UAB’s Dayna Watson, Ph.D., recommends 4 methods to assist preserve kids’s psychological well being in nice situation as soon as the ultimate college bell rings.
Summer is a superb time for actions and journeys that might not be taken throughout the college yr, however time for relaxation additionally must be scheduled in. Watson recommends resisting the temptation of overcommitting.Summer may be crammed with enjoyable and high quality time, nevertheless it can be a time of fear and frustration for folks and caretakers. Dayna Watson, Ph.D., assistant professor within the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Education, recommends methods to assist preserve kids’s psychological well being in verify this summer time.
Keep a routine
During the varsity yr, most households preserve a routine all through the week. The transition out of faculty and into summer time may be triggering for some youngsters. While a strict construction or schedule will not be wanted for all households, Watson recommends easing the shift by making slower adjustments to the routine as soon as college lets out.
“A predictable rhythm and routine can assist scale back stress and anxiousness for youths,” she mentioned. “Consider protecting a constant bedtime and wake-up time, making common meals a precedence, and instituting some each day actions or chores.”
Watson says having a visual household calendar prepares kids for transitions, and fogeys ought to talk about upcoming adjustments.
Have down time
Summer is a superb time for actions and journeys that might not be taken throughout the college yr, however time for relaxation additionally must be scheduled in. Watson recommends resisting the temptation of overcommitting.
“Our bodily and psychological well being are carefully linked — it’s practically unattainable to have good psychological well being when we’re not taking good care of our our bodies,” she mentioned. “It is tempting to attempt to squeeze in as a lot enjoyable as attainable, however not having adequate down time could cause dad and mom and youngsters to finish up exhausted and overstimulated.”
Dayna Watson, Ph.D.Maintain interplay with different kids
Depending on a household’s plans for summer time, youngsters might find yourself feeling remoted or lonely. Consider wholesome, secure methods for youths to work together with friends. This might embrace:
- cellphone or video calls
- in-person gatherings
- camps and social occasions
- video video games
- different forms of social media applied sciences
“If your youngsters are going to be on social media or different digital communication platforms, you should definitely have safeguards in place to make sure that they’re solely capable of entry acceptable content material, and have common talks about cyberbullying,” Watson mentioned.
Keep an open line of communication
During the summer time, kids could also be spending extra time with dad and mom or relations and that may be a good time to put money into or deal with psychological well being.
“Connection and communication are the 2 finest methods for folks and caregivers to put money into their youngsters’ psychological well being,” Watson mentioned. “Be open in discussing your feelings together with your youngsters (in a developmentally acceptable means), speak about how the household can deal with their our bodies and minds, and spend time connecting and having optimistic interactions.”
For older youngsters and adolescents, ask direct questions on their psychological well being.
“Avoid attempting to offer recommendation or options; relatively hearken to what they must say and validate their experiences.”
If a baby expresses any regarding feelings or appears to be struggling, Watson says to succeed in out for skilled assist.
For details about inexpensive counseling for kids via UAB’s play remedy room, name 205-996-2414.