School's Out, Anxiety's In? Understanding Summer Stress in Kids

School is almost out for summer! While your child may be excited, you may find yourself dreading summer vacation. Have you noticed that your child struggles with their anxiety more over the summer or during school breaks? As a therapist who works with school-aged kids, I see this all the time. And I even dealt with this myself growing up!

So why does summer bring the heat in more ways than one?

Free time can be the enemy. More free time = more time for your child to worry or overthink. Though the stress of school is gone, many kids and adults alike feed into their anxiety when their minds are not occupied.

Lack of structure and predictability in their day can spike anxiety levels. According to The Kids Mental Health Foundation, routines help children feel safe: “Routines help us know what to expect from a situation, which helps us feel in control and can decrease feelings of anxiety.”

Behavioral Changes You Might Notice in Your Child

• Increased tantrums or irritability
• Clinginess
• Social isolation
• Difficulty adjusting to new environments, like camps or childcare settings
• Disrupted sleep schedule

Ways to Support Your Child’s Well-Being This Summer

1. Create your own routines.
2. Keep their mind engaged. Start a summer reading challenge, visit a museum, or build a puzzle.
3. Implement social activities. Kids are used to getting lots of social interaction during the school year.
4. Discuss summer plans ahead of time so they know what changes to expect and are ready to dive in.
5. Normalize anxiety and practice acceptance of the feelings.

Have fun and stay cool!