A Busy Parent’s Guide To Surviving School Breaks
Busy parents everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief as their children return to school for the winter semester. While precious quality time with your kids is always enjoyable, it’s OK to admit how stressful a busy household can be. Beating holiday boredom and ensuring everybody’s needs are met can be tricky, particularly if you’re also attempting to juggle work commitments. To help you survive the school breaks this year, here are some tried and tested tips for busy parents.
Establish A Routine
Kids thrive on routine. While the school breaks may offer some welcome respite to early mornings and mountains of homework, many parents find it vital to maintain some form of routine, making the transition back to a regular school routine a lot easier and less jarring for young children. You don’t need to be up and about for 6 AM every morning, but providing a loose schedule will prevent boredom and make room for plenty of fun holiday activities.
It’s OK For Kids To Be Bored
It won’t be long before you hear the dreaded “I’m bored”. Of course, a busy child is a happy child; however, they are allowed to be bored from time to time. The occasional bout of boredom encourages creativity, self-esteem and problem-solving skills, motivating your child to use their imagination to self-occupy. By all means, organise activities and day trips to enrich your child’s time away from school, but the next time they complain about boredom, encourage them to think outside the box.
If they need a little inspiration, you could create a Boredom-Be-Gone Jar. Simply fill a jar with boredom-busting suggestions like “build a pillow fort” or “paint a self portrait”. You could even throw in a few sneaky practical ideas like “tidy your room”.
It’s OK To Need A Break
Caring for kids can be profoundly exhausting, particularly when you’re a full-time worker. Every devoted mom and dad should understand that it is OK to need a break. You can’t be Super Parent 24/7, no matter how hard you try. Some days you just need some time to unwind and reset; meanwhile, your little one could be having fun at a friend’s house or on a day trip with a relative. Remember, balance is vital for avoiding burnout.
The vast majority of children are inherently social beings, thriving on creating meaningful relationships with one another. While your little one may have plenty of friends at school, the more, the merrier. You could take them to a club or workshop where they can learn some life skills, have fun and meet new friends, perhaps even resulting in future playdates. Even the shyest children require social interaction for a healthy development, so encourage your kid to approach their peers with kindness and confidence.
Get Out And About
No child wants to be cooped up indoors, particularly during the long summer break. Keep things fresh and exciting by getting plenty of fresh air. Getting out and about into nature as a family encourages bonding and provides countless learning opportunities, not to mention the health benefits. So grab the baby stroller, pack a picnic basket and visit your local park, nature reserve or beauty spot to make some fantastic family memories.
Plan Vacations Well
During the summer break, many households decide to get away from the daily routine and book a family vacation. While a last-minute spontaneous trip may be doable for couples and single travellers, family trips require meticulous planning to ensure everything runs smoothly. Travelling with kids can be highly stressful, particularly if they are young and/or unable to sit still for long periods. Plan any upcoming trips well in advance to account for hitches or cancellations, so you can be calm and in control, making for an unforgettable adventure.
Holiday Camps
A holiday camp could be just what your child needs for a summer break they’ll never forget. From multi-activity outdoor experiences where children can master practical skills like bushcraft and cookery to hands-on learning programmes like science camp, your child will make new friends, gain confidence and improve their future endeavours. Furthermore, being away from home in a safe environment will allow your child to develop a sense of independence which, in turn, encourages self-awareness and sensitivity towards others.