Don't Stress Summer Fun with Your Kids

Going to the beach or theme park this summer should be a fun family experience for both parents and children. But, if mom or dad is anxious about some unforeseen danger at the outing, it can throw a curve ball into those plans.

Sure there are dangers in everyday life, says a New York psychologist, but parents need to be realistic about the likelihood of whether those dangers are likely to happen or if it’s the worst case scenario.

“So, when going to the beach you want to watch your children when they go into the water, but living off the east coast we don’t necessarily have to worry about a shark attack,” says Jessy Warner-Cohen, PhD, health psychologist at LIJ Medical Center.

“You want to focus on things like currents and making sure your kids are in an area where they can swim safely.”

Another common fear for parents is being separated from their child at a theme park or other venue where there are large gatherings of people.

In these type situations, dress your child in a brightly-colored shirt for easy spotting in a crowd, and have their name and phone number sewn into the shirt, suggests Dr. Warner-Cohen. You could also put their ID information on as a temporary tattoo.

In taking preventive measures to ensure your child’s safety, you’ll feel more control of the situation and less stressed about it. That’s important because a parent’s stress can negatively impact on their children.

“Recent research indicates that one of the biggest causes of a child’s anxiety may be parental anxiety,” explains Dr. Warner-Cohen. “So, if parents’ can manage their own fears around an activity then they can help manage their child’s fears as well.”