Tammy Schamuhn | May 27th, 2025
As the school year winds down, many parents feel the pressure to fill their child’s summer with structured camps, academic enrichment, sports leagues, and scheduled outings. The cultural push to “maximize” summer can lead us to believe that busier is better. But what if the best gift we could give our children this summer is space—unstructured, unhurried, and unscheduled? I know some of my fondest memories from childhood were days spent at the outdoor swimming pool with neighborhood friends, hot dog roasts in the back yard with my family, reading till the wee hours by flashlight in the tent in our backyard, and endless hours on our tire swing.
I want to gently challenge the notion that more is better when it comes to summer activities. In fact, the science of child development—and decades of clinical experience—tell us the opposite: children thrive when they have time to rest, to play freely, to explore nature, and to connect with peers on their own terms.
Why a “Slow Summer” Matters
In a world that prizes productivity and performance, slowing down can feel counterintuitive. But children are not mini-adults—they need rhythms that honor their developmental needs, not our adult pace. A slow summer allows children to:
- Reclaim Free Play
Child-led play—play without adult direction or goals—is more than fun. It’s how children process emotions, develop problem-solving skills, practice empathy, and learn about themselves. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (2018), unstructured play is essential for healthy brain development. Summer is the perfect time to let kids just play—with sticks, dirt, costumes, water, cardboard boxes, and their imaginations.
- Recharge Their Nervous Systems
After ten months of academic expectations, social dynamics, and packed schedules, children’s nervous systems are often taxed. Slowing down gives their bodies and brains a chance to rest. Boredom, rather than something to avoid, can become a portal to creativity and self-discovery.
- Connect with Nature
Spending time in nature is a proven regulator for children’s emotional and physiological systems. Outdoor time lowers cortisol (the stress hormone), boosts serotonin (the mood stabilizer), and improves focus and sleep. Whether it’s a hike, a backyard garden, a tree to climb, or a bug to watch, nature nourishes.
- Strengthen Peer Relationships
Children need time to build friendships without the pressure of structured activities. Unscheduled hangouts—riding bikes, building forts, or simply lying in the grass chatting—allow kids to practice social skills, work through conflicts, and build emotional resilience in ways that formal environments can’t always offer.
- Foster Emotional Resilience
A slower pace supports self-regulation and resilience. When kids are given space to feel their feelings, to experiment, to fail safely, and to recover without judgment, they build essential emotional tools they’ll carry into adulthood.
What Does a Slow Summer Look Like?
It doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means doing less. A slow summer might look like:
- Mornings in pajamas followed by fort-building in the living room
- Afternoons spent in the backyard with a sprinkler and popsicles
- A weekly nature walk with no agenda but only curiosity
- Letting your child decide how they want to spend the day
- Limiting screen time so their creativity gets a chance to lead
- A camp or two—but balanced with open space in the calendar
This kind of summer isn’t lazy. It’s deeply restorative and developmentally rich.
Let’s Redefine a “Successful” Summer
At the end of the season, your child may not have earned a ribbon or mastered a new skill. But they may have developed something far more valuable: a stronger sense of self, deeper emotional balance, stronger friendships, and cherished memories of just being a kid.
This summer let’s choose simplicity. Let’s choose space. Let’s choose connection.
Let’s give our children what they truly need: a season to be free.
Tammy Schamuhn, M.Sc., B.Ed, RPT-S
Tammy is a Registered Psychologist, best-selling author, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, Co-Founder of the Institute of Child Psychology, and Founder of the Child- Centered Animal Assisted Therapy Association. Tammy offers training in animal-assisted therapy at her ranch in Canada (www.hoovesofhoperanch.com). Visit www.ccaata.com to learn more.
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