The Reset Button Is Outside

As another school year comes to a close, many families are settling into a different routine for the summer. The early alarms are turned off, backpacks get tossed aside (don’t forget to clean them out so there aren’t any surprises come August), and long evenings begin to open up again. For many parents, summer can feel both refreshing and overwhelming at the same time. Let’s be honest: it takes a certain amount of time to adjust to having the kids home all day again. As the routines shift, energy levels change, and emotions can sometimes run high for everyone in the family. One of the most powerful things we can do during these transitions is also something completely free, which is especially welcome these days! Get outside. Yes, it really is that simple. Get your kids outside and carve out some time to be outside with them.

Outdoor time does far more than just wear kids out, although that is helpful too. Time spent outside supports nervous system regulation for both children and adults. It helps the body shift out of constant stress mode and into a calmer, more balanced state. Natural light supports healthy cortisol patterns, fresh air encourages deeper breathing, and movement helps release built-up tension and energy that often presents as irritability, anxiety, restlessness, or emotional overwhelm.

Many children spend most of the school year indoors under artificial lighting, sitting for long periods of time, moving from one structured activity to another. By the end of the year, some kids are mentally exhausted, emotionally dysregulated, and craving freedom without even realizing it. Parents often feel the same way. Getting outside doesn’t have to be complicated or Pinterest-worthy to be beneficial. It can be slow mornings drinking coffee on the porch, bike rides or walks after dinner, bare feet in the grass, gardening together, creek exploring, or just letting kids play outside longer without rushing to the next thing. These simple activities have a greater impact than we realize.

It is also worth mentioning that many of us, myself included, understand how easy it is to rely on screens during the summer months. Sometimes parents simply need to cook dinner, answer emails, fold laundry, or just have a few quiet minutes. Screens can feel like a quick solution in a busy season of life. But too much screen time can often work against us more than it helps. Many parents notice that after extended screen use, children become more irritable, emotionally reactive, overstimulated, or disconnected from the world around them. Instead of helping regulate the nervous system, excessive screen time can actually add to the dysregulation many families are already struggling with. This does not mean parents need to aim for perfection or eliminate screens completely. It just means we should be intentional about creating more opportunities for real movement, outdoor play, creativity, boredom, and connection. Children who seem wild or emotionally overwhelmed are actually craving more sensory input from the real world, less constant stimulation from a screen, and more time outside.

Research continues to show that time in nature can help lower stress hormones, improve mood, support focus and attention, encourage better sleep, and even strengthen immune function. For children especially, outdoor play supports sensory development, emotional regulation, creativity, and resilience. And honestly, many adults need this reminder just as much as children do. Sometimes, nervous system regulation is not found in another productivity hack or perfectly planned routine. Sometimes, it looks like slowing down enough to sit outside while your kids ride bikes in the driveway. Sometimes, helping our bodies rebalance begins with sunlight on your face, a deep breath of fresh air, and a little less rushing.

As summer begins, give yourself permission to have simpler routines when possible. The dishes can wait; you know they aren’t going anywhere. Childhood summers are short, and our nervous systems were never meant to live disconnected from the outdoors. The further away from nature we move, the sicker we become. This summer, consider outdoor time not just as entertainment for your kids, but as restoration for the whole family.