Handling Stress and Back to School

Taking care of children’s (and adult’s) mental health during the summer!

Basic Concepts

Opportunity

Let summer be a casual way of reconnecting with you child/teen. Go for a walk and talk. Talk and laugh about the movies you watch or games you play. Listen to their interests and their stories. Look at pictures from the past. Let them know you are there, you care, and are interested in them.

Structure

Structure can be difficult to create, and for parents who are also neurodivergent, it can feel overwhelming. Creating a schedule/ routine is important, try to keep regular wake and bedtime routines. Creating structure can be in a written schedule or a picture schedule. This helps reduce anxiety as children know what’s expected and happening on a daily basis.

Structure can be found in summer programs and camps. For teens, getting a part time job can help with structure as well as making money- their favorite thing! Summer programs and camps - the library -summer reading programs, parks, splash pads, sports, music, theatre, swim lessons, and so many more. If money is an obstacle many of the camps and programs offer scholarships to help it be more affordable and accessible to children and families.

Structure is also important to keep on vacations (as much as possible) for children with autism. This can look like keeping the same wake/sleep times, favorite snacks, and as hard and non-vacation like it can feel to us as parents, often eating out can turn into a disaster, so, if possible, have a place you can prepare meals and have more control over the routine on vacation as you are able to.

Rewarding Positive Behavior

Focus on one or two positive behaviors to work on over the summer. Using stickers or something similar, keep track of your child’s successes. Using stickers or magnets is a great way for an instant reward. After so many stickers are obtained (you and your child choose) they get a reward. Keep it simple. Could be getting an ice cream cone. Going to the dollar store. Give them a couple of reward ideas that you, as a parent/caregiver, are okay with and then let them choose what it will be.

As hard as it can be, try to ignore negative behaviors, even with negative attention. Often, behaviors have both positive and negative natural consequences.

Time Together - Play

Have a movie night or game night, these add structure and fun! It is a great time to get outside. Go to the park, zoo, the splash pad, community pool, camping, bike rides and walks. When it is too hot during the day, turn on the sprinkler, go to the library, museum, aquarium, or stay inside and play board games, video games like Mario Cart, have a picnic in the living room or build a pillow fort with your kids. (More ideas below)

Social Time With Friends

Set-up play dates for your kids. If you’re not sure how to get in touch with your child’s classmates’ parents, ask (e-mail) your child’s teacher to create a google document for parents who want to share contact information to connect for birthday parties and play dates.

Plan Something to Look Forward to

Having a trip to see family, a special event, camping, vacation…whatever it is, have a countdown. This is great for overall mental health, especially depression, and knowing what is going to be happening helps reduce anxiety. This also includes parent(s)/caregiver(s) to plan for “time off.”

Take family or friends up on their offer to help watch the kids or call a babysitter. Take time for yourself, go hangout with friends, connect with your partner. Remember, your mental health is just as important and this will help you enjoy the days of summer with your child/children even more.

Cool Summer Ideas!

Picnic at the park or in your yard

Lay a blanket down and cloud watch or star gaze

Plant a flower with your child/children, have them help with watering and celebrate watching it grow!

Go fruit/veggie picking at a local farm…or in your garden

Go to a park/splash pad

Visit the river

Go fishing

Fly a kite

Watch thunderstorms

 Build a fort

Go to a sporting event/game

Go see a concert or a movie

Check out the local farmers market

Pick something from home, like a garden gnome, and take pictures of it at all the places you go

Day trip to a local town/city, 

Visit a historic town or home

Go to a play or demolition derby

Collect rocks and paint them, then hide them throughout the town

Put on your own play at home-your kids are the main stars!

Have a water gun race. Put a hole in the bottom of two or more plastic cups and thread string or yarn through each one. Secure the ends of the yarn to a starting point and an ending point. Use full squirt guns to shoot water into the cups so that they race along the string. The first cup to the finish line is the winner.

Play in the rain and splash in the puddles

Go to the Drive-in movies

Free movie in the park

Treasure / nature hunt in the backyard/neighborhood 

Make homemade ice cream

Play dates