The school summer holidays can be a challenging 6-7 weeks for parents. Keeping the children occupied while balancing the costs of activities, childcare and, for many parents, working at the same time – it can be a Herculean task.
To help you along the way, here are some tips and tricks for surviving the summer holidays as a parent.
1. Planning and Structure
No matter the age, children thrive in structure and this will feel in short supply while the 9am-3pm school day is not available. Creating a plan or weekly structure with your children can not only help them know what is happening, but also allows you as the parent to plan for additional support you may require or navigate around your working schedule.
Some strategies you could use include:
- Create a flexible daily routine that balances activities and downtime
- Use a visual calendar with children to map out the holidays together
- Schedule “anchor activities” (e.g., library visits on Tuesdays, park time on Thursdays)
- Plan a mix of outings and low-key days at home
2. Budget-Friendly Activities
Not every day needs to be a trip to a theme park or the zoo. While they may be fun and exciting, it’s unlikely to be a feasible strategy for the entire summer. You might even find that the more low-key days create the most lasting memories for both you and your little ones.
Activity ideas for you to explore:
- Research free community events (library programs, outdoor movies, museum free days)
- Create a “boredom jar” with activity ideas children can draw from
- Organize home-based projects: fort building, baking, arts and crafts
- Set up playdates and activity swaps with other families
3. Managing Screen Time
Children’s preferred activities are increasingly digital – watching TV or streaming services, gaming or scrolling on social media. And these can be great for shorter periods of time, but not for weeks on end.
Restrictions don’t have to be as strict as during term time, but limiting screen time during the summer holidays can increase creativity, sleep quality and overall health by increased physical activity.
Strategies for managing screen time include:
- Establish clear screen time limits
- Create “earn your screen time” systems (reading, chores, outdoor play first)
- Designate tech-free zones and times (during meals, mornings, before bed)
- Offer engaging alternatives that compete with screens
4. Keeping them Learning
Learning doesn’t just happen at school – children learn from everyday activities and their environment as well. Maintaining the momentum of learning throughout the summer doesn’t mean reading text books or only watching documentaries, it can be built into fun activities without them even realising they’re learning!
Incorporating learning into your summer activities could look like:
- Bring learning into fun activities (cooking = math, nature walks = science)
- Visit libraries for reading challenges and programs
- Use educational apps or websites for 20-30 minutes daily
- Encourage journaling, creative writing, or holiday scrapbooking
5. Managing Working Parents’ Challenges
Unless you are a teacher, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to be off work for the duration of the summer holidays. This can make it even harder to keep the children active and feel engaged with them. Try to remember that you can’t do it all, and it takes a village.
Some methods to reduce the challenges as a working parent include:
- Coordinate with other parents for childcare sharing
- Prepare activity boxes children can do independently while you work
- Set realistic expectations about work-life balance during holidays
6. Preventing Holiday Meltdowns
This can be an overwhelming period for both children and parents alike, with a lot of emotions that can occur across the weeks. Boredom by the 4th week, stress from trying to plan new things, irritation from not usually spending this much time together every day during term time – it all mounts up. This is why it’s important to identify and minimise points of friction early on to try to have the most positive experience possible.
Strategies to try include:
- Don’t over-schedule, build in rest days
- Maintain consistent meal routines and sleep schedules – anchor points in your planning
- Prepare them for transitions back to school in the final week
7. Self-Care for Parents
As we’ve established, this time of year can be particularly tricky for parents. Looking after your own wellbeing is often a neglected part of parenting, but is especially essential to making the summer holidays enjoyable for both you and the children. Taking some time for yourself on the quieter rest days where you can will help you keep up the momentum longer term.
Self-care strategies for summer holiday survival:
- Schedule your own downtime or activities
- Lower expectations – the house doesn’t need to be perfect, every day doesn’t need to be extraordinary
- Tag-team with partners or family where possible so each parent gets breaks
- Connect with other parents for support and ideas
Key Points
- Involve children in the planning process for buy-in
- Mix high-energy and quiet activities throughout each day
- Look after your own wellbeing as well
Remember: the goal through the holidays is connection, not perfection.