Mental Health in Summer: Supporting Kids & Families
As the school year winds down, summer often brings a mix of excitement and uncertainty for families. While longer days and a break from academics can be a relief, the sudden shift in routine can profoundly affect a child's emotional and mental well-being, especially for those navigating stress at home or in their communities.
At Maryvale, we believe in supporting the whole child and family, including recognizing how seasonal transitions can create emotional effects. With the right tools and community support, caregivers can help children feel safe, seen, and supported no matter the time of year.
How Summer Impacts Children's Mental Health
Many families associate summer with fun, relaxation, and freedom, but for many kids, the absence of school routines can lead to anxiety, sleep disturbances, and behavioral changes. Children who thrive on predictability may feel off balance when schedules disappear.
For some, school is more than a place of learning. It provides emotional safety, stability, meals, mental health services, and social interaction. When these supports pause for summer, children may experience increased isolation, insecurity, or distress.
At Maryvale, we’ve seen how these seasonal changes can have a profound impact—and how proactive support can make all the difference.
Other seasonal factors can also play a role in mental health shifts:
- Hot weather may limit outdoor play or worsen sleep patterns.
- Later bedtimes and disrupted sleep routines can contribute to mood changes or irritability.
- Increased screen time, often used as a coping or boredom tool, can impact emotional regulation and attention spans.
- Reduced social interaction can lead to feelings of loneliness, particularly for children without siblings or regular peer contact.
Understanding these seasonal stressors is the first step toward creating a more nurturing summer experience for every child.
Recognizing Signs of Emotional Strain
Children don’t always have the words to express how they’re feeling. Instead, emotional stress may show up in behavioral or physical ways. During summer, especially when routines shift and social interaction decreases, caregivers should pay close attention to subtle signs of mental health challenges.
Here are a few common indicators to watch for:
- Withdrawal or isolation: A noticeable lack of interest in social activities or time with family or friends.
- Irritability or mood swings: Increased frustration, tearfulness, or emotional outbursts over small triggers.
- Changes in eating or sleeping patterns: Oversleeping, trouble falling asleep, appetite loss, or emotional eating.
- Regressive behaviors: Bedwetting, clinginess, or tantrums in younger children who had previously outgrown those stages.
- Loss of interest: A lack of excitement for favorite games, hobbies, or outings.
It’s important to remember that these behaviors don’t always signal something serious, but a pattern of changes or ongoing distress may indicate that a child needs additional support. Trust your instincts: if something feels off, it’s okay to seek help. Our clinicians at Maryvale help families recognize these signs and respond with compassion and support tailored to each child's needs.
Creating Stability and Connection at Home
Even when summer feels unstructured, creating a sense of calm and connection at home is possible. Many of the same strategies we use in Maryvale’s early childhood education and mental health programs can be adapted for home life:
Build a Flexible Routine
Even if summer days are less structured, predictable anchors like regular mealtimes, quiet hours, or bedtime routines can help children feel safe and settled. Try setting consistent “wake-up” and “wind-down” times to support healthy sleep habits.
Create Calm Zones
Designate a cozy corner or quiet space where kids can decompress when feeling overwhelmed. Include soft pillows, books, art supplies, or sensory toys. Teaching kids how to take quiet breaks encourages them to regulate their emotions.
Make Space for Screen-Free Moments
Digital devices often fill the gap during unstructured summer hours, but too much screen time can affect attention, sleep, and mood. Carve out screen-free time daily for board games, nature walks, crafts, or just talking. These moments encourage emotional connection and family bonding.
Support Kids with Small Choices
Summer often feels unpredictable. Giving children age-appropriate choices, like what to wear, what game to play, and what snack to prepare, can restore a sense of control and independence that helps reduce anxiety.
Creating supportive environments doesn’t require perfection or expensive activities. What matters most is presence, consistency, and compassion.
Accessing Maryvale’s Support & Mental Health Resources
No caregiver should have to navigate emotional or behavioral challenges alone. At Maryvale, our services remain open year-round to ensure families don’t lose support when school is out.
We offer:
- Mental health services – Individual and family therapy, behavioral health care, and crisis intervention.
- Wraparound support – Personalized care coordination for families with complex needs.
- Early childhood education – Programs that support social-emotional growth and routine.
- Transitional housing – Safe, stable housing for unhoused mothers and their children.
Our services are trauma-informed, community-based, and centered on the belief that every child and caregiver deserves care and connection.
To learn more, check out our blog about mental health tips for families and kids. And, if you feel like you need support during the summer, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask about our mental health and wraparound services.
Additional Community Resources
The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and other school districts often offer summer wellness programs or can connect families to counselors and social workers. Reach out to your local school office to inquire about the following:
- Free or low-cost counseling sessions.
- Telehealth options.
- Emotional support hotlines for students and caregivers.
Some local libraries, community centers, and nonprofits also host parenting workshops, play therapy groups, or youth mentorship programs during the summer months.
Encouraging Open Conversations About Feelings
One of the most potent ways to support children’s mental health is by creating a space where emotions are welcomed, named, and understood. It is essential to normalize mental health conversations since children may not always know how to describe how they’re feeling. But with encouragement, they can build the skills to express themselves and ask for help when needed.
Use Age-Appropriate Language
For younger children, try using simple, relatable language to discuss emotions. You might say, “It looks like you’re feeling sad today. Want to tell me about it?” or use storybooks and emotion charts to help them connect words with feelings.
Older kids may prefer talking through their experiences in more private or casual settings, like during a car ride or while doing an activity together. Let them lead the conversation, and avoid jumping in too quickly to “fix” things.
Validate and Normalize Feelings
Instead of brushing off big emotions, try reflecting on what you see and offering validation: “It makes sense that you're feeling overwhelmed. That’s a lot to carry.” Validating emotions doesn’t encourage negativity; it shows children they are safe, to be honest, and vulnerable.
Model Healthy Expression
When caregivers share their own feelings in appropriate ways, it teaches children that emotions are manageable and that self-care benefits everyone.
Reinforce That Help Is Always Available
Remind children that asking for help is a sign of strength. Let them know that trusted adults, school counselors, and organizations like Maryvale are ready to support them when things feel hard. You don’t need to have all the answers. What matters most is showing up with love, patience, and a willingness to listen.
You’re Not Alone: Maryvale Is Here to Support You
Summer can bring unexpected emotional challenges. If your child is showing signs of stress, your routines feel off track, or you are simply overwhelmed, remember: you are not alone.
At Maryvale, we’re dedicated to walking alongside families through every season. From early childhood education to mental health services and from community outreach to wraparound support, our programs are built to provide compassionate, holistic, and accessible care.
