Summer vacation is one of the most beloved periods for children throughout the year. However, this time also brings great challenges for parents: the daily routine that children are accustomed to during the school year suddenly changes, and parents must rearrange their daily lives and study time. If not arranged properly, the damage caused by the two-plus months of summer vacation can potentially impact a child’s lifelong development.
Nina and her family reside in Monterey Park, with her son having just completed third grade. While summer vacation is more relaxed, there are still many tasks to be accomplished daily. Mornings allow for a bit of extra sleep compared to the early wake-up time for school. After breakfast, there is time for reading, followed by violin and piano practice for nearly four hours each day. Nina’s husband takes their son out to play, ride bikes, and skateboard.
During weekends, after completing over three hours of English and math tutoring, their son can engage in games with other children. Nina limits her son’s time spent watching videos or playing electronic games, with content restrictions in place.
Nina is uncertain if this style of education is appropriate, but after meeting a friend who has children, she gained confidence in herself. This friend and her spouse were reluctant to discipline their child too strictly, allowing the child to spend a lot of time watching videos and playing games, leading to severe nearsightedness at just around ten years old. Upon learning about Nina’s son’s summer activities, the friend greatly admired her parenting approach.
However, Nina still has regrets. “Boys must learn to swim; it is crucial,” she said. “This child still doesn’t know how to swim, and he will drag you into the water when he grows up. You have to teach him how to save himself.”
Being away from the collective learning environment, many students lack companionship from peers during summer vacation, which may not only result in academic regression but also a strong sense of loneliness. Psychological support that children can receive during the summer is indeed significantly reduced compared to the school year. Many parents lack professional knowledge and skills in psychological counseling, which may lead to overlooking early signs of psychological issues in children.
Children from impoverished families may not receive the same level of nutritional support during the summer as they do in school, which can trigger anxiety and other emotional issues. Some families may indulge their children with unhealthy diets, resulting in excessive sugar and fat consumption, leading to obesity.
Social crime rates tend to increase during the summer, with children witnessing and experiencing violence, which can also have detrimental effects on their mental health. A study in 2018 found that residents in crime hotspot areas experienced 61% higher rates of depressive symptoms compared to non-hotspot areas.
To ensure that children have an enjoyable and healthy summer break, the School Mental Health District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., has put forth some strategies:
1. Encourage outdoor activities. Research has shown that regular physical exercise can reduce stress, improve mood, and maintain mental health. The organization encourages parents to take their children swimming, hiking, or engage in outdoor games with peers. Participating in summer camps provides various benefits such as socialization, exercise, and stress relief, which many American parents have found to be a positive experience.
2. Foster creativity. Involvement in creative activities helps boost children’s self-confidence, provide opportunities for self-expression, and contribute to improving mental health. Various arts, crafts, and performance activities help nurture creativity.
3. Schedule social time. The lack of friends to play with is a significant reason why many students feel lonely during the summer. Parents should allocate time daily or weekly, creating opportunities for children to play together, share fun, stay connected, foster healthy relationships, experience peer encouragement and friendship, all of which contribute to mental well-being. It is essential to keep children away from negative influences to prevent exposure to substance abuse or gang activities.
4. Limit the use of electronic devices. While social media continues to provide entertaining videos, excessive screen time can lead to anxiety, depression, and other issues, damaging both the mind and body. Research has found that excessive screen time disrupts sleep patterns, while adequate sleep is crucial for a child’s mental health and physical growth. Furthermore, young children are likely to encounter violence and pornography online, which can have harmful effects.
Social media also tends to be addictive, requiring self-discipline, especially challenging for minors. A recent report in The New York Times cited Dr. Jessi Gold, a psychiatrist and mental health director at the University of Tennessee system, who noted that while there are no specific public health guidelines on the duration of social media use, children displaying extreme irritability when stopping electronic device usage may be showing signs of a problem.
During summer vacation, parents step in for school teachers, and being a good teacher requires effort, learning, and practice for parents. Despite the challenges of educating children, accompanying them on their journey to healthy growth is undoubtedly one of the most fulfilling aspects of parenthood.