Remember summer? Lazy days, playing outside, going to camp, seeing family…? Most important for kids — not worrying about school, grades, making the team, stress, and more. Schedules and screens bring pressure, anxiety, and potential burnout, but summertime can alleviate that. Let’s talk about not just unplugging from electronics, but also taking a break from the daily grind that’s there for kids so many other months of the year.

MAKE SUMMER A BALANCE  

Sure, there’s more time for kids to get lost on Instagram and Tik Tok, but also more opportunities for creative outlets, hanging with friends, getting outside, reading for fun… the list is endless. But it’s an abrupt lifestyle change going from a rigid schedule and responsibilities to hours of free time.

“It’s important to have kids slow down, and they don’t always have to be stimulated by technology and phones,” says Monarch Academy Annapolis’s Rachel Light. “Boredom actually sparks a lot of creativity. They make up new games and want to play with friends. It’s actually really important that kids have a little bit of boredom.”

“Overscheduling can be stressful. School year is always go, go, go. It’s important to have a balance. Keep them busy, but also give them time to relax and hang out.”

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MORE OPPORTUNITIES

For your little ones, consider a sensory bin, which you can make in minutes with a container at home. Add spoons, nuts, pasta, Legos – whatever is on hand. Young kids love to play with textures.

Summer reading is important, but we understand it can be hard to engage kids with books and reading. Consider a quick trip to the library or Barnes & Noble, and help them find something they’re interested in. Libraries and local parks often offer free programs. Check out Summer@Your Library events in Anne Arundel County, featuring live animals, magic, music, and more. Baltimore County Parks & Rec has a long list of free activities for kids. If you’re in Prince George’s County, the library system offers free Summer Prince George’s programs, plus lots of free classes and events for all ages and “Summer Learning Spark,” which are no-cost programs in the public schools.

Camps might be another option. You can find STEM camps, sports camps, and others for kids with no electronics allowed. A quick search in Maryland will find camps with activities that include cooking, sewing, sailing, arts and crafts, dance, chorus, history, chess, science, natural discovery, and many more. Families can go camping together, and some travel agencies can send you to places with no wi-fi that are off the grid completely. (Look these up – it’s a thing today!)

Consider service projects. Usually designed for older kids, there’s great value in volunteering and joining summer service projects. Check out volunteer opportunities in Maryland with Meals on Wheels, or a variety of opportunities in Montgomery County, or the Teen Volunteer Program at the Maryland Zoo. There are possibilities for kids in affordable housing, feeding the unhoused, church programs, the YMCA and many more. No child is too young to volunteer and programs provide adult leaders and mentors. Maybe best of all – most of these activities are free.

Remember, Student Service Learning (SSL) is a high school graduation requirement in the State of Maryland and many programs offer these credit hours.

How about something completely different for your child? Enroll them in a local cooking class. How about science and discovery? For Harry Potter fans, the Physics of Quidditch. The organization DC Area Moms has a list of programs for preschoolers and younger kids. There are theater programs, fashion design, cake decorating, American Sign Language, therapeutic recreation… the list of possibilities for your child is huge. It’s a chance to try something different – and get them out of their comfort zone.

CHILDHOOD HAS MOVED INDOORS

Today, the average American child spends as few as 30 minutes in unstructured outdoor play each day while spending more than seven hours in front of a screen. That’s a radical change from a few decades ago, when there were no smartphones, Internet, and far fewer channels on TV.

Connecting with friends, keeping in touch, playing games, and spending free time is mostly done online and indoors today. Many kids have never experienced life without a smartphone in their hand and wi-fi connectivity or cell service. And any screen time discourages human connections — so important for anyone — especially kids.

Benefits of volunteering and spending time outdoors — especially in an entirely new environment and comfort zone — are extensive and well-documented, especially for young people, with proven wellness and mental health advantages.

YOU CAN IMPROVE THEIR SUMMER EXPERIENCE

As parents, you not only can ensure kids have something occupying them during summer vacation, and also prevent the dreaded “I’m bored” syndrome when your kids are out of school.

There are physical and mental benefits to different summer activities, like improved blood pressure, aerobic fitness, reduced levels of anxiety and depression, and boosted social skills, empathy, self-esteem, and leadership. And it’s not too late to get your kids involved.

Unplugging for the summer doesn’t just mean an expensive and exclusive summer camp. Hit up your school or a place of worship for ideas. Look at volunteer organizations in the community. There are many sports and civic organizations available. Find out more from your public library of local government. Keep them occupied as well as outside their comfort zone!

And we’ll be ready to see them back at school, happy, rested and healthy, in a few weeks!

(This is an updated post from one originally published on April 14, 2022)

Young people in the U.S. are facing real mental health challenges today, and the problem has been getting worse—even before the pandemic, virtual school, and recent world conflicts.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy describes mental health as “the defining public health crisis of our time.” He points to youth in particular. In December 2021, he issued a warning that mental health illnesses are leading to “devastating effects” among young people. In fact, the suicide rate for Americans 10 to 19 increased by 40 percent from 2001 to 2019, and emergency room visits for self-harm rose by 88 percent.

THESE NUMBERS TELL A STARK STORY

In 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published a study on adolescent well-being and the effects of poor mental health. Broad takeaways include an increase in the number of adolescents reporting poor mental health, the fact that building strong bonds and connections to youth can protect mental health, and that schools and parents should create protective relationships with students and help them grow into healthy adulthood.

The CDC study recently produced some troubling findings about high school kids:

• • In 2021, more than 4 in 10 students felt persistently sad or hopeless, and nearly one-third experienced poor mental health.
  • In 2021, more than 1 in 5 students seriously considered attempting suicide, and 1 in 10 attempted suicide.
  • Anxiety disorders afflict a third of all teens today.
  • LGBQ+ students, female students, and students across racial and ethnic groups were disproportionately affected.
  • Nearly half of LGBQ+ students in 2021 seriously considered suicide—far more than heterosexual students.
  • Black students were more likely to attempt suicide than students of other races and ethnicities.

Recent events like the pandemic contribute to social isolation, anxiety, and depression in kids of all ages. In fall 2021, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and the Children’s Hospital Association joined to declare a National State of Emergency regarding children’s mental health.

The Surgeon General’s Advisory on Protecting Youth Mental Health outlines a series of recommendations that rely heavily on empowering youth and families, ensuring access to mental health care, supporting education, community and childcare settings, and expanding the early childhood and education workforce.

ON THE FRONT LINES WITH KIDS

“We are completely in support of the Surgeon General’s goals, as they align with our priorities, as well,” said The Children’s Guild President and CEO Jenny Livelli.

It’s critical to have services available to meet kids where they are, whether a clinic- or school-based program. The Children’s Guild operates seven schools in Maryland and the District of Columbia that all provide free mental health services to students. An Outpatient Mental Health Clinic serves more than 80 additional public schools across Maryland. Clinicians specialize in working with children and families and are trained in trauma-informed treatment.

“By being right in the school for kids, we are reducing barriers to access,” says Jillian Szczepaniak-Gillece, Children’s Guild Director of Behavioral Health Services. “We want to help each young person and their family learn skills to address interpersonal, social, emotional, and academic challenges. We work with caregivers, families, school staff, and other involved agencies to provide individualized treatment that is strength-based, trauma-informed, and evidence-based.”

MEETING THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES

One key to improving mental health is making support accessible. So, The Children’s Guild services include psychiatric services, counseling, and school-based behavioral health. More than 1,400 children are positively impacted by their programs and services today.

Mental health conditions can be shaped by many factors. Genes and brain chemistry play a role. So does environment, such as life experiences and neighborhood conditions. Relationships with family and friends are important. There are also many social forces. Young people see messages daily through social media and popular culture that erode their feelings of self-worth. To face these challenges and others, The Children’s Guild offers a continuum of care founded in our approach to educating the whole child.

A PIONEERING FORCE IN EDUCATION

Our educational approach engages every student; fosters achievement, growth, and independence to the greatest extent possible; and gives experiences that meet the needs of every learner and help them thrive.

Our approach includes eight pillars to help us create a flexible, brain-compatible organizational culture that emphasizes the values, skills, and beliefs necessary for a successful life:

ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE CHILDREN’S GUILD ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER

As we participate in National Mental Health Awareness Month this May, it’s obvious the national focus on mental health is increasingly critical. “We need to build the foundation for healthier, more fulfilled, and more resilient youth, and The Children’s Guild is making that happen in the greater metro area around the nation’s capital,” said Livelli.

“We touch families and lives in meaningful, often highly impactful ways. That commitment has become even more critical in our complex world.”

The Children’s Guild also seeks partnerships and growth opportunities of all kinds. Should you want to learn more or see the work they do in area schools, please contact them anytime at 410.444.3800. 

A Few Important Resources:

Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: An Action Guide for School Administrators and Leaders (US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention) 

Mental Health for Adolescents (US Department of Health & Human Services)

Children’s Mental Health (US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention)