5 Ways to Help Your Family Transition to Summer

For many families, June is a mixed bag. The routines of the school year, and the rounds of year-end celebrations and rituals, suddenly give way to summer, which, with its promises of freedom and leisure, can create a new kind of stress. That stress is usually felt by working parents, parents on a budget, over-scheduled families, and families with children who need extra time to adjust to summer’s new routines. Many parents are expecting with school out and the pressure of schedules and homework on the back burner their children will be calmer and less anxious. While that might be true for some, summer can have its own set of stressors that can be challenging to navigate particularly if your child is already prone to anxiety.

  1. Revamp — but don’t eliminate — your child’s daily routine. A daily routine gives most kids a sense of structure and security. While certain tasks (such as doing homework) can be dropped during the summer, new ones (like packing for daily swim lessons) can be added.
  2. Post the family’s summer schedule where everyone can see it. Mark activities (day camps, vacations, your teenager’s work schedule, etc.) on a “family size” calendar posted in a central location and invite your child to contribute.
  3. Ask other people (spouse, family members, and neighbours) for help shuttling kids to activities and supervising them on their “days off.” See if you can trade carpooling and kid-watching duties with other parents in your neighbourhood.
  4. Encourage summertime learning. Summer outings may give opportunities for your child to learn about history, geography, and nature. Look for “teachable moments” and encourage your child to listen, read, take photographs, collect postcards, and keep a journal of their adventures.
  5. Check the local City recreation guide, library, gyms, pools, FAN website for events or day campSources: https://www.greatschools.org; https://ccy.jfcs.org; https://www.care.com; Seed and Sew Podcast