It’s tempting to continue the same summer playbook with students: get an internship, do a summer program, or work on independent projects. And some students still have a great deal of drive for these activities—that’s fantastic. But we're noticing there's a significant number of students who need a more old-fashioned summer break (emphasis on the break).

This can cause concern for the adults in students' lives because of the worry that your student will miss out on critical experiences that will impact their college applications. But it's important to be in tune with what your student needs, and if they're feeling burned out after a rollercoaster year, keep that in mind. Here are a few suggestions to help make it work.

1. Listen to your teen. If they're emotionally and physically worn out from the pandemic, hear them out. Talk about their vision for the summer to be sure they're doing what's best for them in short and long term.
2. Make a plan. It's critical that students get some downtime this summer. Each student will differ on how much downtime they need, but everyone needs the space to reboot after the difficult months they've endured. 
3. Choose interesting summer activities. If your student is going to engage in some summer activities, make sure the activities resonate with them. For example, if the student is hoping to get business experience, they might prefer a job to an internship. Both options allow the student to learn relevant skills, and the key is that your student is actively engaged in the planning process.
4. Discuss their preferred method of learning. For students who plan to do an academic program, discuss their preferred method of delivery: online or in person. There's a group of students who really enjoy the flexibility of online learning, and there are plenty of virtual opportunities. It will be more challenging to find in-person options, but if your student doesn't thrive in online classes, do your best to find an option. We're of course happy to help.
5. Get creative. One of the greatest skills a student can learn is initiative, and summer provides a wonderful opportunity for the student to work on something that genuinely interests them. This year has been anything but traditional, so consider some nontraditional plans for this summer as well.
6. Help someone else. What could your student do to impact their family, school, or community? Volunteering or providing service can be a great confidence-builder and energizer. It can be simple things like helping neighbors or assisting at home, or it can be more formal, like working with a non-profit organization. Again, the key is that the student is actually excited about the opportunity. 

As parents, give yourself some grace this summer—you've navigated some very difficult months. More than anything, don’t buy into the hype that there's one right way to have a good, successful summer. This summer is an opportunity for your student to become re-energized. There are many ways that can happen, but like most things in the past year or so, it may not look like it has in the past.