By Shari Shapiro
This summer has been bustling at the SafeHaven Children’s Shelter. With school out, our team works overtime to keep the kids engaged with various summer enrichment activities, from trips to the swimming pool to indoor art projects on rainy days.
Our TeenTalk programs in Fairfield County schools also shift gears over the summer. Over the past 15 years, TeenTalk has expanded to 19 schools. Although the in-school program pauses over the summer, we maintain contact with the students, making sure they have someone to talk to year-round.
At a recent fundraiser, our special guest of honor was Max, a sophomore in college. Two years ago, Max was a student at Norwalk High School and a part of our TeenTalk program there. He shared how crucial TeenTalk was to his success, recounting how he would get to school early to meet with the TeenTalk counselor outside of regular school hours when he wasn’t as busy with other students.
The “outside of school hours” aspect of TeenTalk sets us apart. Unlike other school programs, TeenTalk provides support day and night, 365 days a year. Our Annual TeenTalk Summit on July 22 will gather school administrators and TeenTalk staff to share best practices for funding the program and promoting youth mental health. We are excited to welcome Max back to speak again at our Summit.
Summer can be difficult for children everywhere, not just young people in our program. Out of their school routine and away from friends, many children experience heightened anxiety and loneliness, which can lead to depression. Middle school students who are too young to work but too old for day camps often face these issues the most.
During the summer, we often receive calls to the Kids In Crisis Helpline from children feeling bored, isolated, and friendless. Our 24/7 Helpline (203-661-1911) is available for any concerns, big or small, from anyone worried about a child’s well-being.
What can parents, grandparents, and guardians do for kids this time of year? Keep an eye out for changes in a child’s eating or sleeping patterns, self-isolation, or altered communication habits as signs of needing more structure. Establishing a summer routine with input from your children can help alleviate anxiety. We can prioritize play dates and time with family members. Encouraging your children to create a summer bucket list can also help them feel more in control and motivated. Implementing a calendar of responsibilities, such as household chores or community service, can give them a sense of purpose and structure.
Parents play the most crucial role in helping their children transition from the school year to summer, but we’re here to help with free, confidential support any time of day or night. Our Helpline outreach extends to all caregivers, and we strive to be your 3:00 AM friend – here for you whenever you need to talk or seek advice.
Kids In Crisis is proud to work together with children and families. We build awareness of our services to ensure communities have the resources needed for happy and healthy summers, focusing on healing and creating fun family memories for all.
Wishing you and all the kids you love a happy and healthy summer,
Shari L. Shapiro has served as the Executive Director of Kids In Crisis since 1980. Kids in Crisis is a private not-for-profit organization whose mission is to protect infants, children, and teens from abuse, neglect, and family crisis. Kids in Crisis provides free, round-the-clock crisis intervention counseling and emergency shelter, prevention programs in local communities, and advocacy throughout Connecticut.
