“The world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May,” said Edwin Way Teale, an American naturalist and author. He might as well have been a teacher or student looking forward to the end of the school year. Moods shift when May approaches, as rigid schedules filled with alarm clocks, bells and packed agendas are finally coming to an end. To ensure a safe, supportive and mentally healthy season, schools and families should work together to establish a summer safety plan for students that continues to provide much-needed structure and resources for families to promote a sense of wellbeing and stability for the student.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Impact of Summer Safety Plan
- The Importance of Involving Family and Caregivers
- Summer Safety for Parents, Caregivers and Teachers
The Importance of a Summer Safety Plan
A summer safety plan can have a tremendous impact on a student’s mental health during the summer. Daily routines and structure are important for development as they create a sense of stability and allow children to grow socially, emotionally and academically. The school environment provides this inherently during the year, but the structured environment disappears once summer begins.
Day camps, sleepaway camps, sports and community programs can provide some structure but not every student has access to these opportunities. Plus, not all programs are offered for the duration of the summer, for a full week or even for a full day. This is where a structured safety plan comes into play. A summer plan can address specific stressors and empower students to plan ahead with strategies to support their mental health and well-being over the summer break.
Why Focus on Summer and Mental Health?
Summer can be a challenging time for students, particularly when it comes to their mental health. Without the predictability and structure of a school environment, vulnerable students might struggle with the amount of free time or feelings of isolation. Friend groups can shift over the summer – e.g. camp friends v. school friends – and those changes in dynamics can cause anxiety and stress. This is why planning for summer safety is so important. A good plan outlines potential challenges, strategies for coping and identifies available resources and support systems.
Developing an Effective Summer Safety Plan
Summer Safety Plan Essentials
A well-thought-out summer safety plan is specific to the individual and includes the following:
- Daily Schedule: Create a schedule that includes daily routines such as mealtimes, chores, exercise, family meals, social interactions and time spent online.
- Safe Places – Create a list of places where the student feels safe, calm and secure such as their own room, a park close to home, or a trusted neighbor’s house.
- Support System – Provide phone numbers of individuals willing and able to support your student such as family members, counselors and friends or community members such as church leaders or coaches.
- Fun Activities – Include stress-relieving activities like swimming, hiking, playing games or watching uplifting movies or shows.
- Identifying Stressors: Identify potential summer stressors (e.g., being home alone, bullying, friend issues or changes in the family) and outline strategies for coping.
- Warning Signs and Coping Methods: Document warning signs of emotional distress and list ways to cope such as deep breathing, listening to music or going for a walk.
It’s crucial to involve the student in creating their safety plan. Not only to ensure their “buy-in” but to assess the feasibility of executing the plan. A by-product of these parent-child, teacher-child and clinician-child discussions is the formulation of the safety plan itself can be therapeutic and reveal the child’s difficulties, strengths, and coping mechanisms.
Preparing for barriers to these plans is also critical. For example, if an identified safe person is going on vacation, designate an alternate. Similarly, if a student relies on specific music or exercise, ensure the resources to support those activities are readily available – with backups!
Mental Health Support for Students During the Summer
Students who are receiving Tier 2 or Tier 3 services should work with their school clinician to develop their specific plan. These safety plans allow them to identify warning signs of mental health issues as well as identify summer treatment options or alternatives, if needed. Teachers should flag other students who might benefit from a summer safety plan, while school-based clinicians can create templates for broader student use.
For Tier 1 or lower-risk students, summer safety plans can be created in health or SEL classes as part of end-of-year activities. Health or PE teachers can guide students through a simplified version to help them maintain their mental health during the summer.
Family and Caregivers Involvement in Planning
Family and caregiver involvement is so important for successful summer planning. Clinicians should train parents on the importance of continued participation in therapeutic programs, counseling and taking prescribed medications during the summer months. Some healthcare providers may recommend adjusting medication during summer break when “academic pressure is off” but these changes should be managed carefully.
Districts can support families and caregivers by providing summer resources such as community programs, appropriate day camps, therapy options, food banks and recreational programs. Extended School Year (ESY) typically a 6-week summer program, can be an excellent resource for students who qualify and districts should consider widening admission criteria to accommodate more students. Sending out a newsletter on summer safety planning at the end of the school year is a great way to empower families and caregivers with helpful strategies and tools.
Summer Safety for Parents, Caregivers and Teachers
Students aren’t the only ones who use summer to unwind; it’s also a vital time of the year for parents, caregivers and educators to reset and focus on their own mental health for a short while.
Summer isn’t just a time for students to relax; it’s also a crucial period for parents, caregivers, and educators to recharge and focus on their mental health. For parents, having kids at home all day can bring added challenges like higher childcare costs, constant interruptions, and increased noise, especially for those working from home. Balancing work while keeping kids safe, healthy, and entertained can make summer more demanding than peaceful. Creating a summer safety plan for themselves can help parents and caregivers regulate their own emotions so they can stay present and refreshed.
A plan for adults might include alone time, exercise, social activities and cultivating new hobbies. Additional activities like spending time outdoors, practicing deep breathing and setting personal goals can help parents and caregivers recharge over the summer.
Teachers’ plans might include catching up on their rest, reading a good book (just for fun!), taking up a creative hobby such as crafting, painting, needlework or photography. Connecting with nature and taking a vacation is another way teachers can recharge and get inspired. By engaging in activities that inspire and rejuvenate them, teachers prioritize their well-being, fueling the energy and passion they’ll bring back to inspire and educate their students in the fall
Laying the Groundwork for a Successful Summer
Focusing on mental health during the summer months is important not just for students but for the entire school community. By creating summer safety plans, schools, parents, caregivers and community members can ensure that students have the structure they need to support their wellbeing not just during the school year, but all year long. By preparing in advance, educators and caregivers allow students to spend their summer just as they should – playing, learning and growing.
As always, if you have any questions or wish to contact us, we are available via email at info@effectiveschoolsolutions.
