As the calendar creeps toward August and back-to-school sales pop up at every corner, many families feel that familiar tug of the pressure to “get ready.” But what if, instead of speeding up, we slow down?

What if these final weeks of summer weren’t a countdown, but an invitation?

Eeauty of the In-Between

There’s a magic to these last weeks of summer. The pool still glistens, the mornings are still slow, and bedtimes are just a suggestion. It’s a sacred pause between the unstructured joy of summer and the structured routines of school.

Before alarm clocks, bus schedules, and packed lunches return, we have a precious opportunity to give our kids something increasingly rare: free, organic time.

Time to…

• Make a fort out of blankets and pillows

• Lose hours in imaginative play

• Be barefoot, messy, and gloriously unproductive

• Ask questions that lead to more questions

• Breathe

Why Free Time Matters (Yes, Even Now)

While productivity and enrichment have their place, unstructured time is vital for kids’ development. It’s where creativity blooms. It’s where nervous systems regulate, where friendships deepen, and self-trust forms. It’s not a gap to be filled, but rather it’s soil for growth.

In fact, this kind of time supports:

• Emotional resilience

• Nervous system regulation

• Conflict resolution and social skills

• Executive functioning and creative thinking

In short: doing “nothing” is doing a lot.

How To Make Space For It

You don’t need a perfect plan or Pinterest-worthy activities. You just need permission to let go a little and trust that the quiet will carry something worthwhile.

Here are a few simple ways to foster free time:

• Leave the afternoons open...no camps, no checklists, just space

• Say yes to boredom...it’s often the gateway to creativity

• Resist the urge to entertain...let your child lead the day

• Be present...watch, listen, and join in when invited

Even just a few hours a day of this kind of spaciousness can make the transition back to school gentler...not just for your kids, but for you.

Permission To Pause

As adults, we can feel guilty when we’re not “doing enough.” But your child doesn’t need a fully booked calendar or perfectly curated summer...they need time to just be. To stare at clouds. To build Lego cities. To be barefoot in grass. To climb trees. To find themselves in the stillness before the storm. Kids need to learn that having nothing to do is quite an amazing gift!

So if you’re feeling the itch to cram in one more camp or workbook...pause.

Let this be the end of summer your kids remember not for the hustle, but for the hammock. For long mornings. For dirty feet. For the calm before the calendar.

Because in the quiet, something beautiful grows! Our ability to just be!

If you are seeking more ideas on how to adopt a Just Be Attitude, please feel free to contact Maggie Meyer, LCPC, RPT, and Parenting Coach in Bethesda, MD, for more information!