5 Summer Time Tips | Addiction starts in the Summer | Child Teen Family Counselor Expert

Summer is well underway and that means no sleep schedules, no eating schedules and more importantly no screen time schedules and while this may seem like every kids dream, the habits that start in the summer have a risk to become addictions quick.  Jim has over 20 years of counseling experience and a vast majority of kids have said their addictions to videos games or drugs started in the summer, when there’s less structure in their lives.

Here are 5 expert tips on how to keep your kids on track during the summer months so transitioning back to school is a breeze:

1. Behavior Charts – Summer is the best time to do a home behavior charts so the transition from summer to school is easier, if there are certain expectations at home then it’s easy to add school expectations come August.
2. Bed Times – Make bedtimes 1 hour later than school times and wake up time 1 – 2 hours later.  We are not nocturnal.  When the sun goes down our melatonin hormone peaks about 2-3 hours later and we need to be in bed by then to get into our deep REM cycles.  If we miss the first REM cycle, we will skip the rest of the REM sleep cycles and not wake up completely rested and less sleep contributes to mood control and behavioral issues.
3. Managing Screen Time – Addiction starts in the summer so be sure to balance video game and electronics time according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
   1. 6-9 years of age needs 5 minutes of socialization (150 minutes) for everyone minute of electronics time earned up to 30 minutes of electronics including Youtube.
   2. 10-12 years of age needs 3 minutes of socialization (180 minutes) for everyone minute of electronics time earned up to 60 minutes of electronics including Youtube.
   3. 13-15 years of age needs 2 minutes of socialization (180 minutes) for everyone minute of electronics time earned up to 90 minutes of electronics including Youtube.
   4. 16 years of age needs 1 minutes of socialization (120 minutes) for everyone minute of electronics time earned up to 120 minutes of electronics including Youtube.
4. Keep them busy – Kids that are sitting at home are sedentary and this contributes to laziness, health issues, weight gain.  Check your community for local farmer’s markets, splash pads, playgrounds and other activities that keep them active.  Alternatively, get them into day camps, volunteering, or older teens can get a summer job and build self esteem.
5. Skill Building – Kids can join schools, camps, or get personal coaches to help them improve their athletic skills.  They can learn an instrument and get them ready for band. They can even join local art groups at their local library to keep them busy.

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About the Author: Jim West, MA, LMHC, NCC is an Author, Communicator, Coach and Counselor specializing in ADHD, Defiance and Autistic Spectrum.  Most of his clients do not need medication or less medication for ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Mutism, Depression and more with diet adjustments and vitamins.  For more information call (407) 248-0030