Educational Psychologist
As the school year ends, many parents wonder how to help their children transition smoothly into summer while maintaining a balance of structured activities, relaxation and quality family time
A well-planned summer can support your child’s mental well-being, cognitive development and emotional stability.
Here’s how you can ensure a fulfilling and enriching break.
Transitioning from School to Summer Children thrive on routine, so moving from a structured school schedule to an open-ended summer can be overwhelming for them.
Ensure that your summer break provides your child with the best of both worlds: Enriching activities and the space to relax and recharge.
Striking the right balance between structured activities, relaxation and family time can set the stage for a rewarding and healthy summer.
Smart summers Helping Your Child Thrive Beyond the Classroom Here are some points to consider 1. Consistent wake-up and bedtimes: It’s no coincide that I start with this as the first tip is ensuring that your child is getting enough sleep.
There is definitely more flexibility during the summer break. Maintaining good sleep hygiene is critical for your child’s cognitive functions and emotional wellbeing. Here are some ways that sleep affects cognitive skills: Memory and retention: Sleep strengthens neural connections, helping your child process and store information effectively Concentration and focus: Well-rested children can pay better attention, thus improving their problemsolving and comprehension skills 2.
Trying something new can help keep the brain challenged and working on developing many new skills. Once the brain is challenged, it will continue to “grow” and build new connections that will definitely be useful later on 3.
A mix of activities: Don’t just settle for one type of activity, go for a mix of educational programmes,creative activities and outdoor play to keep your child’s mind and body active 4. Time for free play: Try focusing on free play as unstructured play increases creativity, problemsolving skills and social development 5.
Family bonding: Summer is a perfect opportunity to strengthen family bonds. Planning weekly family outings, game nights or simple activities, like cooking together, ensure quality time without over-scheduling. Prioritise quality time through shared meals, day trips and simple activities such as reading together 6.
Encouraging independence: Summer can also be a great time for your child to take ownership of parts of their day. Try to find activities that can help your child develop time management skills and a sense of responsibility without feeling pressured 7.
Limiting screen time: Exposure to screens can interfere with melatonin production, making it harder for kids to fall asleep 8.
Encouraging physical activity: Regular exercise, especially outdoors, helps children expend energy during the day and promotes better sleep quality at night. It also helps build better brain connections and releases stress A well-balanced summer with a mix of structure, rest and meaningful activities can support your child’s development simultaneously providing muchneeded relaxation.
By prioritising sleep and a healthy routine, parents can help their children make the most of their summer break while maintaining strong cognitive and emotional well-being.
Reprinted with permission from Family Flavours magazine