Your Summer Survival Toolkit: 5 Strategies for Calmer Days

Summer can be a joyful season - but also a chaotic one, especially when routines shift and emotions run high. These simple tools can help you stay grounded, strengthen connection with your kids, and create more moments of calm.

1. Set a Summer Intention

   Choose a word or goal for the season - like presence, patience, or joy. Let it be your anchor when things feel overwhelming. Visualize a time you lived that intention and return to that mindset when you're feeling stressed.
   

2. Name It to Tame It

   Kids' big behaviors often stem from big feelings. Use the anger iceberg as a visual - anger may be what you see, but underneath could be fear, sadness, or frustration. Help your child name their feelings, and model doing the same. This builds empathy, emotional regulation, and connection.

   
   

3. Reinforce the Positive

   Instead of focusing on what needs correcting, catch your child doing well. Use labeled praise (e.g., "Great job calming yourself down") to highlight specific behaviors you want to see more of. Positive reinforcement goes a long way.
   

4. Start a Brag Book

   Keep a notebook by your child's bed. Each night, write one positive thing they did that day and read it aloud to them. It helps your child feel seen and ends the day on a high note. Try to catch at least 4 positive behaviors daily to fill the book with encouragement.
   

5. Be the Thermostat, Not the Thermometer

   Thermostats regulate; thermometers react. When your child is having a hard time, focus on staying calm rather than matching their intensity. Your grounded presence can help de-escalate emotional moments and model healthy regulation.

   
   

Keep these tools in your back pocket all summer long (and beyond). They're simple, powerful ways to support your kids - and yourself - through the ups and downs.