Written by: Maggie Hartzler, LISW, Clinical Services Director
Summer often arrives with big expectations.
As parents and caregivers, we want to give children memorable experiences, opportunities to learn, stay active, and make the most of their break from school. Camps, sports, activities, vacations, lessons, and events quickly begin filling calendars – often with the best intentions.
But somewhere along the way, many children lose something they deeply need: unstructured play, rest, and simple joy.
In a world that constantly pushes productivity and achievement, even childhood can start to feel scheduled, rushed, and performance-based. And while activities themselves are not bad, children also need time to simply be.
At Tanager, we rely on the RISE Framework which focuses on building resilience, emotional wellness, connection, and confidence over time. One of the most overlooked ways children rise is through play.
Not the kind directed by adults.
Not the kind tied to performance or outcomes.
But the kind rooted in imagination, curiosity, movement, creativity, and joy.
Why Play Matters More Than We Think
Play is not a break from development – it is development.
Through play, children:
- Process emotions
- Build problem-solving skills
- Learn flexibility and resilience
- Practice social connection
- Strengthen creativity and confidence
- Regulate stress and anxiety
- Discover who they are
And perhaps most importantly, play gives children a sense of freedom.
Children today are growing up in a fast-moving world filled with noise, pressure, comparison, screens, and packed schedules. Even younger children can begin to internalize the feeling that they always need to be doing something productive.
But human beings – especially children – are not designed to function at full speed all the time.
Just like adults, kids need moments of rest, silliness, wonder, and joy.
The Quiet Cost of Overscheduling
Overscheduling often happens gradually and lovingly. Caregivers want children to have opportunities, friendships, enrichment, and experiences they may not have had themselves.
But when every hour becomes structured, children can lose access to:
- Imagination
- Downtime
- Emotional decompression
- Self-directed creativity
- Opportunities to listen to their own needs
Some children respond by becoming irritable, emotionally reactive, anxious, or exhausted. Others simply seem disconnected or overwhelmed.
Sometimes what looks like “boredom” is actually a nervous system asking for space to slow down.
And while boredom can feel uncomfortable at first, it is often where creativity begins.
Summer as a Chance to Reclaim Joy
Summer offers a unique opportunity to step back and ask: “What does my child actually need this season?”
For some families, the answer may still include camps, sports, and activities. But it may also include protecting intentional space for:
- Free play
- Rest
- Family connection
- Outdoor exploration
- Creativity
- Slower mornings
- Moments without constant stimulation
In RISE, there is a beautiful thread woven throughout the book: growth does not happen all at once. It happens slowly, through consistent moments of care, connection, and presence.
The same is true for emotional wellness.
Children often grow most deeply in ordinary moments:
- Riding bikes until sunset
- Catching lightning bugs
- Building forts
- Laughing at inside jokes
- Drawing chalk murals on sidewalks
- Daydreaming in the grass
- Helping make popsicles in the kitchen
- Talking during slow walks before or after the summer heat
These moments may seem small, but they help children build a sense of safety, belonging, and joy that stays with them long after summer ends.
How to Protect Play and Joy This Summer
Leave Empty Space on the Calendar
Not every day needs to be optimized. Children benefit from having room to choose, create, rest, and explore.
Watch for Signs of Overload
Irritability, meltdowns, withdrawal, or exhaustion can sometimes signal that a child needs more downtime – not more stimulation.
Redefine “Successful” Summers
A successful summer does not have to be packed with expensive activities or picture-perfect moments. Sometimes the best summers are the ones where children felt connected, safe, and free to be themselves.
Prioritize Connection Over Performance
Children thrive when they feel valued for who they are, not just what they achieve.
Let Joy Be Enough
Not every activity needs to teach a lesson or build a skill. Joy itself has value.
A Final Thought
RISE reminds us that growth often happens quietly and over time – much like water shaping stone. Childhood works that way, too.
Play may look simple from the outside, but underneath it, important things are happening:
- Confidence is growing
- Emotions are being processed
- Relationships are deepening
- Resilience is forming
This summer, perhaps one of the greatest gifts we can offer children is not another scheduled activity, but permission to slow down, play freely, laugh loudly, rest deeply, and experience the joy of simply being a kid. And maybe find some time for all of that for yourself, too.