eNewsletter

Student Wellbeing

School Holiday Wellbeing: Finding Balance Beyond the Screen

As the school holidays are just around the corner, it's the perfect time to recharge, reconnect, and refocus on wellbeing—both online and offline. While screens are a big part of our lives, especially for children, it's important to help them find a healthy balance that supports their physical, emotional, and social development.

 

How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?

 

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The right amount of screen time depends on your child’s age, maturity, and the type of content they’re engaging with. Instead of focusing solely on the clock, consider:

 

  • Is screen time interfering with sleep, exercise, or family time?

  • Is your child missing out on face-to-face connections or outdoor play?

  • Are they showing signs of irritability, tiredness, or withdrawal?

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These questions can help guide your family toward a balanced routine.

 

Tips for Managing Screen Time Over the Holidays

 

Here are some practical strategies from the eSafety Commissioner to support your child’s wellbeing:

 

Create a Family Plan: Work together to set fair and consistent rules around screen use, including time limits, device-free zones (like bedrooms), and offline activities.

Stay Engaged: Talk regularly with your child about what they’re doing online. Join in on games or explore creative projects together to make screen time more social and meaningful.

Set Boundaries: Consider rules like no screens an hour before bedtime, switching off devices during meals, and charging devices overnight in a common area.

Use Technology Wisely: Parental controls and time-tracking apps can help monitor usage but be open with your child about why these tools are in place.

 

For more tips and resources, visit the eSafety Commissioner’s screen time advice.

 

Screen time | How much is too much? | eSafety Commissioner

 

Prioritising Wellbeing

 

Encourage activities that promote wellbeing—like outdoor play, reading, arts and crafts, or simply spending quality time together. Holidays are a great opportunity to explore new hobbies, strengthen family bonds, and build resilience away from screens.

 

Easy wellbeing activities for families:

 

Nature scavenger hunt: Create a list of items that need to be found outdoors and head to your local park or nature reserve and start hunting!

 

Animal Yoga: Calming activity incorporating movement and mindfulness. 67 Animal Yoga Poses for Kids with photos and descriptions

 

Chalk games: Draw hopscotch or mazes in the backyard.

 

Obstacle course: Use what you have around the home to create an obstacle course, include jumping, crawling, balancing, and running.

 

Flower vase activity: Get creative and explore the outdoors. Flower Vases Nature Craft Activity - In The Playroom