Are you "done" with summer already?

Summer is officially here, and our kids are out of school and need things to do so that we all don’t lose our minds. School summer vacation time can be an intensely stressful period for stay-at-home and working parents alike. It’s not just kids themselves that appreciate the routine of school term time either. Parents also come to rely on the rhythm of the daily school runs and plan their workdays or errands around them.

• A lack of routine can negatively affect a child’s mood, motivation, and focus.

• Creating a summer schedule can help organize a child and provide a sense of security that supports the child’s social-emotional development.

• When crafting a summer routine, start by reflecting on your child’s strengths, needs, and interests.

• Identify goals for your child’s day and set priorities. For example, would you rather your child be active outside, or read daily to reinforce concepts learned at school?

• Involve your child in developing a summer routine. Ask your child what goals he/she would like to work on. Promoting your child’s buy-in can increase his/her motivation to follow the routine.

Common activities to incorporate into a summer routine include:

• daily hygiene tasks

• regularly scheduled mealtimes

• household chores

• learning

• exercise

• outdoor time

• family time and relaxation

• Structure: When structuring the day, schedule preferred activities after non-preferred activities. If, for example, your child enjoys reading, schedule reading after a non-preferred activity, such as cleaning his/her room.

• Rewards: Only offer rewards when your child has completed non-preferred activities. Screen time is often used as a reward. Be sure to set limits around your child’s access to screen time. If screens are too easily accessible, your child may sway from the routine and spend excessive time on screens. Allow your children to get bored! Boredom breeds creativity and deeper thinking.

• Sleep: Maintain consistent wake-up times and bedtimes for your child to foster a regular sleep routine. Children may expect to be able to sleep in or stay up late during the summer. Some flexibility with sleep times may be called for, but keep in mind - consistency is the key.

Over time, having a summer schedule can:

• reduce your child’s reliance on you

• promote his/her independence

• help develop your child’s daily living skills

A summer routine can ease a child’s anxiety about the unknown since it clearly and concretely shows daily expectations.

If your child is still struggling with stress or anxiety even after implementing a summer routine, there are more things you can do.

• Talk with your child.

• Ask about their feelings in an open-ended way.

• Normalize his/her stress and anxiety.

• Promote open communication about all feelings in the home.

• Model ways to adaptively manage stress and anxiety.

• Consider building in relaxation breaks into your child’s summer routine to support his or her mental health.

• Make sure that you are finding time to relax with other adults.