loving art, science and creative kids

 Replanting The Garden

Planting a garden and watching things grow over the summer is a wonderful way to stay connected to nature. 

Summertime: Will the Living Be Easy?

For most children, summer vacation is supposed to be a season of freedom—a time to relax with friends and family and enjoy the long, carefree days away from school. In one of the world’s richest nations, you might expect endless opportunities for young people to thrive during those months. Yet for many families, summer has become a stressful and lonely season, one that can negatively affect children’s emotional well-being and development.

Research consistently shows that children from lower-income families report poorer mental health and lower overall well-being than their wealthier peers. Food insecurity, lack of supervision, social isolation, and limited access to enriching activities all contribute to the problem. According to a report by the National Summer Learning Association, many low-income students also experience “summer learning loss,” falling behind academically during vacation months while wealthier children often move ahead through camps, travel, tutoring, and educational activities.

The statistics are troubling. The Afterschool Alliance reports that more than 24 million children in the United States are unsupervised during parts of the summer because their parents work and cannot afford childcare or structured programs. Meanwhile, the average cost of a summer day camp places it far beyond the reach of struggling families.

When I was a child, my grandparents helped care for me whenever my parents were busy. That kind of family support was a tremendous blessing to working parents. Today, however, families are often scattered across the country. Adult children move away for employment, and grandparents remain behind. Of my five children, only one lives nearby, and he has no children. My grandchildren live far away, beyond daily reach.

Because I missed the companionship and energy of young people, eight years ago I became an informal grandmother to two girls in an immigrant family. I visit them weekly, taking them to cultural events, museums, and nature trails. Over time, I have grown to worry about their futures as deeply as if they were biologically my own.

This summer, both parents will continue working long hours. The younger daughter, now eleven, will spend much of her time at home under the supervision of her fifteen-year-old sister, who naturally would rather be with her friends. Their community offers few free summer programs like the ones I enjoyed growing up. My elementary school once provided half-day programs filled with crafts, games, and sports. Those opportunities seem increasingly rare today.

Childcare has also become extraordinarily expensive. In Portland, Oregon, babysitters commonly charge fifteen dollars an hour or more. Day camps often cost upwards of $350 to $400 a week, while overnight camps can exceed $900 for only five days. For families already struggling with housing and food costs, these programs are simply impossible luxuries.

Out of concern for safety, the girls’ parents do not like them playing outdoors unsupervised. With few toys or organized activities available, screens become the default entertainment. Like millions of children, they spend hours online playing games, scrolling social media, and chatting with strangers. Excessive screen time among adolescents has been linked in multiple studies to increased anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and loneliness. As I discovered when the older girl became emotionally involved with an unsuitable man living in Los Angeles, the internet can expose vulnerable children to relationships and influences they are not mature enough to navigate.

Before the internet transformed childhood, I once read a study examining women who rose to the top of their professions. Surprisingly, many shared one common experience: during childhood they had spent long stretches of time away from traditional schooling. Some suffered serious illnesses. Others lived abroad because of their parents’ work. A few stayed home to care for siblings or ill family members. What mattered most was how they used that time.

High achievers read books, solved puzzles, learned to cook, built things, experimented with crafts, and explored hobbies independently. Their parents supplied them with educational toys, books, and encouragement. Though they talked with friends on the telephone, conversations did not consume entire days. They had time to think, reflect, and discover who they were. Solitude became a source of creativity rather than boredom. In learning how to occupy themselves meaningfully, they developed self-discipline and self-motivation—qualities that later helped them achieve extraordinary success. Perhaps there is still a lesson in that for parents today.

Summer can become a gift if approached thoughtfully. Children do not need expensive vacations or elite camps to grow intellectually and emotionally. What they need most is structure, encouragement, curiosity, and human connection.

Set schedules that include reading, exercise, household responsibilities, and creative projects. Visit libraries. Explore nature trails. Share childcare with trusted neighbors or friends. Keep puzzles, games, art supplies, and books within easy reach. When possible, spend time together riding bicycles, cooking meals, gardening, or simply talking.

The goal is not merely to keep children occupied. The goal is to raise curious, capable young people filled with wonder about the world around them. Summer should teach children not how to avoid boredom, but how to transform free time into imagination, self-sufficiency, and growth.

And yes, there is one additional blessing every parent can appreciate: no early-morning rush to catch the school bus—and no lunches to pack before sunrise.

References:

  Website (2026) Gallup Summer Data National Summer Learning Alliance. Retrieved from https://www.summerlearning.org/gallup-summer-data/

  Hones, S. (2018) How Children’s Socioeconomic Differences Play Out Over Summer Break Education Week. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/how-childrens-socioeconomic-differences-play-out-over-summer-break/2018/05

  Morgan, K. (2019) Poorer children’s summer holiday linked with worse mental wellbeing. The Conversation. Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/poorer-childrens-summer-holiday-experiences-linked-with-worse-mental-well-being-114533

  Lenhart,A. (2018) The Summer Care Gap. New America. Retrieved from https://www.newamerica.org/insights/summer-care-gap/

  Website ( 2026) The Summer Struggle for Everyday Families. Summer Afterschool Alliance. Retrieved from https://afterschoolalliance.org/AA3PM/landing/

  Please share your thoughts on how to blend work with childcare during the summer. . You can comment on my blog site at https://www.eichingerfineart.com/blog. 

  Art is always for sale, The garden is a 20” x 16”  framed acrylic painting. To purchase go to https://www.eichingerfineart.com/workszoom/3536926/replanting-the-garden#/  Shipping free in continental U. S.

Need to know more contact me at [email protected].

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Eichinger books make good summer reading. Give yourself a gift.  Available on AMAZON.