It has become a real challenge for parents in the US to peel kids away from screens these days. Studies suggest that preteens in the US spend an average of 4 to 6 hours on their smart devices. Over time, this may result in the emergence of mental health issues.
This summer, give your child a little break from what’s trending on Instagram. Instead, take them on a little adventure in Tewksbury, MA. Adventure is all about reconnecting with nature, building social relationships, and facing challenges and risks together. This exposure to new experiences gives them an opportunity to become more confident and freshen up for a while.
In this article, we’ll explore how families in Tewksbury can tap into local resources to support their children’s mental health with 5 fun-based activities.
Top 5 Fun Activities To Support Your Child’s Mental Health With Adventure
Go on a human-powered journey
A UK-based study has found that children involved in risky outdoor activities had fewer internalizing problems like anxiety and depression. Step out of your comfort zone and take your family for a long walk to Melvin G. Rogers Park.
Visit the pine forest of 27.5 acres with your children. Race with them to see beautiful butterflies and the hummingbirds that move everywhere in the park. Ask them what they enjoy most about the area and what their most favorite activity is.
Go for Swimming
Swimming is one of the greatest adventures, as well as one of the most valuable life-saving skills. So pack your swimsuits, take your towels, and away we go! Tewksbury lacks an ocean, so what? It is just 40 minutes to Revere Beach!
The soothing effect of water and the rhythmic movements trigger the production of endorphins in the brain that alleviate stress and anxiety. After a hectic academic year, your child deserves this. Even if you can’t afford to drive to a beach, you can still take them to a local pool and reap the same benefits.
Watch The Sunset And Sunrise
The sun has its natural rhythm, which most of us take for granted. Yet sunsets and sunrises are spectacular and can make one feel awed. In Tewksbury, MA, where open skies stretch wide and quiet places still exist, taking your child to witness the day’s bookends can be a form of therapy no textbook teaches. You’re not just watching the sky change. You’re giving your child permission to slow down, feel safe, and trust that tomorrow comes again.
Embrace Bad Weather (Even If Your Picnic Is Ruined)
We spend so much time trying to protect our kids from discomfort. From wet socks, cold wind, and plans that fall apart. But sometimes, the most important lessons live inside the mess.
Maybe the picnic got rained out. Maybe the sandwiches are soggy and the blanket is soaked. What matters is that you’re still together. Ultimately, your child learns that not everything has to go right for life to still feel okay.
The weather in Tewksbury can shift from sunshine to storms in an hour. Hence, learning to welcome the unexpected becomes its own kind of adventure. Jumping in puddles. Running back to the car, breathless. Laughing because the day didn’t follow the script, and that’s perfectly fine.
Night-Time Adventures
For a child, nighttime can feel intimidating. Shadows stretch, noises echo, and imagination runs wild. However, with a parent’s hand in theirs, the night becomes an adventure wrapped in trust.
Take a flashlight walk in your neighborhood. Looking at the stars in Tewksbury Park. Hearing leaves rustling or frogs going splashing in a pond. The idea is to demonstrate to your child that the unfamiliar does not have to be scary. That darkness can be gentle. That they are safe, even though they cannot see everything clearly.
In the era of a thousand bright screens and a tight schedule, nighttime escapades provide children with something one can rarely find: stillness, presence, and a memory of being brave in a place most people overlook.
Mental Health Benefits of Adventure-Based Activities
Adventure-based activities offer several mental health benefits to children. Parents are able to observe an immediate increase in the self-esteem and perseverance of a child. Moreover, they get to laugh and play through outdoor play.
Encourage Problem-Solving and Resilience
Things don’t always go according to plan. The wheel turns the wrong way. The tunnel is darker than expected. That’s the beauty of it.
Adventure introduces kids to the idea that failure isn’t a stop sign; it’s just a nudge to try again, but differently. Problem-solving becomes second nature. Flexibility grows. Over time, resilience starts to follow them into classrooms, friendships, and hard days. At last, they learn, “I can figure this out.”
Build Confidence and Self-Esteem
New adventures and new things, such as operating a mini digger, an obstacle course, or a new adventure of any kind, will all make children realize how able they are. Every little success, like doing the correct direction and reaching the top of a climbing frame, will ensure that they are confident.
Children also learn to enjoy a sense of independence since they do things with the least amount of supervision. This boosts their self-esteem, and they become able to take initiative in other areas of their lives too.
Ignite Creativity and Curiosity
Allowing children to play freely at their own speed will make them naturally curious. Adventure gives kids the space to wonder. To pause and say, “What happens if I try this?” Furthermore, creative play empowers their imagination. Trains them to see the world from different angles.
Final Words
If your child needs more than a weekend escape if the anxiety lingers or the sadness doesn’t lift, Clover Behavioral Health is here. Just a short drive away, we offer compassionate, evidence-based care that meets your child where they are and helps them grow from there. At Clover, therapy is not about healing kids and making them who they are not; it is about providing them the tools, support, and insight on how to be the best they can be the way that they are.
So this summer, start small. Say yes to a puddle. Say yes to stargazing. Say yes to letting your child lead the way toward confidence, connection, and a healthier mind.
