Keeping Kids Out Of Trouble In Summer
Despite all the stressors inherent in the school year – tests, papers, etc. – the school year has its advantages. There is structure, a routine. Five days a week parents can go to work knowing that their children are cared for and are occupied for a specified amount of time. The summer can be more challenging for parents, many of whom must continue their daily routine while their child’s schedule changes drastically. Children, teens in particular, are at risk for getting into trouble when they have little to do. While a child might believe that he wants the summer off, boredom can lead to a host of problems for both children and parents.
Children are more likely to experiment with risky activities when they are bored. Drinking, drug use, and sexual activity are more likely to occur when kids have free time and few responsibilities. Cyberbullying is also common among bored teens. Though hovering over your children is not recommended, maintaining a balanced but involved presence in children’s lives during summer is crucial.
The easiest and most obvious way for parents to ensure their children maintain structure is to send them to camp. Camp provides opportunities for children to develop and maintain friendships, to exercise, and to be supervised in a manner similar to the rest of their year. Children also learn new skills as they practice sports, art, and various other activities. Therapeutic camps are great for children with special needs because children receive therapy (i.e. speech and language therapy or occupational therapy) as part of the curriculum. Older children can be counselors or counselors-in-training and develop leadership qualities that will help them in the school year and in college. Sleep-away camp can serve as a test drive for when kids go to college. Parents and children get an opportunity to see how they will fare when separated. There are also programs that teens can attend on an actual college campus. Teens try out college classes and in some programs, they even earn college credit.
Camps can be costly, however, and not every family can afford to send their kids to camp summer after summer. Parents of younger children have to get creative. Some families opt to share responsibility for children with friends. Parents rotate with other parents and do activities with a group of children on established days. Some hire a trustworthy high school or college student to do the same.
As age-appropriate, children can look for part-time jobs or even start their own summer businesses. Adults who worked as children are less likely to be unemployed and more likely to earn a higher salary than adults who entered the workforce during or after college. More is not necessarily better – a child must do work at a level and amount appropriate (and legal of course!) for her age – but the earlier a person learns to be effective in work settings, the better off she is. This can include volunteer work (e.g., nature centers, animal shelters, nursing homes).
In summer, parents need to be especially mindful about children’s mental health. Are other kids calling your child? Does she seem connected to others like she was during the school year? Is she accepting invitations to go to the beach with friends, for example? Summer can be rough on a child’s self-esteem. Body image issues come to the forefront in summer. While it is a more widely recognized problem in girls, boys also have body image issues. Feelings of inadequacy can lead to depression, anxiety, and risk taking. Summer can be a fantastic and exciting time, but it has its own challenges. Help your children avoid the pitfalls of summer by keeping them active and engaged.
Dr. Jaime Black is a licensed psychologist practicing in Westchester and New York City. In addition to providing general mental health services, Jaime works with individuals of all ages on the autism spectrum, doing psychotherapy, conducting evaluations, and facilitating social skills groups. www.spectrumservicesnyc.com. JaimeBlackPsyD@gmail.com. (914)712-8208.
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