Studies show that ER visits increase during the summer, surging around holiday weekends.

But physical injuries aren’t the only concern. Doctors say a lack of structure can also take a toll on a child’s mental health.

Many kids experience a shift in their structured routines, and feelings of loneliness are also common and excessive screen time can make a child feel depressed.

“Most of us need a routine and a specified amount of sleep to keep our mood stabilized,” Dr. Cynthia Cross, a pediatric hospitalist at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, said. “It could also affect appetite, cognitive abilities.”

While it’s okay to relax a little, Dr. Cross says children should stick to their sleeping routines.

Kids six to 12 should get nine to 12 hours a night, and teens should get eight to 10.

It’s also important to pay attention to signs your child may be mentally struggling.

“Mood changes, if they are not as interested in things that they were normally interested in a sport that they used to really enjoy, they no longer enjoy,” Dr. Cross said. “Changes in appetite, sometimes changes in hygiene for our teenagers.”

Parents can help by scheduling summer activities to keep them busy.

Andrew Tawfik, a father of two, says his family has a game plan.

“Really trying to make sure that they’re able to connect with their friends and making that an intentional part of the summer,” he said.

If your child sees a mental health professional during the school year, contact them now to see what options are available for the summer.

Physical injuries are also a concern during the summer. 

Kids have more free time and spend more time outdoors. Because of that, doctors say they typically see more ER visits during the summer than in any other part of the year.

Some of the most common injuries include water accidents. Drowning is a constant risk around and body of water, including pools and lakes.

Trampoline injuries – including sprains, fractures and head and neck injurie are also common, along with bicycling accidents, burns and cuts, insect bites and stings and heat exhaustion and heat stroke.

Dr. Arlesia Jones, a family medicine physician with Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, says exposure to sun during daily activities can also cause a lot of damage.

When playing outside, she reminds parents to reapply sunscreen often, about every two hours.

She also says a child should never be around water unattended.

“If you have a pool or you know you’re going to be going to a pool area, you want to at least try to, especially if it’s a group of people, designate someone that’s going to be a pool watcher,” she said. “So someone that’s going to be there watching the kids, you can rotate in shifts from like every 20, 30 minutes or so.”

If your child experiences any kind of injury, don’t hesitate to take them to the nearest medical facility or call their doctor to see if they need additional care.

It’s always better to seek care sooner rather than later.