Student Wellbeing

The Best Way to Spend the Holidays

Building Wellbeing at Home This Summer

The school holidays are a unique opportunity to cultivate deep family bonds, healthy habits, and a sense of freedom and self-expression in your family. And they’re nearly here!

Instead of rushing through endless activities or striving for perfection, the following five principles will help you create a balanced and joyful summer holiday experience for your family.

5 Ideas to Help Your Family Make the Most of School Holidays

1. Prioritise Presence Over Perfection: The school holidays offer a unique chance to spend uninterrupted time with your children. Rather than focusing on planning perfect outings or jam-packed schedules, focus on simply being present. Children often remember how they felt in your company more than the specific events themselves.

   Put distractions like phones and work aside during family time. Engage in conversations, enjoy everyday moments together, and cherish the shared experiences that come from your undivided attention. 

2. Cultivate Slow, Mindful Days: In a world that moves so quickly, holidays are a wonderful opportunity to slow down. Forget the rush from one activity to the next and embrace a more relaxed pace. Enjoy simple activities like reading, going for a leisurely walk, or just spending quiet time as a family.

   Slower days aren’t just restful—they also teach children the value of mindfulness and help them build emotional resilience. By modelling this approach, you show your children that joy can come from moments of stillness and calm.

3. Encourage Autonomy and Agency: The holidays are a great time for children to practice independence. Let them take the lead on planning parts of the day, such as choosing meals, deciding on activities, or organising playtime. This empowers them, builds confidence, and nurtures decision-making skills.

   Trust your children’s judgment, and allow them to explore their independence—it’s a meaningful way to help them grow.

4. Build Routines That Foster Stability: While holidays are a break from school, maintaining some structure can provide a sense of stability. Simple routines—like regular mealtimes, predictable activities, or consistent bedtimes—help children feel secure and balanced, even during less structured periods.

   Routines don’t need to be rigid; they’re about creating a rhythm that supports everyone’s wellbeing while allowing flexibility for fun and spontaneity.

5. Foster Play and Creativity Over Achievement: The holidays are an opportunity to step away from achievement-focused tasks and embrace play and creativity. Encourage your children to explore hobbies or imaginative activities like drawing, building, writing, or even daydreaming.

   This unstructured time allows kids to experiment, problem-solve, and express themselves freely. It’s not only fun but also essential for their emotional growth and adaptability.

By focusing on these five ideas, you can create a holiday season that fosters connection, growth, and joy for your entire family.

The Wellbeing Effect of Balanced Holidays

For families who thrive on progress, achievement, and success, the holidays can be an important time to step back and recalibrate.

The best “holiday” isn’t about how many activities you can squeeze in or how many milestones you can tick off. It’s about creating space for growth, connection, and rest. If you’re looking to include something academically beneficial, keep it simple—encourage your children to read. Reading supports academic success while feeling relaxed and enjoyable, rather than like "work."

This holiday season, focus on quality family time—not by rushing to do everything or be everywhere, but by simply being present together. Give everyone the opportunity to pause, reflect, and savour the richness of life.