As a psychologist (and a very real, very human adult who has absolutely handed a child a snack just to buy five minutes of peace to locked themselves in a toilet, and scroll mindlessly), I’d like to formally declare: school holidays are not a test of your parenting worth.
They are, however, an endurance event.
If you’ve ever scrolled past idyllic holiday posts – children baking from scratch, building elaborate craft projects out of ethically sourced cardboard, smiling beatifically while learning Italian – you may have wondered if you’ve missed a memo. You haven’t. You’re just living in reality, where the cost of living is high, annual leave is limited, and sometimes survival looks like “everyone is alive, fed, and moderately clean.”
Let’s start with a truth that deserves to be normalised far more than it is: most parents cannot take two full weeks off every school holiday. Work doesn’t stop. Bills don’t pause. Life keeps lifing. Relying on grandparents, vacation care, or tag-teaming with another parent isn’t a failure – it’s a functional, adaptive support system. Children benefit from a “village,” even if that village includes a structured holiday program and a grandparent who thinks bedtime is optional.
Boredom Is Not a Crisis
You do not need to fill every hour with enrichment.
In fact, boredom is where creativity, problem-solving, and (occasionally) sibling negotiations are born. When a child says, “I’m boooored,” what they often mean is, “I haven’t been entertained for the last 90 seconds.”
You are allowed to respond with: “That’s okay.”
Let them sit in it. Let their brains stretch. Will it sometimes escalate into chaos? Possibly. But that’s part of the developmental package.
Screens Are Not the Enemy (They’re a Tool)
There, I said it.
Some days will include more screen time than you’d ideally like. That doesn’t undo your parenting. It means you’re adapting.
And if you lean into it, it can actually become something connective. Turn a movie day into an “event”: make tickets, set up a “cinema” with pillows and teddies, prepare snacks, dim the lights. Suddenly, it’s not passive parenting, it’s an experience. Also, you get to sit down. Everyone wins.
The Quiet Guilt About “Outsourcing”
Vacation care. Grandparents. Swapping kids with another parent.
These are not shortcuts. They are solutions.
Children build resilience and social skills by spending time with different people and environments. And you, crucially, get to meet your responsibilities or simply catch your breath.
You are not meant to do this alone.
Practical (and Realistic) Survival Ideas
You don’t need a colour-coded spreadsheet. You need a few reliable options in your back pocket.
- Low-mess craft is your best friend
Think stickers, colouring, water painting, or reusable activity books. If it involves glitter, reconsider your life choices. - Family LEGO sessions at the dining table
Low pressure, high engagement, and surprisingly calming. You don’t have to build anything impressive, just build. - Scooters + helmets live in the car boot
This turns any local park or pathway into an instant activity without planning ahead. - Create a mini “library corner”
A pile of books, some cushions, maybe a blanket. Encourage kids to read to each other (or to the dog, who is an excellent listener). - Invest in a few solid board games
Games that span ages are gold. For older kids, learning something like chess together can be surprisingly bonding (and humbling). - At-home pamper day
Nail polish, “face masks” made from cheap cream and paint brushes, maybe some cucumber slices if you’re feeling fancy. - Go outside, but keep it simple
The beach, a local park, even just a walk. It doesn’t have to be a full-day production. - Parent swaps
Team up with another parent: you take their kids one day, they take yours another. It’s not just practical, it builds community. - Use a visual timer
This is a game changer. Set 20–30 minutes, show them the countdown, and say: “Mum/Dad is busy until all the red is gone.”
It externalises the boundary, which kids often respond to better than repeated verbal reminders. - Mix movement and sensory needs
Some kids need to move constantly. Others need quiet time. Most need both. Watch what works for your child rather than what looks good on paper. - Don’t overschedule
You don’t have to say yes to every playdate or activity. A full calendar can be just as stressful as an empty one.
Snacks: The Unsung Hero of Peacekeeping
Hungry kids are cranky kids. This is not a theory; it’s a law of nature.
Having accessible snacks, fruit, crackers, yoghurt, whatever works can prevent about 60% of holiday meltdowns. The other 40% will happen anyway, but at least they won’t be hunger-fuelled. (Percentages may or may not be accurate, who knows what your kids will do).
A Few Holiday Affirmations (That You Might Actually Use)
Let’s retire “I will not lose my cool today.” It’s unrealistic and sets you up to feel like you’ve failed by 9:17am.
Try these instead:
- “I can be a good parent and still need a break.”
- “Surviving today counts as success.”
- “Screen time is sometimes strategic.”
- “Bored kids are not broken kids.”
- “I am allowed to say no, to activities, playdates, and additional chaos.”
- “If everyone is fed and safe, I am doing enough.”
- “This phase is temporary, even if today feels very, very long.”
- “I can repair after I snap. Perfection is not required.”
School holidays aren’t about creating magical, memory-filled moments every day. They’re about navigating a busy, expensive, often exhausting season with a mix of care, flexibility, and realistic expectations.
Some days you might feel like Mary Poppins. Others might feel like crowd control with snacks.
Both count.