How to Support Your Anxious Child Through Summer Transitions
As summer approaches, many families in St. Louis are planning vacations, signing up for camps, and looking forward to a slower pace. But for some kids—especially those who struggle with anxiety or anxiety-driven anger—summer can be anything but relaxing.
At Compassionate Counseling St. Louis, we often work with children, teens, and young adults who feel overwhelmed by seasonal transitions. While summer may seem like a welcome break, the lack of structure and increase in social pressure can heighten anxiety and make emotional regulation even more difficult.
Why Summer Can Be Especially Hard for Anxious Kids
1. Disrupted Routines
During the school year, many children thrive on consistency. When school ends, the daily rhythm disappears, and that sudden lack of predictability can trigger anxiety symptoms.
Image Credit: Unsplash 🇸🇮 Janko Ferlič @itfeelslikefilm
2. Overstimulation
Camps, family gatherings, travel—these can all be wonderful experiences, but for anxious children, too much stimulation can be draining and lead to emotional outbursts or shutdowns.
3. Social Pressures
Summer often involves meeting new people, trying new things, and being in unfamiliar environments. For kids with social anxiety or low self-confidence, these situations can feel like a minefield.
4. Fear of the Unknown
When anxious kids don’t know what to expect, their minds often fill in the blanks with worst-case scenarios. Even fun plans can cause stress when there's uncertainty involved.
5. Transition Anxiety
Switching to a new summer camp, preparing for family travel, or even thinking about a new school year can feel overwhelming. These transitions, however small, often lead to increased anxiety-driven behaviors like irritability, avoidance, or anger outbursts.
How Therapy Can Help During the Summer
Our team of anxiety therapists in St. Louis is trained to help kids and teens understand and manage their anxious thoughts and emotions—especially during periods of transition. We use developmentally appropriate approaches like CBT, play therapy, and mindfulness to help children feel more in control of their feelings.
Summer can actually be a great time to start therapy. Daytime sessions are easier to fit in, and kids often respond well to therapy when their schedule is more flexible. Plus, getting a head start on emotional regulation over the summer sets them up for a more successful school year.
Action Steps for Parents and Professionals
Notice the signs: Watch for increased irritability, avoidance, or complaints of stomach aches or headaches.
Create a flexible routine: Help your child know what to expect each day.
Make time for emotional check-ins: Ask how they're feeling about upcoming plans or changes.
Consider summer therapy: If anxiety is making summer harder than it should be, now is a good time to reach out.
Support for Parents is Available!
Parenting a child struggling with big emotions can be overwhelming. Our Expert Parent Coaches dive into your unique situation and teach you strategies to weather the parenting storm.
At Compassionate Counseling St. Louis, we’re currently accepting new clients for daytime sessions this summer. If you’re looking for an anxiety therapist in St. Louis, we’d be happy to talk about how we can help.
Contact us today to learn more or schedule a session.
Curious to learn more about counseling for anxiety and anxiety-driven anger? Wondering if Compassionate Counseling St. Louis could be a good fit for you or your child? Reach out to us at hello@compassionatecounselingstl.com. As child anxiety experts, we love working with kids, teens, college students and parents to help manage their anxiety, stress, and anger. Compassionate Counseling St. Louis is located in Clayton, MO and works with families by offering both in-person counseling and online therapy throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Couer, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood. We also provide online therapy Missouri -wide to teens and college students. You can set up your first free consult on this website, on our consultation page.
