Is this the first time you have to stay at home or go to work while your kids are on a school break? Well, you are not alone. Many new parents, including myself, are already nervous about having their kids at home for the entire week. While school holiday provides a nice break from the hectic pace of school life, there is no respite from parenting.
You must be wondering what to prepare at home, what your children can do while you work, what menu to prepare, and what to do if your kids lose control?! Oh, those are the exact thoughts that have been racing through my mind in the past two weeks before the start of the school break. I did my research to create this survival guide to assist me during this holiday season, and I’m sharing it to assist others as well.
Here are some simple tips to help you manage your kids during the school break while also having fun and connecting with them to make the most of the time available:
Set Some Holiday Ground Rules
First and foremost, your kids must understand that there are rules to be followed while on school holiday. Being on break does not entitle them to do whatever they want, eat whatever they want, and not do any schoolwork. With rules, it will be easier for the kids to understand what is expected of them, and you will be able to keep things more in order.
Make sure your children understand the consequences of breaking any of the rules, such as being grounded for a few hours and not being able to watch TV or play video games. Simultaneously, use rewards to motivate your children to follow the rules. Also, don’t forget to praise and thank them when they don’t bother you while you’re working.
By the way, keep in mind that changes do not happen overnight, so you will need to remind them of the rules from time to time.
Develop A Daily Holiday Routine
There should be a routine for school breaks just like there is one for school days. This routine can also be used on weekends when the kids are at home. It has been discovered that a child’s life benefits from routines because they help to provide a sense of normality, consistency, and comfort.
Making a holiday routine allows your children to know what to expect each day, making them feel less anxious. A flexible holiday routine is a practical way to keep track of what your kids do. It will also make it easier to return to a normal routine once school resumes.
For example, the first few things they have to do when they wake up are brush their teeth, take a bath, get dressed, and eat breakfast. Then, they can participate in morning activities before taking a break prior to lunch. They can continue with the next activities after lunch, then take a short nap. After their nap, they can eat dinner, take a shower, and unwind by watching TV or a movie. They can then get ready for bed.
The children must not go to bed too late, even during the holidays. It helps to maintain the routine of sleeping early before going to school.
Plan Some Exciting Activities
School holidays are meant to be fun and enjoyable for the kids. After all, it is time for them to take a break from school—which can be stressful with all of the studying and school activities.
Even if you’re swamped at work, try to plan something fun for your kids to do. Aside from indoor activities like arts and crafts, take the kids to the mall, picnic in the park, visit any water theme park, or simply ask them what they want to do.
If you’re on a tight budget and not sure where to take your kids, try any nearby libraries or leisure centres. They usually have free holiday programmes for children that you can attend. At the same time, some museums are filled with fun games for kids to play.
It doesn’t matter where; your kids will appreciate you taking the time to ensure that they have a good time during their school vacation.
Allow Kids to Choose the Menu
Another thing that can exhaust many parents during the school holidays is meal planning. You must plan at least three meals for the rest of the day. This could amount to more than 20 meals for the entire week of the school holiday.
You might run out of ideas, but use this time to bond with your children by asking them what they wanted to eat. Get the kids involved in choosing the ‘menu’ for the week to keep them occupied.
Additionally, you can save time by preparing a large quantity of food at the beginning of the week. Or by asking them to assist you in preparing something early in the morning that you can reheat for dinner.
Prepare for Meltdown Moments
Children’s behaviour is simply unpredictable. You never know when they will misbehave or become dissatisfied with whatever is going on.
If you know your kids can get grumpy during grocery trips, get bored in the car, or have meltdowns when you’re out too long, try to prepare ahead of time. Ask your kids to bring their favourite books, toys, and colouring materials. Also, bring some snacks to avoid kids getting hangry!
Even if your children are only staying at home, keep their favourite items close at hand. Provide them with treats that they can easily help themselves to when they need to snack. It’s not easy to handle their meltdowns, but it’s doable if you plan beforehand.
Flex Your School Holiday Expectations
When your children are at school, it may be easier to keep the house clean and not have a mountain of laundry to deal with. However, having kids at home all day for one week may result in them turning the house upside down with their toys and books. Not to mention that they will change their clothes every few hours or minutes. It could be because they spilled something, got dirty, or simply want to change into new outfits!
So, even if you like to keep the house tidy, the reality is that with the kids around, it will become cluttered! Allow them to have fun and play, but ask them to pick up their toys and tidy up at the end of the day before bedtime.
With young children, you may need to adjust your expectations. After all, they are still in the process of learning.
Remember to Give Yourself a Break During School Holiday
While you undoubtedly want to provide the best school vacation possible for your children, don’t forget to take care of yourself as well. These few days of school break are already exhausting for me, and I’m struggling to find time to fully relax. Although some might say it is part and parcel with parenting whereby we may not have any break at all, you should try and schedule some ‘me time‘ to keep your mental health in check. If you are having any difficulties during the school holiday, you can try to seek help from family members.
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