Mental health experts advise parents preparing for summer break to prioritize their own emotional well-being while supporting children through a period of significant developmental change. Dr. Emily W. King, a child and adolescent psychologist, and Sarah Harris, a play therapist, both noted that many children in their practices are experiencing higher levels of anxiety following pandemic-related social disconnection.
Some extraverted children are showing signs of depression from isolation, while those with body image concerns are anxious about returning to in-person learning after managing appearances through Zoom cameras. “Don’t just push through your own stress,” King advised parents. “Pay attention to your worries, your fatigue, your stress, even your dreams.” She emphasized that parental anxiety is felt by children even when not explicitly stated. She also cautioned against trying to return to pre-pandemic routines, saying “there is no getting back to normal, because Covid times changed us. We are different people now.”
Harris recommended helping children build emotional intelligence by supporting them in identifying and naming emotions they experience. Rather than jumping to timeouts or behavioral corrections when children melt down, parents should first seek to connect and listen, as emotions drive behaviors. King advised that re-entry into social activities should be phased in slowly while monitoring children’s fatigue and irritability. She suggested avoiding heavy focus on formal academics, instead encouraging play, movement, and laughter to set children up emotionally for fall. “If our kids aren’t emotionally sound when they return to school in the fall, they won’t be able to learn anyway,” King said.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://www.ms.now/know-your-value/school-s-out-summer-how-parents-can-support-their-kids-n1270308