By: Christine Schwab, LCMHCA
When summer hits, children are often excited and ready to have more free time- on the other hand, there can be less structure, and can make it difficult to stay active in a wellness routine. Children have lots of energy, and there are several ways to nurture that, and encourage a mentally well summer!
- Monitor and Limit Screen Time
Research shows screen time negatively impacts a child’s quality and patterns of sleep, social skills, and attention capabilities. It can be difficult at times, especially on days where it rains, or there is down time in the evening. Screen time can be good for kids to engage in their interests for smaller increments of time and monitored.
- Encourage Social Engagement
Children having a break from school can often mean a break from routine social interactions. Children benefit by engaging with peers as it nurtures their sense of belonging and form meaningful connections. There are many ways to do that with day camps, play dates, sports, and playing with neighbors!
3.Model Positive Mindfulness and Relaxation
Spend some time with your children doing breathing exercises, guided meditation, yoga, and also making space for open communication. Creating space for your child to find comfort and empowerment through mindfulness can be extremely beneficial for the child’s mental wellness.
- Encourage Creative Expression
Summertime can create less opportunities for routine creative expression or related arts that they may engage in at school- but you can change that! Create time throughout the summer where your child can engage in creative expression! This can be art camps, but can also within the comfort of the home! Children can engage in trying a new instrument, drawing, painting, knitting, sculpting, and so many other creative modalities!
- Create Time for Physical Activity
Moving the body is so important, especially for children as they continue to grow and develop. Encouraging children to engage in physical activity can be difficult sometimes, but having some supplies can assist with those days where the kids aren’t sure what to do. Getting some jump rope, basketballs, roller skates, or a bike can be some of the many fun ways to get their bodies moving in the summer! Get creative! Try and use chalk for drawing soccer goals in the driveway, or using jump rope to make a limbo bar!
- Engage in Mental Wellness
Summertime creates more time for staying on top of wellness and being ready for the following school year. Having a child engaged in counseling during summer can be beneficial with less stressors from academics and more focus on mental wellness techniques and coping skills. Practicing self-regulation techniques and coping skills throughout the summer can get the body prepared for the difficult situations and how to work through them!
