When Kids are Home on School Vacation
Life can feel a little disrupted (for parents and children) during those times of year when kids are home on school vacation.
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Outsourcing
If you’re working from home or working outside the home, you obviously need someone to help supervise the kids. There are a few ways you might be able to outsource their care.
Can the grandparents take the kids for some of the days during their school vacation?
Are there camps you can sign the kids up for? Check the local YMCA, gymnastics center, dance studios, art museums, Audobon center, martial arts studio, etc… (This, of course, is a pricey option, but might be worth it.)
Can you and a neighbor or friend take turns watching each other’s kids?
For older kids, consider a virtual camp. You’ll still need to be at home supervising them, but their time will mostly be guided by the online camp instructor. So far we’ve enjoyed Outschool and the Kennedy Space Camp. There are even some free virtual camps for school age kids. Just Google it.
Sometimes outsourcing isn’t an option, or it won’t work for the entire time the kids are home from school. Here’s my advice on what to do when the kids are home with you for a lengthy school vacation.
Making the case for a daily rhythm
The first thing to remember is that most kids thrive on routine. They feel more secure and at ease when they know what is coming.
It’s important to have some sort of rhythm to your days. I’m not talking about a strict schedule with certain tasks happening at specific times. I’m referring more to the idea that each day will include a set of activities (snack time, outside time, etc) and usually in a predictable order.
Do kids want their days to be completely predictable and always the same, most do not. Some novelty thrown in the mix is usually exciting for everyone. But having a somewhat structured day will help everyone know what’s coming. It can relieve some stress on the parent’s part, and it helps kids know that if they don’t like what they’re currently doing (chores, for example), they can look forward to what’s next in the routine (screen time, maybe).
So what should you include in your daily routine? The sky is the limit. Here are some ideas.
time in nature/outside time
build something (with Lego, plus-plus, playdoh, or aluminum foil)
reading time (together or independently and audiobooks count)
snack
chores
family board game
screens
arts/crafts
family outing
A sample daily rhythm for vacation days
Here is a peek at how our days often look during school vacations.
free time/screen time
breakfast
chore time (no more than two)
outside time
silent reading with a snack
art time
lunch
piano practice
board game (usually a math game)
screen time/afternoon snack
build something
clean-up time and set the table for dinner
Add some novelty
Every day being the same can get boring fast. Mix it up periodically by putting something fun on the calendar. Here are some suggestions to get your creative juices flowing.
Fort Day. Build a fort (like a crazy fort, blanket fort, or outdoor fort) and do everything inside your fort that day (reading, lunch, etc…)
Plan a family outing. This could be something simple (and free) like going to the library (which is a great way to start school vacation time), or the park. Other indoor options could include a skating rink, trampoline park, science museum, etc. For outdoor options consider the zoo, or you could go a little farther afield if there is a state park nearby.
Plan a play date. You could keep this simple by just inviting some friends and providing snacks. Or you could make it a lot of fun by turning it into a crafting playdate (follow this link to see how we do ours) or a LEGO play date.
Cook or bake together. Put a family movie night on the calendar and have everyone chip in to help make individual pizzas. Or have a family board game day, but first do some baking in advance to make some treats to enjoy during game time. Rice Krispie treats are quick and easy to make as are these Monster Energy Bites that don’t require any actual baking.
Go camping in the backyard - weather permitting.
Arrange a sleepover at the grandparents’ house.
If your kids are home for a school vacation around Thanksgiving or Christmas, try some of the ideas from my article, Twelve Ways to Entertain Houseguests. Many of the suggestions work great for kids.
Be sure to save this for future reference.
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