Embrace the summer vacation with these three planning tips for families

It's probably music to little ears — Monday marks the last week of school before summer vacation.

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But for some, the transition between a structured school day and a free-for-all summer can be rocky. Parents might be looking to provide some guidance to their children over the summer months.

Youth psychologist Janine Hubbard spoke to the Central Morning Show on Friday to offer some advice.

Embrace the Boredom

With classes, lessons, tutoring and sports, kids these days are finding themselves with jam-packed schedules. And between all that, they're poking away on smartphones or other handheld electronics.

Hubbard says psychologists are noticing a rising trend: kids just don't get bored anymore.

"Believe it or not, letting your kids be bored for at least some of the summer is probably one of the most important life lessons you can give them," she says.

"Boredom helps encourage creativity. It helps encourage problem solving. It's how we learn to daydream. It's how we learn to navigate social situations."

Screens are good, in moderation

The screens aren't all bad, Hubbard says —  social media is where a lot of young people socialize and connect.

But she insists on having some downtime away from the devices to let the mind wander.

She says parents can go a long way in encouraging that behaviour if they practice it themselves.

"So that if we're in line at the grocery store, not immediately going and checking your Facebook feed, but instead maybe talking to each other and having some open communication."

Consider summer camps

Some children may enjoy a free-wheeling summer playing in the woods, but others could use the structure and direction of a summer program.

In the end, Hubbard says it really comes down to "knowing your individual child and knowing their needs."

"There are other children for whom running around and playing soccer all day or fostering a specific interest in the arts or in music would be far more to their taste."

She acknowledges that sometimes, working parents rely on camps for childcare. But that need not stop them from striking a balance: she suggests planning a weekend getaway — even if it's just at home, electronics free.