Summer can be a season of delight—but also a time of disorientation for kids. For children who find comfort in routines, the shift from predictable school days to the stop-and-start rhythm of summer can feel unsettling.
One week might bring nature camp, the next a trip to see relatives, followed by a stretch of open, unstructured days. For many kids, just as they begin to settle into one routine, it changes again. This ongoing adjustment can create stress, resistance, or emotional overwhelm—especially for kids who rely on knowing what to expect in order to feel safe in their bodies and environments.
And for parents and caregivers, it’s not always easy to know how to help. We might wonder: Should I prepare them more? Am I overexplaining? Do they need more structure, or less?
There’s no perfect formula. But there are small things you can try to ease the process and help your child feel a little more secure during these transitions.
Talk it Through, Simply and Softly
A few days before a new activity or trip, invite your child into a low-pressure conversation about what’s coming up. You might say:
- “Next week is art camp. I don’t know everything about it, but I do know we’ll drive there just like we did for school.”
- “You’ll probably meet some new kids. That can feel exciting and a little weird at the same time.”
Keeping your tone calm and open—without too much hype or pressure—can help them begin to imagine the new rhythm without feeling like they have to perform or love it right away.
Offer Visual Anchors
You might try making a visual schedule or summer calendar together. It doesn’t have to be fancy:
- A piece of paper with doodles for each day of the week
- Printed photos or icons of familiar places and people
- A list with checkboxes for “home days” and “out days”
Visuals can help kids orient themselves to the flow of time when their internal sense of routine is disrupted.
Preview New Spaces
If a child is starting a new camp or visiting a different place, it can help to preview the setting in advance. That might mean:
- Driving by the location a few days before
- Looking at photos online or on Google Maps
- Saying things like, “This is the door we’ll go in” or “Here’s where I’ll be when you’re done”
Even a brief introduction to the space can lower the intensity of the unknown.
Expect Emotional Responses—and Trust Their Process
Some kids dive right into new settings. Others hang back, observe, or express distress. None of these responses are wrong.
Transitions often bring up strong emotional energy—not because something is wrong, but because change requires effort. Instead of rushing them past it, try to offer steadiness:
- “It’s okay to feel what you’re feeling.”
- “This is new, and I’m here with you.”
- “It won’t always feel this way.”
Most kids adapt in their own time, especially when we give them permission to have their experience without fixing it.
Closing Thoughts
Summer doesn’t have to be perfectly planned or perfectly smooth to feel supportive. What matters most is that your child knows they’re not navigating all these shifts alone.
When we offer simple touchpoints—predictable patterns, soft conversations, chances to preview, and freedom to feel—kids begin to build the inner scaffolding that helps them manage change. They learn that routines may shift, but connection stays.
Transitions are part of growing—and you’re helping them build the tools to meet those changes with steadiness, flexibility, and grace.
So if your days feel a little disjointed or your child is having a tough time settling in, take a breath. Trust that your presence, your noticing, and your willingness to adjust are doing more than you know.
We understand transitions can be challenging for parents too—you don’t have to navigate them alone. If you’d like some gentle support as you prepare for the shift into summer, our parent coaching is here to help.
