6 Tips to Support your Own Nervous System as a Parent During Summer-6
6 Tips to Support Your Own Nervous System as a Parent During Summer
Summer can bring a mixture of emotions for parents and children alike. While we may be excited for the warm weather and summer fun… we might also be aware of the extra time to fill at home. The pressure and expectations to have an unforgettable summer or the daily TikTok and Instagram reminders that you only have ____ number of summers left with your children.
As parents, it can feel difficult to balance everything. This is your reminder to be gentle with yourself throughout these summer months. To help you thrive this summer (not just survive!), we have created a list of tips and reminders to keep in mind.
1.The Benefits of Boredom
As parents, we may feel the need or pressure to keep our children busy or entertained during the summer months. While activity planning can be enjoyable, it can also add extra stress for parents juggling multiple demands in their lives. The good news is that there are several benefits associated with boredom. It can provide opportunities for children to participate in unstructured play, engage their creative minds and enhance problem-solving abilities. It also gives the parent or caregiver a moment for themselves.
2. Co-regulation is Key
Although the summer months can be a time for connection and fun, they can also feel swamped. To support your child through the ups and downs of this summer, it is essential to make time for yourself. Prioritizing activities that bring you joy helps you show up for both yourself and your family. These acts of self-care can help us remain calm and regulated when emotions become heightened in the home. Remember, our little ones rely on us to teach them how to handle those big emotions that come up. Co-regulation allows our children to match our emotional state and navigate their own feelings and reactions. By staying grounded and calm ourselves, we are providing them with the feelings of safety and security to get through those moments.
3. Engage Your 5 Senses! (Sight, Sound, Touch, Taste, and Smell)
Summertime offers numerous opportunities to get outside and explore. Try engaging your children's five senses this summer. Encourage children to activate their five senses when in nature, noticing the sights, sounds, and smells around them. Perhaps collecting a few treasures on a nature walk, such as stones or walking sticks. These experiences can lead to mindfulness, which allows us to be fully present in the moment. It can also contribute to feelings of groundedness and emotional regulation. You can get the whole family involved and add in your elements, such as blowing bubbles, sidewalk chalk, and more.
4. Schedule Time for Quiet Activities
With everyone home during the summer months, we know that things can get loud and maybe a little chaotic at times. Scheduling short periods of quiet time for family members to participate in independent activities, such as reading, colouring, building with Lego, or taking a nap, can offer some moments of peace for parents and caregivers in need. In a society that constantly tells us to keep going and be productive, it's essential to start them early in understanding that rest is also productive. Encourage everyone to participate and take a moment to recharge.
5. Family Challenges
Get creative this summer with family challenges that bring everyone together towards a common goal. Make the challenge a day or a week long and brainstorm any age-appropriate activities that work for your children and family members. Does the dog need a walk? Dishes need to be put away? Floor needs to be cleared? Get everyone involved to help out and come up with a fun reward at the end of the challenge. For instance, a game night, pizza dinner, or a prize bin; whatever works best for you! These incentives can offer additional motivation for children to get involved and work together.
6. Reach out to your Support Network
This is your reminder that it’s okay to lean on your support networks and ask for help when you need it. Asking for help is not a weakness but a sign of strength. And a great tool to show your children how to do it early on in life, normalizing that we need one another. Alternatively, you can plan an outing for your child and bring someone along whom you enjoy spending time with. Creating opportunities for connection can enhance the outing for everyone.
You do not need to be a perfect parent during summer; you are allowed to show up as your authentic self and take care of yourself, too!
Written by: Megan Ivancic, Registered Psychologist, passionate about working with: Mom Rage, Perinatal Mental Health Issues, Birth Trauma, to name a few.