It’s officially summertime! While summer often brings excitement for beach days and family vacations, it can also stir up more complicated emotions. Some youths may dread the social isolation or heightened family tensions that can accompany the season. For caregivers, the sudden increase in unstructured time and financial strain can feel overwhelming. However, with thoughtful planning, families can ease these apprehensions and create a summer that supports physical and emotional well-being.
Reframing summer break as an opportunity to enhance health and well-being can be a helpful mindset shift. The Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences (HOPE) movement highlights how positive childhood experiences play an important role in helping youth grow into resilient, healthy adults. By incorporating the four building blocks of HOPE – relationships, environment, engagement, and emotional growth – caregivers and providers can lay the groundwork for a positive summer.
Relationships. Safe and supportive relationships during childhood are associated with lower rates of depression and improved mental health in adulthood. Summer is a valuable time to foster these bonds. Youth can be encouraged to connect with supportive figures both within and outside the family, such as coaches, mentors, or family friends. Caregivers may reflect on their own childhood memories to inspire meaningful shared experiences. Providers can serve as trusted adults when their pediatric patients present for annual physicals. Outdoor play with peers can also offer important opportunities for social connection and growth.
Environment. Youth in a safe, stable and equitable environment are less likely to experience poor mental and physical health as adults. Over the summer, it is important to maintain a basic structure throughout the day including a regular bedtime and meal times. Establishing rules around screen time, including daily limits and rules around supervision of content consumed, is highly encouraged. Daily routines should also allow time and space for unstructured play. Summer is a great time to explore nature, replenish vitamin D, and increase physical activity. Families can also take the summer break to reflect on their home environments, ensuring they remain supportive and safe. Some families depend on school for meals, healthcare, or other basic needs. Providers can help connect such families with community resources, including food assistance programs, during the break.
Engagement. Youth who feel connected to a larger community are more likely to develop into secure and resilient adults. Summer break offers the chance to get involved in social and civic engagement. For example, youth can consider participating in community service, peer mentoring, or extracurricular activities in art, music or sports. Local community centers often offer accessible, low-cost programs for youth during the summer. Summer can also be a time to strengthen ties to cultural, spiritual or family traditions.
Emotional Growth. Developing self-awareness, social cognition, self-regulation, and problem-solving skills is crucial for lifelong emotional health. Caregivers can support emotional development by helping their children name and process their feelings, practice mindfulness, and engage in self-care. They can model appropriate conflict resolution strategies. The more flexible summer schedule may also make it easier to access mental health services, such as psychotherapy or medication management, if needed.
By integrating the HOPE framework into summer plans, providers and families can help youth thrive physically and emotionally, setting the stage for a healthier future.
AUTHOR:
Dr. Kristen Kim, MD
Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist
Vista Hill Foundation