Mental Health Matters: Summer and your child’s mental health
By Kallyn Dinning on July 27, 2019.
Summer can be an exciting time for children with lots of fun in the sun and no more school! However, it is also true that children and even teens become very reliant on the school year structure and routine. After all, they do spend more time at school than at home for 10 months of the year. Without check-ins from teachers, educational assistants, coaches, and many other familiar adults, mental health issues may go unnoticed. During the craziness of summer holidays, there are a few ways parents can reconnect with their child and check up on their mental health. 1. A simple way to have your child open up to you is to spend some quality time with them. This does not have to be a fancy outing, and usually is more beneficial if it is not. Going on a walk to the store to get a slush, or a drive to your favourite ice cream shop can be enough to get your child to talk to you about what is going on in their world. 2. It is only natural to relax during these hot months as the pressures of academics leave your child’s brain. However, it is beneficial to maintain a small amount of structure in your summer days such as regular meal or bed times. Children and teens typically thrive on predictability, and too much chaos can cause underlying mental health issues to surface and/or cause anxiousness and exhaustion. 3. Many children and teens will tell you that sleeping in is the best part of the summer. They enjoy being able to wake up without an alarm clock! If sleeping in is not interfering with daily activities and engaging with friends or hobbies, this is most likely not an issue. If you notice your child sleeping through the days and avoiding favourable activities, this might be cause for more concern. 4. Parents can watch for avoidance in favourite activities and a lack of interest in things they use to do. This may come with negative comments and views on these activities. Often, avoidance of one activity comes with engagement in another. So, if your child is only interested in playing video games, or being alone, it may be time to talk about what is going on for them. Despite a parent’s best efforts at “mental health checkups,” children and teens sometimes do need extra support from a professional over the summer. Please access the mental health help line, visit a family doctor, or reach out to another local agency if you feel your child needs more support. This column was written by Kallyn Dinning (BSW practicum student), through the University of Calgary. If you are interested in learning more about child or teen mental health tips over the summer months, please call the Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Southeast Region office at 403-504-1811 or visit us at 204, 1865 Dunmore Rd. SE, or online at http://www.cmha-aser.ca 8-7
