06/10/2023
Children and Adolescent Mental Health This Summer
Here is it is again, summertime. Time for BBQ's, swimming, flip flops, and lots of sunblock. As an outpatient therapist for over the last fifteen years, many times with families my question for summertime is what is the plan? Kids look forward to summer all schoolyear long, but sometimes it is also a very challenging time for children, teens, and their parents. Without a structured routine and adequate socialization, mental health can decline for some.
My best advice is to have a plan:
Activity:
There are many activities that are free or low cost in communities. There are an abundance of day camps or playgrounds. Adolescents can often work at these as a counselor or junior counselor. These camps take the children to the pool, movies, and they get to run to their hearts content at the local playgrounds.
Another idea is open gyms for basketball at our schools, sports camps, and Planet Fitness has free memberships for teens this summer.
Our local community pools are options too not just for memberships but for swim teams too. Many young people can be on a swim team for their local pool.
Socialization:
Kids need to be around others. Many of the camps are good for that, but there are other options, too certainly. In our area, Goggleworks and the Yocum Institute offer many great art classes. Seriously, they sound amazing. I need to try my hand at Glass blowing at some point.
Free and Low Cost:
With the ever-rising cost of food and fuel, our budgets are feeling it. However, there are still many activities in the communities: local trails for biking and hiking, playgrounds in our towns, low-cost summer movie series for children at some local movie theaters, crafts at Michaels, projects at Lowe's or Home Depot for children.
Part time jobs:
I encourage the majority of the adolescents I see in treatment to get a part time job over the summer. I think it is essential for learning responsibility, socialization, and feeling a sense of pride in accomplishing hardwork.
Adequate sleep:
Nothing can wreck a teen's schedule quite like summer break. Parents I encourage you to make sure your teen sleeps properly and isn't up to 4 am every night. It can truly be a detriment to them. I see it in treatment time and time again.
Screens and Social Media:
I realize that with summer break comes much more down time, and what do children like to do in this day in age... go on screens. Moms and dads collect phones at night and have your children limit their screen and social media time. Increased social media time (while I put this on a social media site of course) has been correlated with increased depression in adolescents. Encourage your child to live their life, not just document it.
Special needs children and teens:
Many of our special needs young people qualify for ESY (extended school year.) These programs offer socialization and academic support. There are an abundance of local support groups that still meet during the summer as well for families. i.e. Unending promise, superheros for autism, etc.
Local Libraries:
Our local libraries are a great resource for families during the summer. They offer free or low-cost programs as well as summer reading programs with cool prizes. My kids know that every summer they will go to the library, and guess what they love it.
Family time:
Enjoy your time as a family. Fancy vacations are great, and believe me I love them, too. Yes, I am thinking about my upcoming vacation just about everyday now. However, time at home or having a cookout are great as well. My kids have had a blast just running through the sprinkler some days.
This list is not exhaustive of course and does not substitute treatment for mental health issues. Just a few thoughts of mine as a clinician. Please seek treatment if your child or teen are exhibiting signs of anxiety and depression. Services are available in many communities via telehealth or in person.
Enjoy the summer,
Renee
