How Can I Support My Child's Mental Health Over the Summer While Still Helping Them Learn?
By Julie Diamond, a certified teacher in Ontario and British Columbia and the Founder & CEO of Diamond Teachers Group
When families think about summer, they often picture sunshine, vacations, camps, and a well-deserved break from homework. As a teacher, I absolutely believe children need that break. After spending ten months following routines, meeting expectations, and working hard academically, summer provides something equally important: the opportunity to recharge.
But here's something I remind families every year: learning doesn't have to stop just because school does. In fact, some of the most meaningful learning happens when children don't even realize they're learning.
As I shared in my previous blog, How Does Mental Health Affect Learning for Kids?, children's emotional well-being has a direct impact on their ability to pay attention, regulate emotions, build confidence, and stay motivated to learn. When children feel safe, supported, and connected, their brains are much more open to learning. Summer is the perfect time to nurture both their mental health and their curiosity without adding pressure.
Here are some of my favourite ways families can do just that:
Let Summer Feel Like Summer
Children need downtime.
Not every hour needs to be scheduled, and not every activity needs to be educational. Sometimes the best thing we can give our children is permission to simply be children. That means letting them play outside with neighbourhood friends, invent games, settle disagreements, and explore without adults organizing every moment. This kind of independent play is essential for developing resilience, confidence, and emotional well-being.
Boredom isn't something to fear, it's often the beginning of creativity.
Some of my favourite childhood memories came from building forts, inventing games, making obstacle courses, or creating imaginary worlds with neighbourhood friends. None of those activities looked like learning, yet they were developing problem-solving, communication, creativity, executive functioning, and resilience.
When children have the opportunity to direct their own play, they build confidence in their ability to solve problems independently.
Encourage Them to Try Something New (Even If It Feels Scary)
Summer is the perfect time for children to stretch outside their comfort zone. Growth doesn't always come from big accomplishments. It often comes from taking small, brave steps. While it's natural to want to protect our children from feeling nervous or making mistakes, those moments of discomfort are often where confidence grows. Learning that they can face a challenge and come out the other side helps build resilience, which is an important part of supporting positive mental health.
As parents, it can be tempting to step in and do things for our children because it's faster or because we don't want them to feel uncomfortable. But confidence isn't something we can give our children. It's something they build by facing challenges, making mistakes, and realizing, "I did it."
Challenge your child to try something new this summer, no matter how small.
Maybe they order their own meal at a restaurant or say their order in the drive-thru. They might feel nervous, stumble over their words, or even make a mistake and that's okay. Resist the urge to jump in and rescue them. Instead, encourage them beforehand, have them practice what they’re going to say, smile supportively, and let them work through it.
When the interaction is over, you'll likely see something wonderful: pride. They did something that felt hard, and they discovered they were capable of doing it. Experiences like these help children build confidence in themselves and reduce the fear of trying new things in the future.
Other simple ways to build confidence include:
Checking out a library book on their own.
Asking an employee for help finding an item at the grocery store.
Introducing themselves to another child at the playground.
Paying for an item at the store.
Calling a grandparent or relative independently.
Asking a question at a museum, camp, or community event.
Trying a new sport, club, or hobby.
These moments may seem small to us, but they send a powerful message to children: I can do hard things. When children are given opportunities to face manageable challenges, they learn that mistakes are a normal part of growth. This mindset not only builds confidence but also supports their mental health by helping them approach new experiences with greater resilience and less fear of failure.
As a teacher, I've seen firsthand that the children who believe in themselves aren't necessarily the ones who never struggle. They're often the ones who have learned that it's okay to feel nervous, make mistakes, and keep trying anyway.
Read Because It's Enjoyable
Summer shouldn't feel like a reading assignment.
Instead of asking, "Did you read for 20 minutes?" try asking:
What made you laugh today?
What surprised you in your book?
Which character reminds you of someone you know?
Visit your local library together and let your child choose books that genuinely interest them.
Graphic novels. Sports magazines. Cookbooks. Mystery novels. Comic books. Books about dinosaurs. It all counts.
The goal is to help children see reading as something enjoyable rather than another task to complete.
Take Learning Outside
Nature provides one of the richest classrooms available.
Go for a walk and challenge your child to:
identify different birds
estimate the height of trees
count butterflies
create nature art
collect interesting rocks
write a nature journal
photograph insects
You're naturally incorporating science, math, literacy, observation skills, and curiosity.
Children often retain these experiences far better than they do from worksheets because they are actively involved in discovering new information.
Let Them Help Around the House
Sometimes parents tell me,
"I don't want to make my child do chores during summer."
I actually think this is one of the best opportunities to teach life skills.
Invite your child to:
cook dinner together
measure ingredients
create a grocery list
compare prices at the store
organize a closet
garden
wash the car
build IKEA furniture together
These everyday experiences strengthen executive functioning, planning, sequencing, responsibility, and independence while showing children they are valuable contributors to the family.
Protect Their Mental Health by Protecting Their Sleep
One routine that is important to maintain during the summer is a reasonably consistent sleep schedule.
Children don't need to wake up for school every morning, but staying up until midnight every night can make the transition back to school much more difficult.
Sleep plays an enormous role in emotional regulation, attention, memory, and learning.
A well-rested child is generally better able to manage frustration, solve problems, and enjoy learning opportunities. It also helps make the transition back to school much easier.
Encourage Real Conversations
One of the greatest gifts we can give children is our attention.
Whether you're driving to soccer practice or eating dinner together, ask open-ended questions.
Instead of:
"Did you have fun?"
Try asking:
What was the best part of your day?
What challenged you today?
Who made you smile?
Is there anything you're wondering about lately?
These conversations help children develop emotional awareness while strengthening your relationship.
Feeling heard and understood is one of the strongest protective factors for children's mental health.
Make Learning Feel Like Play
As teachers, we know children learn best when they're engaged.
Here are some simple activities that feel like play but build important academic skills:
Literacy
Write a comic book.
Create a family newspaper.
Make treasure hunt clues.
Keep a vacation journal.
Write postcards to relatives.
Math
Bake together.
Play card games.
Estimate grocery totals.
Measure ingredients.
Build with LEGO and discuss shapes and patterns.
Science
Grow fruits and vegetables.
Build paper airplanes.
Observe insects.
Make homemade bubbles.
Conduct simple kitchen experiments.
Critical Thinking
Escape room games.
Puzzles.
Chess.
Strategy board games.
Scavenger hunts.
Children rarely complain about learning when it feels meaningful and fun.
Keep Expectations Realistic
Summer isn't the time to recreate school at home.
If your child struggled this year, they don't need two hours of worksheets every morning.
Instead, think about consistency over intensity.
Reading together a few days each week.
Playing math games.
Talking during walks.
Cooking dinner together.
These small moments add up.
Children are much more likely to continue learning when it doesn't feel forced.
Watch for Signs Your Child May Need Extra Support
While summer can be restorative, it can also uncover struggles that were hidden during the busy school year.
Pay attention if your child consistently seems:
withdrawn
unusually anxious
irritable
lacking motivation
unable to enjoy activities they previously loved
overwhelmed by everyday situations
As I discussed in my earlier blog, mental health affects attention, motivation, emotional regulation, self-esteem, and learning. Early support can make a significant difference, whether that means talking with your family doctor, accessing community resources, or connecting with a mental health professional.
Remember: Connection Comes Before Correction
One lesson teaching has reinforced for me over and over again is this:
Children learn best when they feel connected.
Before we worry about academic growth, we need to ensure our children feel safe, loved, capable, and understood.
Summer offers a wonderful opportunity to strengthen those relationships. Laugh together. Play together. Explore together. Be curious together.
Those moments are just as valuable as any workbook or tutoring session.
When September arrives, children who have spent the summer feeling emotionally supported, curious, and confident often return to school not only happier but also more ready to learn.
At Diamond Teachers Group, we believe that supporting the whole child means nurturing both their academic growth and their emotional well-being. Sometimes the greatest learning happens not at a desk but around a campfire, on a nature trail, while baking cookies, or during a family game night.
Learning through joy, curiosity, and connection isn't taking a break from education; it is education.