Ways to Help Kids Maintain Summer Structure to Improve Mental Health

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Summer is a fun time for kids being out of school, playing outdoors, and staying up late. However, experts at The Kids Mental Health Foundation say the lack of structured routines can also be challenging for kids and their mental health. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, on average, children ages 8-18 in the United States spend 7.5 hours a day watching or using screens. If kids stay isolated from friends and increase time spent on digital devices to prevent boredom, it may lead to mental health challenges.

“While we want summer to be a time for our kids to relax and enjoy themselves, we also know children strive and feel most safe when there is a sense of routine to their day,” said Whitney Raglin Bignall, PhD, associate clinical director of The Kids Mental Health Foundation and pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “If parents and caregivers can maintain structure during the summer months and practice Healthy Screen Time, it will not only support their mental health now but also make the transition back to school easier.”

Dr. Raglin Bignall recommends these 7 Ways to Help Kids Maintain Summer Structure:

1. Have set bedtimes, wake-up times, and routines. While kids may not need to get up as early as during the school year, keeping a set wake-up time can be beneficial.
2. Have breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the same time each day if possible. Keeping kids hydrated and fueled is important for their physical health, and the structured routine can help break up the day and be a boost for their mental health.
3. Display a visual schedule. This can help kids know when there is a break in routines throughout the week.
4. Don’t change rules and chore charts; maintain expectations. While the summer allows for more flexibility, parents and caregivers should ensure kids follow the rules and responsibilities. This tactic will avoid power struggles, so parents and children maintain positive relationships all year.
5. Sign up for summer activities. Camps, community groups, sports or summer school courses can help kids remain active and social instead of on screens all day.
6. Start getting back into the school routine before school starts. This will help kids feel less stressed about the start of a new school year.
7. Have fun doing activities with children. Spending even 15 minutes of intentional time with kids each day can be beneficial for their mental health.

“Intentional child time is a focused effort to build a positive relationship with kids by letting them take the lead,” said Dr. Raglin Bignall. “When parents and caregivers practice setting intentional time together, they can focus on the good things they see in their child’s behavior. The goal is to be present and create positive moments instead of pointing out behavior they don't like or commands to do something.”

For more helpful resources, visit kidsmentalhealthfoundation.org.

The Kids Mental Health Foundation is the leading organization promoting mental health for children in the United States. To achieve its vision to build a world where mental health is a vital part of every child’s upbringing, nearly 1,000 mental health professionals and researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in partnership with other trusted experts, provide real-world knowledge and expertise to power the Foundation’s free educational videos, guides and curriculum. To date, more than 24 million people have engaged with the Foundation’s materials, helping parents, educators and coaches be a guiding force for children all across the United States.