Summer break is almost here! While summer is traditionally associated with relaxation and fun, it’s also a good time to prioritize mental well-being and foster healthy habits that can last a lifetime. With insights from psychologists specializing in child development, here are five expert tips to guide your children toward a summer brimming with fun and mental wellness.
- Prioritize Self-Care and Emotional Regulation
Our kids live in a fast-paced world that is full of distractions. It’s important to teach them how to power down, get centered and connect with self. Helping them to learn self-care and emotional regulation is crucial for their mental health. Why not use the summer break to cultivate these important skills. Simple practices like mindfulness exercises and positive self–talk empower children to navigate their emotional landscape and develop coping strategies that can serve them well all year round.
Suggestions:
- Practice some mindfulness exercises such as guided imagery or mindful breathing techniques. Not sure where to begin? Check out these resources: 8 meditation apps for kids (understood.org)
- Foster positive self-talk by creating affirmation cards or through practicing gratitude journaling.
- Introduce children to the concept of emotional regulation. There are lots of good books including the following:
https://www.apa.org/pubs/magination/moody-moody-car
How to Master Your MOOD in Middle School: Kid Confident Book 2 (apa.org)
Understanding Myself: A Kid’s Guide to Intense Emotions and Strong Feelings (apa.org)
- Foster Meaningful Connections and Support Systems
We are social creatures who need connection. A hectic academic year can leave many of us struggling to pack time for a lot of time for play and social engagement. Why not use the summer break to strengthen existing relationships and nurture promising new ones?
Suggestions:
- Pack in family time (e.g., plan game nights, prepare a meal together, take on a fun but manageable family project).
- Use the time to open communication. Plan family meetings to set goals or plan activities and check-ins. Engage in regular dinner time conversations. Not sure where to begin? Try these free conversation starters: https://www.playworks.org/resource/34-conversation-starters-for-your-family/
- Engage in community through volunteering. When kids learn to help others, they also benefit. They learn compassion, empathy and so much more. Contact your local church, animal shelter or neighborhood association and see how you can help.
- If there are concerns, seek professional mental health help. Don’t put off addressing concerns that your child or family might have during the school year (e.g., anger, anxiety, learning and parenting issues).
- Promote Physical Activity for Mental Well-Being
Summertime is a great time to get your child moving. Physical activity has many benefits including improved mood and overall physical well-being. Encourage your kids to head outdoors daily.
Suggestions:
Sign up your child up swimming, dance or other sport activities at the local community center.
Go for a walk with the dog. Go for a bike ride. Reintroduce your kids to the roller blades, skateboards and any outdoor the equipment that have languished in the closet during the school year.
Join with another parent for weekly meet-ups at the local park. Bring a ball. Allow the kids to play while you catch up.
- Cultivate Creativity and Personal Growth
Kid are creative! Let summer be a time of exploration and personal growth. Have they been too busy during the year to engage in their hobbies? Have they wanted to try something new such as coding, gardening or photography? Encourage your child to explore.
Suggestions:
- Be positive. Support your child’s efforts to try something new. They don’t have to be great at it to enjoy it.
- Is your child a bit reluctant to start something new? If your child is open, send them articles about other kids pursuing their interests.
- Check out what is happening locally. Visit nearby museums, art centers and theatres. Check to see if they have programs or summer activities for kids
- Enhance Academic and Learning Skills
Summer is for a time for relaxation, but it’s important that children remain engaged in learning endeavors as well. Some kids may need to attend summer school or a learning academy to make up gains, but all most children can benefit from less formal opportunities. Perhaps, they can begin to learn a new language or how to play chess. The message we want our kids to learn is that learning is lifelong and fun.
Suggestions:
- Check out your local library. It’s full of resources including movies, clubs, language groups, speakers and other events.
- Most local libraries have Summer Reading programs that provide age-appropriate summer reading lists and prized and incentives to engage young readers.
- The ALSC also provides list of summer books and other resources by grade: https://www.ala.org/alsc/alsc/publications-resources/book-lists/summer-2024
- Some schools provide summer learning packets full of grade-level activities for students to work on during the break. Other school districts provide reading lists to help students get ahead by reading books for the upcoming year.
Establish a Balanced Routine for Mental Wellness
Maintaining a balanced routine is essential for mental wellness. Use the summer months to set up a balanced routine. Encourage regular sleep patterns and structured daily activities along with breaks to help kids thrive and minimize meltdowns and tantrums.
Suggestion:
Even if your summer schedule gets a bit chaotic, try to leave the 1-2 weeks before the start of school get organized for the upcoming year. Have a conversation with your kids about the upcoming year. Do they have specific goals or worries? Try to put some plans in place to address those concerns.
Give your back-to-school routine a “dry-run” to ease the transition. Have kids follow their morning and evening and bedtime routines and work out any bumps so that when school starts, things can run more smoothly.
https://www.understood.org/en/articles/download-bedtime-checklists-for-kids
Summer is great time for kids and families to have fun, to recharge and to refresh. Help your child to develop healthy practices and skills that will support their emotional and overall well-being throughout the year.