Staying in routine during school breaks
Spring Break and Easter Long Weekend bring exciting times of excitement for children. No school, no homework, and often regular activities are cancelled. That’s fantastic! Or…is it?
While the break from school is important and we want children to have some leisure time, maintaining a sense of routine can help prevent chaos and ensure a smoother transition back to school.
Routines are important. For many young people, knowing what to expect over the course of a day can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. With no set schedule and no consistent plan for the day, the time away from school can go from being a legit break to an anxiety-inducing stretch of days.
Here are a few tips to help keep you and your family in a routine, while still enjoying the change of pace.
Set a flexible schedule. Structure your days, but with a bit of wiggle room. Create a loose schedule that includes waking up, meal times and bedtime, but look at ways to incorporate fun activities or outings. And while it’s tempting to let bedtime slide, that consistent bedtime schedule can help your children get enough rest and reduce crankiness.
Plan daily activities. Whether it’s a family bike ride (weather permitting, of course!), playing sports in the backyard, or a visit to the park or library, spring break is the perfect time to get outside and explore. Check out a new playground you haven’t been to before. Teach your littles how to bake cookies. It doesn’t have to be fancy and it doesn’t have to be the whole day. The goal is to have something fun and fresh to do each day that is different from a school day.
Limit screen time. With more free time, it’s tempting to spend hours in front of screens, binge watching shows or playing video games. Instead, set clear boundaries on daily screen time limits and offer alternatives like board games, creative play, playing outside or reading a book.
Maintain mealtime routines. Stick to regular meal and snack times as much as possible. Involve children in meal preparation, getting them to put crackers and cheese on a plate or work together to peel carrots.
Be patient and flexible. Remember that disruptions to routine are natural during holidays and it’s okay if everything doesn’t go according to plan. Stay patient and flexible, and focus on enjoying quality time together as a family.
Spring break and Easter look different for every family. Some people are off the whole time as a family. Others are working and children are in day camps.
No matter what it looks like for you and your family, the goal remains the same: maintain a sense of routine while still allowing for fun and relaxation.