How many times have your kids reached the end of a school break and said, “We didn’t DO anything!” You might even find yourself agreeing with them, but for a different reason—you feel like you got nothing accomplished, and the kids just sat around.
When a school break starts, we tend to let our kids sleep in and veg to recover from being overscheduled throughout the rest of the year. Extended breaks need some purpose and a plan, though. Try these 6 ideas for keeping your kids active and engaged during school breaks.
1. Maintain normal hours.
If your children stay up until the wee hours, they’re naturally going to want to sleep all morning. Try to keep the family on a reasonable schedule, even when school’s out so that more can be accomplished during the day. You don’t have to wake them up at their normal alarm time, but sleeping until noon will lead to lazy days.
2. Set aside some tasks for the break.
We all have those things we would get done if we “just had the time.” Whether it’s cleaning out the kids’ closets or getting all those decorations back into the attic, you have a golden opportunity to get caught up with family to-dos (or maybe just one to-do) during the break. Delegate portions of each task to the kids so everyone is part of reaching the goal.
3. Focus on service.
Giving time to others in need is difficult during the school routine. Do some research in advance and make plans to volunteer at a local shelter or nonprofit during a longer break. Or let the kids grab $5 from their piggy banks and run to the store to buy groceries for a local food bank. Remember those closets that you cleaned out? Let your children participate in the process of donating those items.
4. Put limits on screen time.
When the exhaustion of homework and activities overwhelms you, it’s incredibly difficult to resist the temptation to let the kids entertain themselves with screens. But they’ll feel a greater mental reset by spending time outside breathing in fresh air or playing a game with you. It’s unrealistic to say no screens, but go in with limits using our screen time tickets to strike a balance.
5. Schedule some friend time.
Make plans with other moms to have a friend or two over. It will keep your crew engaged and having fun, and you’ll get to see how they interact with their peers. You never know what you might overhear!
6. Make a stop at the library.
A building full of books might be the last place your kids want to be during school breaks, but there’s something about walking through those aisles that sparks excitement for learning. Your kids can search for books that match their interests instead of what’s required by the school. And the quiet environment automatically creates some mental white space that can help some kids feel restored. If your kids aren’t reading age yet, check the library for special activities or story time. You might even make a new friend.
Want more ideas for enjoying time off of school with the kids? Check out the iMOM Podcast episode, “Making the Most of a School Break.” Be sure to subscribe to receive new episodes every Monday.
What makes you feel like the time during school breaks has been spent well?
