What Changes During Adolescence?

Find a therapist to support kids and teens

The lack of school-year structure can trigger anxiety.

This can lead to meltdowns and scheduling worries as well as sleep disruptions or social withdrawal in teens.

Establish predictable daily routines and keep a balanced schedule.

For many families, summer is associated with freedom, relaxation, and a welcome break from the demands of the school year. Yet for some children and teens, the transition from the structure of school to the flexibility of summer can actually increase anxiety.

Children thrive on predictability. During the school year, they know when to wake up, where they are going, who they will see, and what is expected of them each day. Summer often brings sudden changes to those routines. While some children look forward to the loosey-goosey schedule, other children may dread the lack of structure that comes with the summertime.

How Anxiety May Show Up During the Summer

Many of our children aren’t able to articulate “I’m feeling anxious.” Instead, anxiety shows up in behaviors and changes in behaviors.

For younger children, parents may notice that their child is now more clingy and struggles to separate. A younger child may not be able to........

© Psychology Today