BIG FEELINGS, NEW ROUTINES: Supporting Young Children Through Summer Transitions

Sunshine, time to play, and often a welcome break from busy school schedules….ah, summertime! On the other hand, summer — and the sudden change it can bring from school-year schedules — may also bring big feelings for young children.

When routines shift at any age, it can cause us to feel a bit unsettled. For kids during the summer, it can mean the end of preschool, changes in childcare, or having older siblings suddenly home all day. For children under five, these seemingly small changes can impact their feelings in ways they can’t yet explain. What looks like tantrums, clinginess, or disrupted sleep is often a simple message: “Things feel different, and I’m trying to adjust.”

Getting prepared for this transition by planning for some consistency can help your young kids move through the summer changes more confidently, even creating new routines that feel fun and comforting.

Why Routine Changes Affect Young Children

Young children thrive on predictability. Knowing what typically happens every day, like mealtimes, naps, and bedtime routines, help them feel safe and secure because they have a sense of what to expect.

When routines suddenly change, it can feel confusing. Even positive changes, like more playtime or family outings, can feel overwhelming without a sense of structure. For children under five, whose brains are still growing and developing, interruptions to their routines can affect their behavior, mood, and sleep.

During summer transitions, it’s normal to see changes like:

• More tantrums or emotional outbursts

• Increased clinginess or separation anxiety

• Trouble with getting to sleep or taking naps

• Regression in skills they’ve recently learned, like potty training or doing activities by themselves

• Having a harder time listening or following directions
  

These behaviors don’t mean there’s something wrong with your child. They can simply be signals that they are adjusting to change and may need some time, and consistency, to settle in.

Helping Your Child Prepare for Transitions in Schedules

Even small steps can make a big difference when helping your child feel more secure about changes in their routines. 

1. Talk about what’s changing.

Use simple, age-appropriate ways for explaining what summer might look like for your child. For example: “This school year is ending, and you’ll get to spend more time at home (or at a summer program),” or “Your sister will be home during the day over the summer, and we’ll all get to eat lunch together!” Talking through what the days may look like and include helps them to think through upcoming changes, ask questions, and get mentally prepared.

2. Try to keep key routines consistent.

Summer schedules may be more flexible, but try to keep some important routines steady, such as wake-up times, meal and snack times, nap or quiet times, and bedtime routines. Even if the times of some activities change during the summer when there’s more daylight, keeping the routines of the activities similar helps your child to recognize and feel comfortable doing “regular” things.

3. Use visual or simple daily plans.

For toddlers and preschoolers, even a loose plan for the day can help them adjust and feel more comfortable. You might say: “First we’ll eat breakfast, then we’ll play outside for a bit. Then, we’ll have lunch.” Understanding what comes next can relieve some of their anxiety about a new routine. Some families find it helpful to use simple picture schedules or to just simply talk through the plan for the day every morning.

4. Create a summertime rhythm for your activities (but not a strict schedule).

For many families, summertime can feel much more relaxed. Having some routines that are predictable — or a predictable rhythm — can help children feel more comfortable. Think of your day in flexible blocks: In the morning, you get ready, eat breakfast, go outside to play. After lunch, you typically have rest or quiet time for a bit. In the afternoon, you do a creative activity, run errands, or meet with friends for outings. In the evening, you have dinner, wind-down with family, and go through bedtime routines.

This rhythm includes a sense of what will happen, but it isn’t so strict that you are doing the same things every single day. 

Ideas for Keeping Kids Active and Engaged

Keeping your children active and entertained doesn’t take a lot of money or require you to be constantly on the go. In fact, simple, everyday play within safe spaces can be the most meaningful and fun for the whole family.

Get outside  for some fresh air and movement. This also helps your child’s mood and energy levels. Try taking walks around your neighborhood and pointing out interesting things you see (a pretty flower, a funny-shaped cloud, an adorable dog or squirrel). Visit different parks in your area to mix up access to different peers and playground equipment. Playing with water (using buckets, hoses or sprinklers) is always a big hit on hot summer days. All of these activities, of course, should be monitored by a responsible adult or caregiver.

Encourage hands-on play for great developmental growth. Playing with building blocks, household items or playdough helps combine creativity with hand-eye coordination. Drawing, coloring, or painting are good options for quieter or calmer activities. Sensory play (things that combine different textures or movement) can include rice bins, water tables, and sand. 

Read and tell stories together with your young children to build language and connection. Visit your local library for storytime or to find new (free, with a library card) books to check out for a period of time. Ask your child what things they like most (cars, nature, animals, etc.), and the library is bound to have books on that topic that your child will enjoy.

Have your kids help you with everyday tasks — they get to learn new responsibilities while building independence and confidence. Some simple chores that can become meaningful activities include:

• Helping you to wash fruits and vegetables

• Stirring ingredients while cooking

• Sorting laundry by color or clothing types (shirts, pants, socks, etc.)

• Picking up toys together (Tip: making it a race ramps up the fun!)

  
  

Create “quiet time” options for periods when it would be good for your children to slow down. Quieter activities can include looking at books (alone or together with you or siblings), listening to calming music, or playing quietly with toys. Some quiet time helps children recharge and may even give you a much-needed break.

Supporting Your Kids’ Big Feelings During Seasons of Growth and Connection

During transitions like summer breaks throughout the year, or changes in home routines for any reason, it is important for parents and caregivers to make connections with their children when emotions run high. Acknowledge their feelings by saying things like, “I can see you’re upset. I know things feel a little different today,” and offer them comfort and consistency. A hug, using a calm voice, and reassuring them that their feelings are o.k. can help them adjust better.

Seasons of change can be an opportunity to help children understand and learn to cope throughout their lives when routines and schedules change. With a little planned structure, plenty of fun opportunities to play and connect, families can turn transitions into meaningful moments of growth.