4) Keep Your Children Social – Children
need access to playmates, especially since
their classmates may live in different
neighborhoods. Plan to take children to the
park, beach or playground. Encourage them
to meet their friends there to encourage
healthy social interaction and to fend off
boredom and depression.
5) Be Mindful of Nutrition – The heat can
decrease the appetite of some children. Make
sure to keep children eating healthy and
maintaining a proper intake of water and
fluids to prevent dehydration.
relationships, not just sitting in front of TVs, phones
and computers. More than 2 hours of screen
time per day can have very unhealthy effects on
children of all ages. Instead of screens, encourage
your child to read, pursue crafts, draw, play sports,
enjoy nature, and engage in outdoor activities and
behaviors that use their imagination.
3) Continue Routines – Most children, and especially
those processing the effects of trauma, respond
positively to routines. Keeping a set bedtime, time to
wake up, and mealtime, helps children’s bodies stay
regulated and provides a sense of comfort from the
predictability of routines.
6) Remember School is Still Here – While children
are out and teachers are off, there are still those
who work through the summer at schools and can
connect families with resources to meet needs.
Please call your local school if your family needs
support through the summer.
This native Kentuckian, Bethany Groves received
her Bachelors in Elementary Education from OU, and
Masters in Reading from NKU. After teaching several
years, Ms. Groves completed her Educational Leadership
Certification from IUPUI and then transplanted to her
new home in St. Augustine where she has been an
administrator in the St. Johns County School District for
13 years.