Building Confidence and Resilience in Children During Summer: Activities and Tips

Summer is a perfect time to work on building confidence and increasing resilience in our children. With more free time and fewer academic pressures, it’s an ideal opportunity to focus on these essential life skills.

Why Summer is Ideal for Building Confidence and Resilience in Children

Less School Pressure: Kids get a break from schoolwork and exams, giving them the freedom to try new activities and explore different interests without the stress of grades.

• Tip: Encourage your child to join a summer reading program at the local library, where they can choose books based on their interests, without worrying about book reports or deadlines. Here is the link to the Barrie Summer Reading program https://www.barrielibrary.ca/programs-events/summer-reading-club.

New Hobbies and Sports: Summer is perfect for kids to try new hobbies, sports, or activities they don’t usually have time for during the school year. This helps them discover what they’re good at and builds their confidence.

• Tip: Sign your child up for a summer camp that focuses on a new sport, like tennis or soccer, or enroll them in a creative class such as painting or theater. These new experiences can help them find new passions and develop new skills
• Great option is The Barrie City’s License 2 Ride program offered to youth aged 12–16 and provides the chance to ride for free on Barrie Transit & play for free at the City’s three main recreation centres.

How Outdoor Play Enhances Children’s Growth and Wellbeing

Increased Physical Activity: With warmer weather, children spend more time outside. Activities like learning to ride a bike, swimming, or climbing trees improve mood, self-esteem, and resilience as they learn to persevere and achieve their goals.

• Tip: Plan regular family outings to local parks or nature trails where your child can engage in activities like hiking, fishing, or playing on playgrounds. Set small challenges, such as reaching the top of a hill or completing a nature scavenger hunt, to build their perseverance.
• Here is a link to nature trails in Barrie that are free to access https://www.tourismbarrie.com/do/outdoor-recreation/Hiking-Walking-Trails.

How Family Time and Support Foster Resilience in Children

Parental Role: Summer vacations and weekends with family are important for development. Parents play a crucial role through shared experiences, encouragement, and modeling resilience in everyday situations. Children are always watching and learning from you.

• Tip: Organize family projects like building a treehouse, gardening, or cooking together. These activities provide opportunities for teamwork, problem-solving, and showing how to handle setbacks positively.
• Click here for some great low cost family activities this summer in Simcoe County.

Social Skills: Summer camps, community programs, and spending more time with friends provide opportunities to practice social skills, make new friends, and navigate social challenges. This builds resilience in relationships, as it’s easier for kids to practice in a relaxed, less stressful environment.

• Tip: Enroll your child in a local day camp or sports league where they can meet new peers and practice teamwork. Encourage playdates with classmates or neighborhood kids to help them build and strengthen friendships.
• Here is a link to camps in Ontario and you can search by speciality of camp, or choose a camp that understands the neurodivergent needs of your kids. My kids had some great experiences at summer camp,

The Power of Reflecting and Setting Goals for Children and Families

Reflection and Accomplishment: Reflect on past summer experiences with your child to highlight what they’ve learned and accomplished. Help them set new goals to build a sense of achievement, which is essential for resilience.

• Tip: Create a “Summer Vision Board” where your child can pin up pictures, drawings, or notes about their summer activities and achievements. At the end of the summer, review it together and celebrate their accomplishments. Make a Dreamy 2020 Vision Board with BIC

Creating Positive Memories: Positive experiences and memories from summer boost confidence. These memories serve as reminders of what they can achieve with focus, effort, support, and overcoming obstacles.

• Tip: Plan special family outings like beach trips, camping adventures, or visits to amusement parks. Capture these moments with photos and videos, and create a scrapbook or digital slideshow to revisit and cherish these memories.

Rebuilding Resilience: After years of COVID disruptions, our children need to go back to basics. The lack of experience in social interactions and outdoor activities has impacted their resilience. Building these experiences just needs small, simple steps. Meet your child where they are and make gradual progress in building their skills and confidence.

• Tip: Start with simple, manageable activities that encourage social interaction and physical activity, such as inviting a friend over for a playdate or participating in a community event. Gradually increase the complexity of these activities as your child becomes more comfortable and confident.

By focusing on these aspects during the summer, you can help your child develop the resilience and confidence they need to thrive.