Let’s face it, you’re sick of hearing about too much screen time. You’re working hard to give your kids other options. But then it’s already July and school starts next month! Help! It all goes way too fast and that panic is starting in the pit of your stomach.
Push it away. Back in May you promised yourself you were really going to try and open up your kids’ downtime and find more magic in their off days. That means unleashing your kids.
So do it. There’s still time. And you can carry it forward into the fall.
Dropping the “Shoulds”
According to mom coach extraordinaire and author Hannah Keeley (Total Mom Makeover; Mom Fog), being a mom isn’t about how quickly you can wash dishes. Or how structured kid days should be. Or how squeaky clean your toddlers are.
Being a mom, Keeley says, is about becoming the mom you want to be (and the mom your kids need). She says it’s really about forgetting about what you should be doing. It’s about embracing what excites you and your kids.
If you want your children (and you) to have more freedom (if you’re curious about what the “feral child summer” trend is all about), read on. There’s still time to change course and give your kids new freedoms. Short of them going absolutely wild, here are tips for unleashing your kids and watching their souls sing a bit more.
Make Summer Last By Unleashing Your Kids!
(Tips from Hannah Keeley)
Ditch the Schedule, Embrace the Spark
Let’s be real — structure fatigue is real. Summer is your golden opportunity to press pause. Loosen the grip on routines, and you’ll give your kids something magical: space.
Space to rest, recharge, daydream and rediscover what actually lights them up. Turns out, a little freedom is fantastic for their growing minds and moods.
Boredom = Brain Fuel
Hear “I’m bored” and feel the urge to fix it? Don’t! That’s not a crisis — it’s a creative launchpad. When kids have nothing on the agenda, their brains shift into gear.
Suddenly, your backyard is a jungle, the couch is a spaceship, or they’re writing a book with a crayon and a cereal box. Boredom doesn’t mean something’s wrong. It means something great could happen soon.
Confidence Grows With Mini Adventures
You don’t have to send your kid rock climbing to help them build confidence. Just letting them take small, safe risks. It’s great to get a little muddy, solve a problem on your own, or run a lemonade stand.
These mini-adventures teach kids how to bounce back, make decisions, and feel proud of what they can do without constant instructions. A little mess and a little freedom? That’s where independence quietly blooms. Fight against your fears!
Unplug to Truly Connect
We all know screens are an easy fix — but they also tend to dim the magic. A slower, screen-light summer gives kids the chance to really connect: with the outdoors, with family, and even with their own imaginations.
From backyard forts to sunset walks, time offline leads to better sleep, more movement, and brighter brains. Think of it less like unplugging and more like tuning into what really matters.
Ditch the Guilt — Say Yes to a Freer, Happier July
Here’s a little secret: letting your kids get a little wild doesn’t make you a “bad” parent — it makes you a smart one. You’re not neglecting them; you’re giving them space to grow (and giving yourself permission to breathe).
When you stop trying to script every moment, something magical happens — you actually get to enjoy summer, too. The goal isn’t to do everything — it’s to be present for the silly, messy, laughter-filled moments that you’ll all remember most.
