Maybe you’ve had your kids’ day camps lined up since January. Maybe you’ll be home with them and are planning day trips and fun family activities. Maybe you’re an overnight camp family. Or maybe…you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the prospect of so much unstructured time once school lets out.
The truth is, there’s no one right way to parent—during summer or at any time of the year. But there are some broad guidelines that can help protect everyone’s mental health and increase the odds that your family actually enjoys this season together.

Keep Stable Sleep-Wake and Meal Times
Summer often invites us to throw routines out the window—but our brains and bodies still thrive on rhythm. That doesn’t mean you can’t stay up late to watch fireflies or have ice cream for dinner once in a while. It does mean that maintaining consistent bedtimes and mealtimes most of the time can help regulate mood, energy, and behavior—for kids and adults alike.
A predictable routine is particularly important for kids who experience anxiety, ADHD, or other challenges with self-regulation.

Take Help From AI
With a few keystrokes, Artificial Intelligence can create a daily schedule that is tailored to your children’s ages and interests. Make sure to ask it to incorporate chores, fun activities, and down time! It can also be a good resource for places to visit in your community or easy crafts or other activities to do at home. If creating a schedule feels difficult, let AI help you create structure, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel!

Boredom is not the enemy! In fact, having unstructured time is crucial for kids to learn creativity, independence, and problem-solving skills.

As Parents magazine and Active for Life explain beautifully, it’s okay—even healthy—for kids to be bored sometimes. Rather than jumping in to solve the boredom, you can prepare in advance:

Print and post a “boredom busters” list like these:

• Boredom Busters Bingo from Highlights
• 100 Summer Boredom Busters from Active for Life

Let your kids know that you’re not their cruise director—and that making their own fun is part of growing up. If it’s age-appropriate and safe, encourage outdoor free play with neighbors or friends.

It’s normal to ease up on screen limits in the summer—but some guardrails still matter. Here are a few that we recommend year-round:

• No screens in bedrooms overnight
• Designate screen-free times (like meals, family outings, or an hour before bed)
• Agree together on a reasonable daily screen time limit
• Try using a shared screen time contract or visual schedule

You might also explore alternatives to passive screen time, like educational games, digital art, or podcasts for kids—especially during long car rides or quiet time.

Summer is an ideal time for skill-building—not just through camps or classes, but right at home. Think of it as the season of life skills:

• Have your child learn to make a simple meal
• Let them take charge of their own laundry
• Teach how to vacuum, change sheets, or organize a drawer
• Start a family “summer project” like gardening, decluttering, or building something together

These small steps support confidence, autonomy, and even executive functioning.

Even in the sunshine, tough days will happen. It’s helpful to validate your kids’ feelings when they’re frustrated, tired, or out of sorts. It’s also important to normalize your own feelings as a parent—summer can feel long, and the mental load doesn’t magically disappear with the school year.

Make sure you’re taking care of your own needs too: get rest, ask for help, and take breaks when you can. Remember, you don’t have to do it all.

Whether it’s a list of fun local outings, favorite dinner shortcuts, or quick solo activities that recharge you (yes, even five quiet minutes with a podcast counts!), having a personal summer survival toolkit can make a big difference.

What are your best tips and tricks for summertime parenting?

Wishing you a summer that’s equal parts peaceful, playful, and present.