(v.) refresh = restore strength, revive or maintain by renewing supply

Spring fever often sets in about this time. We get the urge to open the windows, throw out the clutter, and head to the mountains or the beach, right?

In fact, according to Merriam-Webster, spring fever

was first used in 1859
signifies a restlessness brought on by seasonal change
often ushers in a desire for new clothes, home collections and mindsets toward health

Your Main Living Area

We hear from families all the time who use spring as a jumpstart to refresh their children’s rooms and clothing, but we propose starting smaller. Instead, look at your main living area.

What organization systems are in place that may need to be simplified for summer?
Where are the systems you already have working, and where are they getting backed up?
Are there displays or decor that may need a reboot or a refresh? If so, take half of them out of the room and see what’s left. Do you miss them? If not, it may be a good sign to either store them or purge them.

Your Digital Spaces

Some households experience spring fever and automatically jump to cleaning, wardrobe, or even financial spring tune-ups before considering intellectual property. But consider this: When your children are home for the summer, it’s much more difficult to dissect the digital health of your family.

Who uses what technology?
In what rooms are they used?
Which of your house rules (about technology and digital spaces) need a revamp?
Are there devices that need updates, added security measures, or a parental review?
Does your Wi-Fi code need a refresh? Who has access to it, and how long have you had the same code?
Are there areas in your home where you’d like it to be a digital-free zone? What are some ways you can work toward that before summer hits?

Your Mental, Spiritual & Emotional Wellness Rhythms

The unseen “rooms” of our lives are often what cause us the most stress when something doesn’t go the way we expect. Whether it’s a planned pool day derailed by a summer storm or a virus that all the kids catch on week one of summer break, the things that disrupt us most aren’t the catalysts but how we respond to them.

Summer will be here before you know it. How can you implement personal mindfulness routines, such as silence, renewal, and stillness?
How will your current routines for spiritual connection and emotional wholeness need to shift to work within the family rhythms?
In what ways are your children prepared to take some mental wellness cues from your routines? Do they have a quiet hour, a set time of day when they spend time in their rooms or reading?
Which of your children are introverts? Who is an extrovert? What regular rhythms will help them stay filled up so they respond better to changes that are outside their control?
Does your spouse spend more time at home for summer, or is he/she away more? These are worth considering how to ensure your needs are continually met and that they work with your spouse’s needs too.

Your Family Expectations

Believe it or not, one of our biggest upsets during school breaks can arise from misplaced or unmet expectations. Whether it’s our own expectations of our child or their expectations of the summer break, whenever the expectations don’t line up with what we experience, emotions tend to run high. (That’s why our—and our children’s—emotional and mental wellness is so important.)

Before summer break hits (or soon after it begins), talk about hopes, dreams and realistic expectations for the summer ahead. For example, if you know your family is moving over the summer, that conversation may help them set lower expectations for a summer full of travel. Moving involves travel, but maybe it’s not the kind they’re used to where they sit and build sandcastles all day at the beach.
Next, sit down together and make summer lists. Everyone can make their own, and you don’t have to place any limitations on what others write down. Because this can be a daunting task, we recommend something simple such as 3 people you want to see, 3 activities you’d like to do, 3 places to visit, and 3 new things you’d like to try.
Once everyone has made a summer list, take some time to go through them and talk about each item. This requires a good deal of guidance on your part, parents, because siblings can squabble or judge others’ lists. Try to help them see that nothing is right or wrong, and everyone gets to have their turn.
Reviewing lists helps you culminate everyone’s list and choose a few wants from each person’s desired items. This way, family expectations are set, and you can even begin to schedule a few of the items on the calendar. (Maybe one of your summer to-do items is to work together to plan something that requires more forethought, such as a day at the park or a movie the whole family can watch together.)

Your Children’s Spaces

This is where we recommend a gentle refurbishment of a child’s room. They can help you go through one section a week. You can structure this however you like, but we recommend some supervision rather than letting your child do this solo — even older children and teens. You will both experience less frustration if your guidance is in the background, even if you are just helping them get started and checking in regularly. Here are a few ideas.

Week one can be going through your child’s dresser to try on current clothing. Make a pile for out-of-season clothes that still fit, a pile for giveaway clothes and a pile to put back in the drawer (or put in the drawer if they’ve been in out-of-season storage for a while).
Week two can be simply cleaning out from under the bed. What is trash? What is a school item they probably won’t need until the fall? What is a leisure item, and what belongs to their friend that needs to be returned before summer break?
Week three can be the desk or study space if they have one in their room. If not, try to clear a bookshelf. Go through the items on the desk or the shelf to make two sections: a section that your child knows he or she will read or use again and a section they’re ready to let go of.
Week four might be the nightstand or the hanging clothes in their closet. Choose whichever option seems more out of control (yet doable together).

Remember that the overall goal isn’t perfection. Spring fever progress means you’re better set for summer than you were before. That’s it.

Your Children’s Academic Needs

You may be thinking, “Academic needs? This is spring; it’s time to enjoy spring fever and get outside as much as we can!” Yes, that’s a great plan. But when summer break begins, you also do not want to be starting from scratch. A simple assessment of your child’s current academic needs helps you set him or her up well for summer review.

Do you know which subject your child enjoys most right now? If not, ask. If you do know, dig deeper. What is it your child likes about the subject? What projects have been assigned this year that drew him or her into the study of something related to that subject?
Which subject or area of a subject is hard for your child right now? If reading is difficult, try to find out why. Does your child not enjoy the process of reading? Or is it that he or she doesn’t like to do comprehension activities? Find out, with the help of your child’s teacher, why reading may be an area where your child lacks motivation.
Which grades have consistently risen to the challenge this school year? What we mean by that is which subjects are consistent and decent for your child’s developmental stage and age. Which subjects tend to be more variable and could use some added work?
What non-academic pursuits is your child interested in right now? Yes, academic needs may be individualized because or your child’s non-academic interests. For example, if your child swims on the swim team, he or she will need to focus on review work this summer either before swim meets or perhaps on the weekends. Or if your child enjoys LEGOs and puzzles, these can be add-ons to any kind of review that you might have. Multiplication and division can be easily translated to baking if you have the next great baker in your household. Think through your child’s currency and how it may help you with summer work later.

Your Family Priorities

Who you are as a family has a huge role to play in how your spring fever plays out. We know one family whose children are avid athletes, as are their parents, so they’re not looking to freshen up their interior spaces to entertain this summer. If anything, warmer weather calls them to their higher priority: being together outside doing active things.

Does your family prefer to slow the pace in summer or rev it up?
Will you enjoy traveling to see out-of-town family members for a good portion of your downtime, or do you like to stay home and make it comfortable for everyone?
Do you prioritize your ability to serve in different ways as the weather warms up, such as meeting new neighbors and serving current ones through spring parties or campfire chats?
Will your spouse’s work needs this spring mean an extra heavy travel load? If so, your family’s priorities might include low-key dinners when your spouse is home so you can maximize that time together.

Thinking about your family’s priorities informs your version of spring fever. How does spring fever impact your family? Are you excited about new adventures or ready to refresh current spaces so you can retreat and rest more? Review this list several times over the next couple of months to prepare for summer break.

If you’ve looked at these areas and wondered, “What kind of school allows us to reflect on our kids’ well-being in so many areas?” we have great news! Learnwell partners with your family, not against it, to help you thrive. We want your children to receive an excellent education but not at the cost of family margin or mental health. Join us at an upcoming parent preview night (Discover Learnwell) to find out how we partner with families to help them live by their priorities and prepare their children for life outside of school.

There, you’ll meet teachers, parents, and students to help you determine whether Learnwell is a good fit for your child’s needs next year. If you’d like to try us out first, we also offer a high school arts program and AP classes, summer camps and Friday electives open to the community.

Spring Fever: 7 Ways to Refresh Before Summer Break