set up an appointment with us today.
“Fun at the beach” by wsilver is licensed under CC BY 2.0
