Summer Structure & Managing Behavior
By Sydney Jenkins, MSSA, LCSW
Summer break offers children a break from the stresses of school. However, the absence of school’s daily structure can lead to irregular routines, disrupted sleep schedules, excessive screen time, and increased negative behaviors. While summer should be a time for relaxation and fun, maintaining some level of structure is essential for children's well-being and development. The key is finding age-appropriate balance that offers freedom and flexibility without abandoning routine entirely.
Why Structure Matters
Structure provides children and teens with a sense of predictability and security. It helps them understand expectations, manage their time, and feel more in control of their environment. In the absence of regular school hours, children and teens may become restless, anxious, or overly dependent on screens to fill the void. Establishing a flexible but consistent routine helps them stay grounded and promotes healthier physical, emotional, and cognitive development.
Preschoolers (Ages 3–5)
Young children thrive on consistency. Their brains are still developing the ability to self-regulate, so routines help them feel safe and manage transitions more easily.
Tips:
Keep a consistent wake-up and bedtime. This supports emotional stability and sleep health.
Use visual schedules. Charts with pictures of daily activities help preschoolers understand what to expect.
Include a mix of play, learning, and rest. Outdoor time, story sessions, simple crafts, and nap or quiet time keep their days balanced.
Repeat familiar routines. Mealtimes, bath time, and bedtime routines should stay as consistent as possible, even in the more relaxed pace of summer.
Elementary-Age Children (Ages 6–11)
This age group can handle more flexibility, but still needs structure to avoid the “summer slide” in learning and to support their growing need for independence.
Tips:
Create a daily rhythm. Divide the day into blocks (e.g., morning routine, creative time, physical activity, chores, free play, screen time).
Incorporate learning in fun ways. Educational games, library visits, and simple science experiments can keep brains active without feeling like schoolwork.
Encourage responsibility. Give them age-appropriate chores and allow choices within their schedule to build autonomy.
Plan weekly highlights. Outings or special events give kids something to look forward to and help orient them in the week.
Tweens and Teens (Ages 12–18)
Older children crave autonomy, but too much unstructured time can lead to irregular sleep, excessive screen use, and boredom. Maintaining some routine helps them develop time management and self-discipline skills.
Tips:
Involve them in planning. Collaborate on setting wake-up times, curfews, and daily goals.
Balance freedom with accountability. Allow more flexibility in how they structure their time but check in regularly on commitments and well-being.
Encourage purposeful activity. Summer jobs, volunteering, hobbies, or online courses can provide structure and fulfillment.
Support social connections. Facilitate healthy opportunities for peer interaction through sports, clubs, or other prosocial activities.
Summer structure doesn’t mean rigid schedules or a full agenda but rather creating a supportive framework that allows children to thrive. By adjusting routines to fit their developmental needs, families can foster a season that’s both relaxing and enriching. With the right balance, children return to school in the fall not only refreshed, but confident and ready to succeed.
