It just got hot here in the Northeast, and the kids are at camp (one is a counselor, the other is a counselor in training) at our local day camp.

There are a lot of things I like about camp for kids in the summer, especially if there is a bit outdoor component.

• The kids come home tired but happy.
• They have a lot of great stories of funny things that happen throughout the day (ESPECIALLY from my boy who is a counselor)
• They sleep terrifically well.

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Now, some kids have a less busy schedule during the summer. I was one of those kids growing up in the 70s and 80s. At that time, you were often expected to make your own schedule during the day. (Also, I was too much of a scaredy cat to go to sleep-away camp-- perhaps I should write an article about this some day).

Some of my patients are having less structured summers as well, This can be really terrific for kids who need time to decompress. However, sometimes kid's sleep schedules can become fairly chaotic over the summer, and parents may be playing catching up when school starts in the fall, especially if kids don't have any sort of schedule at all. This is especially a concern for older kids and adolescents who stay up and get up late given a chance.

​Research has shown that some kids actually get LESS sleep during the summer, and that these kids are less active and gain weight during the summer.

Fortunately, as a parent, I think you can have your cake and eat it too-- meaning that you can be more relaxed (meaning fewer struggles at bedtime) but still keep your child's sleep on track.

​In my article on summer sleep, I review:​

• How old your child can be when you can not have a set bedtime, and what to do instead
• What you need to pay close attention to over the summer
• How to prepare your child for the back to sleep schedule in the weeks prior to the school year.
• What to do if your teen is sleeping all day and up all night.
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As always, if you find any of these articles helpful, please share them with your friends. It really helps.

Craig