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Health & Fitness

Summer Time and the Living is Stressful

“Summertime and the living is easy”…or so the song sings. Yet summer with all it’s joy and freedom can bring challenges and stressors too. All of us tend to have routines and habits that keep us on track and organized. The relaxed nature of the summer season for both adults and kids can usher in welcomed changes, but also can bring some stress and anxiety.

For children and adolescents it can be a time of exploration and recreation. But ask any parent about the summer and their kids and you might get a feeling that they are already looking for the relief of the September schedule.

How many parents have heard “I’m board” or have noticed hours of isolated video game playing just a week after schools is out. How bored or busy children feel during the summer generally is related to  how old they are. According to TeensHealth.org younger teens were more likely to be bored. In a survey 40% said they'll be bored compared with only 10% who thought they'd be overscheduled. For high school juniors and seniors, this number was split more evenly. A quarter of survey-takers 16 and older said they'd probably be bored and a quarter said they'd be too busy.

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Added to this summer recipe are feelings related to separation from friends with some leaving for sleep away camp adventures, college anxiety for those older teens, visitation changes for kids with divorced parents and the summer visits of not often seen step siblings.

Keeping some routines for the other parts of the year, or making new, summer only routines and habits can help ease some of the more stress producing side effects of the season. Additionally, check out your local resources, there are many to help stressed families. Here in the Merrick Bellmore area our Libraries have many programs and recourses for the board kids and teens as well as fro the stressed parents. Of course if the anxiety and stress continues and appears to be more than the usual summer blahs please consider contacting a mental health professional.

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