image: The Kids Mental Health Foundation provides tools to help ease some of parents’ greatest summertime fears, including excessive screen time and a lack of structure.
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Credit: Please courtesy: The Kids Mental Health Foundation
While children may look forward to the freedom of summer break, a new survey reveals that the end of the school year brings a fresh wave of anxiety for many parents, dubbed the “Summer Scaries.”
The national survey of more than 1,000 parents, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of The Kids Mental Health Foundation, reveals that half of parents are just as concerned about their child's mental health when they are out of school for the summer as they are during the school year. One in 10 parents is even more concerned about their child’s mental health during the summer. The top worries include increased screen time (38%), boredom and lack of structured activities (34%) and disrupted routines or sleep schedules (26%).
“While many children are excited to be out of school for the summer because of the freedom it brings from homework and school tasks, without the structure and social connection that school provides, some children are at higher risk for isolation, irregular sleep, and decreased engagement in fun activities,” said Ariana Hoet, PhD, executive clinical director of The Kids Mental Health Foundation and a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. “This can put some kids at higher risk for mood concerns, especially if they’re already experiencing mental health challenges.”
As part of its ongoing mission to support families nationwide, The Kids Mental Health Foundation, founded by the behavioral health experts at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, offers practical tools to help parents reduce summer-related risk factors for their children. These free, expert-informed resources include:
- Maintaining Summer Structure – Guidance on creating and sticking to daily routines that support mental wellness.
- The Benefits of “Good Boredom” – Tips on how unstructured time can help kids develop creativity and resilience.
- Healthy Screen Time Habits – Tools for managing device use and promoting balanced and age-appropriate digital habits.
Survey Methodology
This survey was conducted online within the United States by Ipsos on the KnowledgePanel® from April 4 to 6, 2025. This poll is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 1,085 adult parents of children under the age of 18. The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 3.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results based on the entire sample of adults. The margin of sampling error takes into account the design effect, which was 1.14. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact: christopher.moessner@ipsos.com.
The Kids Mental Health Foundation is the leading organization promoting mental health for children in the United States. To achieve its vision to build a world where mental health is a vital part of every child’s upbringing, nearly 1,000 mental health professionals and researchers at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, in partnership with other trusted experts, provide real-world knowledge and expertise to power the Foundation's free educational videos, guides and curriculum. To date, more than 24 million people have engaged with the Foundation’s materials, helping parents, educators and coaches be a guiding force for children all across the United States. During Mental Health Awareness Month in May, The Kids Mental Health Foundation is shining a spotlight on how “Kids Mental Health Starts with Us” and ways its free tools and resources can help empower parents, teachers and coaches across the United States.