School’s Out for the Summer
Summer can feel like both a gift and a challenge. With the school year behind us, many parents wonder: How do I keep my child engaged, balanced, and happy during the break, without over-scheduling or burning out? The good news is, you don’t need elaborate camps or a packed calendar. Here are simple, fun, and developmentally supportive things you can do with your children this summer that foster connection, skills, and emotional wellness.
Encourage Emotional Wellness:
Summer vacation, especially if parents are on it as well, can offer families time to slow down. This is a great opportunity to focus on helping kids process their feelings and learn emotional langage.
Build a calm-down corner in your children's room or in a quiet space in your home. Let your child choose items to include, like cozy pillows, calming visuals, books, fidgets, or music. This should become their go-to spot when emotions get too big, and not be used as a punishment or time-out.
Go for mindfulness walks. For example, go on a walk and name 5 things you can see, 4 you can hear, 3 you can feel, 2 you can smell, and 1 you can taste (even if imaginary!). This helps anchor children in the moment and reduce anxiety.
Build Executive Functioning Skills
Executive functioning is an umbrella category for skills such as planning, organization, and self-regulation. These are important for learning and life. Summer is a great time to strengthen them through everyday activities:
Let your kids plan a family outing. Let them research where to go, where to stay, what to pack, what to do, etc. It can be as simple as a picnic at the park or more extravagant, such as a weekend camping trip. By doing so, kids can practice decision-making, sequencing, and time awareness.
Cook together. Have your kids find a recipe and follow the steps. This can help with focus, everyday math skills, and working memory. And you get a great meal out of it… hopefully!
Make Learning Fun and No Pressure
As a child, my mom would assign me 10 vocabulary words that I had to write sentences for each day. But the truth is, children don’t need worksheets or tedious tasks to keep learning. Real-world curiosity goes a long way.
Start a nature journal where your kids can explore a park, garden, or your own backyard. Then have them sketch, press leaves, or write short reflections about what they saw.
Try some hands-on science experiments such as making slime, making ice cream, building a boat that floats, or growing a bean in a jar or Ziploc bag.
Create a Structure for Peace of Mind
While it’s tempting to let go of routines completely, a little consistency helps kids (and grown-ups) feel secure.
Use a routine chart of basic morning and evening schedules so kids know what to expect for the day.
Make a “Bored Jar” filled with ideas of things kids can do to fill their day. Some ideas include making a new dance, creating a secret handshake for the family, writing a card for grandma, or writing a story.
You don’t need to do it all. Even choosing one or two intentional activities a week can make a big impact, helping your child grow emotionally, learn new things, and strengthen your connection as a family. Summer is more than a break. It's a chance to slow down, explore, and grow together.