The Ultimate Guide to Summer with Teens

Tips and Resources for Parents, Mentors, and Youth Workers

Without the pressure of school schedules, teens are more open to building relationships, exploring passions, and growing emotionally and spiritually. Whether you’re a mentor, parent, student minister, or youth worker, summer is your chance to connect with teens in life-shaping ways.

This guide will help you make the most of the season—with ideas, tools, and encouragement to help teens thrive during summer.

Why Summer Growth Matters for Teens

Without the rigid structure of school, teens experience a shift that opens the door to new possibilities. For some, it’s a chance to rest and recharge. For others, the lack of routine can feel unsettling. For others still, it’s a shift from one chaotic schedule to another. Either way, how teens spend their summer can shape their mental health, identity, relationships, and even their future trajectory.

Here’s why summer matters so much:

1. Emotional Reset and Mental Health Relief

2. Identity and Independence Development

Who am I? Where do I belong? What do I care about?

During summer, teens are less defined by school roles—the athlete, the overachiever, the outsider—and more free to experiment with interests, beliefs, and values. They can try new things, meet different people, or even just sit with themselves in ways they can’t during the school year.

When trusted adults encourage exploration and ask reflective questions, teens can take huge strides in self-awareness and confidence.

3. A Rare Season for Mentorship and Connection

• Have deeper conversations.
• Try something new together.
• Be consistently present.

Whether it’s through a weekly check-in, a shared project, or simply showing up at a teen’s game or recital, mentors and parents can build trust and belonging in ways that carry through the rest of the year.

4. Future Ready Growth Without the Stress

• Life skills (like budgeting, cooking, or navigating public transit)
• Job shadowing or part-time work
• Community service and leadership
• Spiritual exploration and goal-setting

Teens who engage meaningfully over summer are often more confident, motivated, and socially connected when school resumes.

When we see summer not as “free time to fill” but as sacred space to grow, we become partners in teens’ lifelong development.

Your presence matters more than ever.

For insights on guiding teens through the summer, explore Navigating Your Teen Through the Summer.

Supporting Teen Mental Health During Summer

Your role as a caring adult is crucial. By offering consistent presence, understanding, and practical support, you can help teens navigate the emotional terrain of summer with resilience and hope.

Common Mental Health Struggles Teen Face in Summer

Isolation and Loneliness

Friends may travel, family schedules shift, and structured activities pause. Teens without strong social networks can feel left out or forgotten.

How to Help: Organize small gatherings or casual hangouts. Even simple game nights or park meet-ups can help teens feel connected. Encourage them to reach out to friends or join community activities.

Anxiety Over Unstructured Time

While many teens crave freedom, too much unstructured time can be overwhelming. Teens may feel pressure to be productive, stay busy, or live up to “perfect summer” expectations seen on social media.

How to Help: Help them create gentle routines—like setting small daily goals or planning a weekly activity. Discuss the idea that rest and downtime are valuable, too.

Screentime Overload

With more free hours, many teens default to screens—gaming, social media, binge-watching—sometimes as a way to escape feelings of boredom or anxiety.

How to Help

Have a family screen detox. Spend a weekend playing board games or going camping and keep screens to a minimum (texting and calling).

Or rather than banning screens, help them balance it. Suggest time limits, outdoor activities, or tech-free zones during certain hours. Model healthy screen habits yourself.

Don’t miss these resources on managing screentime:

• How Much is TOO MUCH? Winning at Screen Time
• Teen Boundaries That Work | Ep. 177
• Setting Realistic Tech Boundaries for Teens | Ep. 169
• 125: Screen Apnea & Summer Recap 2023

Disrupted Sleep Patterns

Late nights and irregular schedules can throw off sleep rhythms, impacting mood and mental health.

How to Help: Encourage a consistent sleep routine. Discuss the impact of sleep on mental health and offer practical tips like winding down with a book or limiting screens before bed.

Read more about teens and sleep at  Ep. 75: Sleep Disorders & Fall Trends, Ep. 111: Laziness, and Ep. 95: Intentional Rest & Discord.

Comparison and FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)

Social media often amplifies feelings of inadequacy during summer—when it looks like “everyone else” is traveling, partying, or living their best life.

How to Help: Talk openly about the difference between real life and social media highlights. Encourage gratitude journaling to shift focus from comparison to appreciation.

You’ll find great tips for managing social media and teens here:

• Fake Social Media + Spiritual Disciplines | Ep. 160
• Social Media Etiquette + Silent Teens | Ep. 154
• Don’t Panic about Social Media with Sarah Brooks
• Ep. 113: Gossip
• Teens, Media and Information Sources | Ep 165

Practical Ways to Support Teen Mental Health

Create Space for Honest Conversations

Ask open-ended questions like:

• “What’s been the best part of your summer so far?”
• “What’s been harder than you expected?”
• “Is there anything you’re worried about this summer?”

Make it clear that no topic is off-limits and that you’re willing to listen without judgment.

Encourage Meaningful Routines

Suggest building a “Summer Rhythm”:

• Morning: Exercise, breakfast, and setting goals for the day.
• Midday: Social time, hobbies, or learning something new.
• Evening: Reflection, journaling, winding down.

These simple routines can anchor their days and reduce anxiety.

Promote Mental Wellness Activities

• Mindfulness Practices: Teach simple breathing exercises, meditation apps, or guided journaling.
• Physical Movement: Walks, yoga, swimming, or biking. Movement is powerful for releasing stress.
• Creative Outlets: Art, music, writing, or building projects can be therapeutic.
• Outdoor Time: Nature walks, picnics, or reading outside can reset their mind.

Be Proactive About Checking In

Don’t wait for them to speak up. Regularly ask how they’re feeling, even if it’s a quick, “How’s your heart today?”

Normalize talking about mental health just like physical health. This makes it easier for them to reach out when they’re struggling.

Check out these resources about checking in:

• 4 Ways the Check-In Transforms Relationships
• How to Connect with Busy Teens | Ep. 178
• 5 Ways to Keep Teens Safe This Summer

The Most Important Thing You Can Do Is BE THERE.

Text them, invite them for a walk, send a funny meme—showing up in little ways builds trust.

When they open up, listen more than you talk. Sometimes, they just need someone to sit with them in their feelings.