Hi all!
We recognise that not everyone is impacted by the school holiday calendar, but for those who are managing work and family life this summer, we wanted to offer some support to make it all feel a little more manageable. Clare on our central team is not only a whiz at all things operations and finance, but is a qualified counsellor and a mum of 2 teenagers - so a perfect choice to take charge of this week's newsletter.
Over to Clare...
As the school holidays approach, many of us find ourselves caught between anticipation and apprehension. The sudden shift from the reassuring routine of term time to open-ended weeks can feel daunting.
The long summer stretches ahead, full of both promise and challenge: how to keep children engaged, happy, and emotionally well, all while juggling your own commitments and wellbeing?
Balancing structure with flexibility is key: providing a framework to the days whilst leaving room for spontaneous outings or quiet downtime. This balance not only helps children feel rested but also eases the burden on parents to plan every minute!
Below are our tips to help both you and your children survive the school holidays:
Let go of the idea of perfection
Not every day must be perfect; uneventful days are often best. Embrace this: slow mornings, telly in pyjamas, “picky bits” for tea, and afternoons spent with the only outing being a walk to the park.
Remember that boredom is not the enemy. Give them some unstructured time at home or in the garden and watch how their creativity flourishes - building dens with sofa cushions, inventing games, going bug-hunting. Resist the urge to over-schedule - the school year is exhausting for them too!
Don’t overcompensate
It’s very normal now for children to spend time in holiday clubs over the summer while parents are working (or indeed just to keep them active, rather than “being on screens all day”). Are you feeling guilty that your children are in clubs whilst others are off on exciting, expensive trips?
Or perhaps feeling guilty that your school holiday looks more ordinary than those you see online? Remember, snapshots rarely tell the full story. Every family is different, what matters most is what works for yours and your circumstances.
Resist the urge to pack out every weekend with family activities to 'make up' for what they might be 'missing out' on.
Create a loose structure
Yes, the school holidays are for children recharging their batteries ready for September, and the points above are all about letting go of strict routine and the urge to be too busy. That said, all children (and teenagers) thrive with boundaries and certainty.
I like to create a calendar (stick it on the fridge) and mark out the family holiday, clubs, and any other fixed plans, so the children can see where the pockets of free time are.
Involve your children in planning the weeks ahead. Sit down together and brainstorm what they’d like to do - some things big, some small, some together, and some solo. Allow each family member to contribute ideas, so everyone feels involved and excited.
Look after yourself
Don’t forget to carve out time for you. The 6-week break can feel stressful and fraught for you – that central nervous system being tested by our offspring!
Make sure to find moments for yourself, too. Whether it’s a quiet cup of tea before the house wakes up, a stroll in the evening, or a chapter of your favourite book while the kids play, these small acts of self-care matter.
Try to keep some of your own routine in place too, don’t skip gym sessions, book clubs, coffee with friends.
Be gentle with yourself if things don’t go to plan. If tempers fray or plans fall apart, pause and breathe.
Don’t forget to prepare for the return!
As the end of summer nears, it helps to gently shift your focus towards the return to term-time routines. Yes, there is new uniforms and stationery, but preparing for the return is about more than ticking off a shopping list:
- Start to reintroduce elements of daily structure at a gentle pace.
- You should encourage earlier bedtimes, set aside time for family meals, or wind down with quiet activities in the evening.
- If your children’s friendships have drifted over the break, invite friends for playdates or arrange get-togethers to re-establish those connections.
- Talk to them about what they are looking forward to (or not). Maybe they are worried about a new teacher or getting lost in a new school. You don’t need to fix anything - a simple discussion acknowledging it will help them get it off their chest.
These gentle adjustments can make the change less daunting for everyone.
Lastly the dreaded screen time…..
No 2025 conversation about children and young people doesn’t include screentime and it seems inevitable that with more leisure time this will increase (probably for you too!) I wish I could say that I have this cracked as a mum of 2 teens but I am in the trenches with you!
My learnings here are:
- Model the behaviour you want to see (I can’t stress this enough)
- Never stop trying to create limits – even if it feels like they are constantly breached.
- Don’t use tech as a reward or a punishment.
- Ban phones from family activities.
- If you try to stick to one rule, stick to no phones before bedtime/in bed.
Happy holidays all!
Clare x