School is out and long, lazy days await. The summer season promises swimming, outdoor
excursions and family vacations. For some of us, though, transitions (even welcome ones)
can be difficult. The school year offers schedules, predictable times, people and places. Our
nervous system loves order and consistency so any change in our daily routines can be a
disruption to the flow of our internal environment. We offer some simple tips to help our
clients and their families lessen stress and enjoy a happy, healthy summer.

Try to implement simple daily routines with regards to meal and bedtimes. Summer camps can be enticing but try not to over‐schedule the fun; we all need time to enjoy unstructured, self‐directed down‐time.

Before traveling to a new locale, talk about what your family may see, hear, taste or smell. Create as vivid a picture of what your child may experience and talk about it with them. Climate and time changes can add stressors to the body so allow for some adjustment to the new environment. Hotels are filled with strange sounds and smells and many times the cleaning products are quite pungent (and toxic); you may want to pack a can of lime spray or ask the hotel bar to send up some sliced limes for a natural odor neutralizer.

The increased daylight hours make for more time to enjoy the outdoors. In his book, Last Child in the Woods, Richard Louv states: “America’s genius has been nurtured by nature ‐‐ by space, both physical and mental. What happens to the nation’s intrinsic creativity, and therefore the health of our economy, when future generations are so restricted that they no longer have room to stretch? One might argue that the Internet has replaced the woods, in terms of inventive space, but no electronic environment stimulates all the senses. So far, Microsoft sells no match for nature’s code.” So enjoy the warmth and connection to nature so inherent in summer (and if avoiding the irritating aspects of nature such as mosquitoes, make sure the repellant is DEET‐free).

Swimming can be one of the best activities of summer (and may sooth stressed tactile systems) but chlorine (absorbed through the skin) can disrupt the delicate balance of friendly bacteria in the digestive tract and impact our detoxification pathways. Many parents find Epsom salt baths help the body deal with the chemical. You may want to add a probiotic to the diet or include yogurt or kefir as a snack to increase the “good” bacteria in the system. Speaking of snacks, many great ice cream makers on the market are low cost and low fuss. Enjoy making your own frozen yogurt or dairy‐free ice cream. “DariFree” makes a great substitute for milk in an ice cream recipe (www.vancefoods.com).

Try an outing to a local farmer’s market and let picky or fussy eaters choose some new vegetables or fruits (preferably organic) to try. Fresh grapes, in season this time of year, are wonderful frozen: mini‐popsicles! Lots of time in the sun (Vitamin D is vital to proper immune function) requires some sun protection. Remember the skin is our largest organ so non‐toxic sunscreen is best. Read here what one mom has found in her search for a good product.

A simple but fun outdoor activity (and will count as your blowing activity in your HANDLE program) is blowing bubbles. See if you can blow a bubble and then catch it on the wand (adds visual tracking).

So enjoy all that summer has to offer: fresh foods, outdoor air, excursions and some free time to just “be” – so it can gently enhance your Self.

---

Complements of GET ABLE Therapy. This article is copyrighted ©2010 and should not be reprinted in whole or in part without GET ABLE Therapy's permission.