TRAVERSE CITY — Parents are being warned about the potential negative impact of summer break on student mental health, a phenomenon referred to as the “summer slide.” McLean Hospital reported that 50% of surveyed students experience negative mental health during the summer months.
Students have indicated that the absence of a structured routine during summer can lead to increased screen time, boredom and disruptions to healthy sleep patterns. To counteract these issues, parents are encouraged to actively engage with their children.
Experts advise parents to implement a flexible schedule and organize family plans to support student well-being during the summer. This proactive engagement can help mitigate the effects of the summer slide.
Additionally, parents should initiate conversations with their children. Dan McMinn, executive Director of Great Lakes Learning Academy, emphasized the importance of these basic discussions. “For a parent, it’s oftentimes easier to just kind of to ask those questions. And then if you’re getting, you know, hey, what what do you think is going on this week. You got any plans? Are you working this weekend. You know, that type of start to get those basic conversations and get it going,” McMinn said.
Students themselves are encouraged to explore various summer job and volunteer opportunities as a way to maintain structure and engagement during the break.