Learning about balancing holidays and school terms
The holidays bring excitement and a little chaos! As parents juggle school responsibilities and festive fun, it’s important to keep things steady. Gail Smith reminds us that holidays don’t need to be perfect. Focus on rest, fun, and gently keeping kids aware that school will return soon. A little structure goes a long way in helping children feel secure and ready for the term ahead.
As the holidays are upon us, many parents are juggling that tricky balance between school responsibilities and the joyful chaos of free time. It’s a familiar challenge: how do we let our children enjoy the magic of the season while helping them stay steady and settled at school?
Here’s what might help:
Keep to a Simple Rhythm (but loosen the reins)
Children thrive on routine, but the holidays bring excitement, visitors, and later bedtimes. That’s okay! Try to keep a gentle rhythm where possible, especially around sleep and meals, but give your child permission to enjoy the special moments too. Flexibility doesn't mean chaos; it means adjusting to the moment.
Talk About What’s Coming Up
A wall calendar or simple weekly planner can work wonders. Mark school events (like birthdays, end-of-term parties) and holiday treats (visits to pools, relatives friends, etc.). When children know what’s ahead, they feel calmer and more in control.
Let School Be a Safe Anchor
During the holiday time, school can become a secure anchor point, a place that feels familiar and steady. Reinforce this at home: “You’ve got a fun day at school next term,” or “Let’s make sure we shop for what you need in term two so that you are well prepared.”
Avoid Over-packing the Weekends
It’s tempting to say yes to every invitation, but downtime matters. Children need unstructured time to play, be quiet, and process all the extra stimulation. Protect a few hours of calm here and there—it’s good for you too.
Big Feelings Might Show Up
The run-up to the holidays can stir up excitement, nerves, or even anxiety. Your child might be more tired, clingy, or irritable and that’s all normal. Rather than fixing the feelings, try naming them: “It’s a lot at the moment, isn’t it?” That small recognition goes a long way. Some children don't cope well with constant change and may have settled well into school and now need to adjust to holidays.
One Last Thought
The holidays are magical, but they don’t need to be perfect. It is a time for rest and recovery with an awareness that school will be coming up in a few weeks. Keeping your child's eye on the ball in the understandings of how a school year works helps them cope well.
The value of leisure
The activities that we choose to do in our leisure time certainly define us. It is worth contemplating how we use leisure time and how this influences our children.
How we show commitment and prioritise is all about leisure time. Are we a family that hitches up the caravan and disappears to the beach? Leisure time should be modelled for the children as high-quality hours quite separated from the hustle and bustle of work, school, etc.
The activities that we choose to do in our leisure time certainly define us.
Children need to learn that there are clear separations with leisure time from regular life. This teaches them that leisure time is an important investment in life. It nourishes the soul as well as the body.
The more they come to value the experiences, the more they will be searching for it in their own lives.
Take care to ensure that leisure is active and engaging. Watching television, screen time on computers is not giving direct attention to breaking from routine and setting up activities that provide real leisure for all the family.
Teachers invite students to plan leisure activities that will be enjoyed by the whole class. Often this involves active activities such as sport, art etc. Sometimes school excursions are all about celebrating leisure time together. It is a great bonding agent.
A few thoughts about developing sound leisure time:
Invite the whole family into a discussion about how they want to use leisure time.
Take risks. Suggest new leisure activities that take everyone out of their comfort zones. Our character reflects the leisure we choose.
Research what is available and within your parameters as a family.
Plan leisure time regularly and talk about it as part of your family routine. Let it become an important way of life and not just an incidental holiday.
Get the children involved in the planning and if it involves gathering and packing equipment, this can be a wonderful way for them to become involved. Let them own some of the leisure plans and preparations.
Remind yourself that creating effective leisure time with the family is yet another way of supporting their mental growth and demonstrating the value of rest and recovery from the routine of life. It strengthens self-awareness and is an important way of expressing family.
“‘In our leisure we reveal what kind of people we are.’”