Summer can be a lonely time for some children missing their friends from school as the daily, in-person connections are suddenly gone.
But there is something parents can do to help children cope with a 鈥渂ig void in their lives,鈥� said Dr. Anisha Abraham, chief of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Children鈥檚 National Hospital in D.C.
First is to keep an eye on young children and middle schoolers who may display signs they鈥檙e missing their friends from school.
鈥淚f they鈥檙e feeling sad, or down or somehow withdrawn because they鈥檙e not having those friendships, it鈥檚 important for parents to check in and see how things are going,鈥� Abraham told 草莓传媒.
The first step includes broaching a conversation and creating a safe space for children between eight and 15 years old, who 鈥渁re really at the height of navigating friendships and cliques,鈥� she said.
鈥淟ead with empathy and ensure that they know you鈥檙e validating their feelings,鈥� said Abraham.
鈥溾�橧 know this might be really hard for you. This is a time when your friends are important and you鈥檙e not going to be seeing them. How can we make sure that we help you?鈥欌��
But the need for in-person connections may still linger for some children. In those cases, Abraham suggested setting up summer playdates and some screen time with school friends. Also, remember that vacations and summer camps can upend the best laid plans.
鈥淚f there鈥檚 no way to stay connected, make sure they have routines and have structure,鈥� she said. 鈥淒oing other things to keep busy would be helpful.鈥�
Abraham said the lesson of making new friends can also help children cope with missing school friendships. If a child continues to struggle, parents should also look for deeper signs that may need professional attention, she told 草莓传媒.
鈥淚f you have a child or teenager that鈥檚 withdrawing, feeling down all of the time or having difficulty with sleeping or eating, you probably know better than anyone else,鈥� she said. 鈥淒ouble checking and asking is OK. But think about perhaps getting professional help, if you鈥檙e really concerned.鈥�
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