“Sorry, we can’t.” 

“Not yet, but maybe when…”

“No, honey, it’s just not safe.” 

The past two years of the pandemic were exhausting for nearly everyone, but for parents, the added layer of having to say some version of “no” multiple times a day to pleading kiddos has felt particularly repetitive — and exponentially tiresome. 

That is, until now?

Although the promise of a post-pandemic summer isn’t guaranteed — the risk of a potential new variant could rattle our plans at any time — things are certainly looking up. As COVID-19 cases have plummeted and safety protocols have relaxed, this might be the first season families are able to finally breathe a mask-optional sigh of relief and give their kiddos a long-overdue “yes.” 

Still, coming off of two summers that had more rules than Monopoly, parents may have a hard time relearning how to let loose. 

From a checklist of must-experience moments, to expert-backed tips to navigate your family’s re-entry, to how packing for a day out may look a little different with little ones, we’ve got your guide to your most carefree summer yet. (Or, you know, your most carefree summer of the past few summers …)

Prepare For

Re-Entry

How to navigate your family’s return to normalcy

Even for the most COVID-fatigued family, the return of a “normal” summer — ahem, packed crowds, long lines and high temps — may be trickier to traverse than expected. Whether you’re ready to go big or inclined to go straight home, Dawn Livorsi, a staff therapist with The Family Institute at Northwestern University, has advice to keep your cool in every scenario.

1 

Start off simple. 

You might think your kids are ready to jump feet first into a freewheeling summer, but keep in mind: COVID has been a factor in nearly every decision concerning them — at home and at school — for years. 

“I’d recommend small steps to reintegrate,” Livorsi says. “As opposed to jumping into a multiday summer camp or a pool party, start with an afternoon playdate that feels manageable, especially if they need to acclimate to the experience of being away from home or away from parents.” 

Ease gradually into one experience before piling on another, and be OK with backtracking as needed.

In fact, it’s normal for even the calmest of kids to be nervous about new activities, Livorsi says, “considering all the starts and stops we’ve had.” Sure, it may be disappointing to realize even preschoolers aren’t as uninhibited as they might have been if not for the past two years. “But listening to their concerns and then normalizing and validating them as a universal experience that we’re all managing is important,” she says. 

2 

Make a plan –– but be flexible.

Even for those families who’ve hit up masked museums and events, most venues had limited occupancy to account for social distancing. Now, with spaces at maximum capacity, it’s important to prepare kids for what that means in practice.

“Some kids have never been out to experience these things,” says Livorsi. “It’s an opportunity for families to do some creative problem-solving, to think through what could come up.” Do they have fears about getting lost? Being jostled or pushed? Discuss each scenario.

Eating inside a restaurant, waiting in a long line for a public restroom, or changing up a routine (a skipped nap, for instance) all come with a learning curve if you haven’t done it in awhile. Teaching kids age-appropriate ways to regulate their emotions — like taking deep breaths or even a sip of water — can help them to redirect distressing feelings and soothe themselves if ever these experiences start to feel like too much.

Life rarely goes as planned even without the ebbs and flows of an ongoing pandemic, so Livorsi suggests parents set realistic expectations and help prepare kids for all possibilities — including the bummer of a canceled event or the reversal of a mask mandate. “We need to give them some sense of predictability, but in the times that we’re in, we still have to be flexible.”

3 

Expect resistance –– but watch for red flags. 

Parents should expect to see some common symptoms as kids transition back to more typical gatherings. They may be clingy or show separation anxiety, they may be irritable, they may exhibit different eating habits or they may experience regressions — like accidents after being successfully potty trained or the return of a kicked thumb-sucking habit. 

“Much of that is going to be managed with some experience,” Livorsi says. “They go out, they do it a few times and they get more comfortable.” Patience is paramount, as is allowing every member of the family to go at the pace that’s right for them: “For some kids, the best thing for them might be to sit in the discomfort of it and realize that they can do it, while some may just not be there yet. In that case, take a step back and figure out how to better prepare them for next time.” 

If, however, worry is eliciting outbursts or impacting their ability to function in day-to-day tasks, it might be time to seek additional support, such as counseling. 

“They’ve missed a lot already, so if they’re now missing birthday parties or day camps at the local park, we should address it,” she says. “We don’t want them to miss out on anything else.”

4 

Acknowledge your own anxieties, too.

Just as parents need to support their children’s re-emergence, they need to do the same for themselves. “They’re going to have to figure out how to manage their anxiety so that it doesn’t impair their kids’ experiences,” Livorsi says. “If you send your kid out the door biting your nails, your kid is going to feel nervous, too.”

It might feel like an act of treason to watch your child sneeze (into their elbow, of course!) in public and not turn six shades of red and apologize to everyone in a quarter-mile radius, but letting go of some of those knee-jerk responses is a good starting place.

Her key advice? Focus only on what you can control. “You can’t control what others do,” she says. “But you can make decisions for your family based on your best judgment.”

And, Livorsi says, it bears repeating: “Remember to give yourself permission to have fun.”