So we are in the thick of school holidays and we know they can be a testing time for everyone involved! We take on a huge mission as parents to care, nurture, protect, inspire and guide our young ones however with the testing times of no routine, boredom, too much screen time and sibling spats, how on earth do we get through?
I’ve had a few years doing this now and these are some of my top tips for coping?
1. Put Something in their Love Bank
Before you start the day and try to get through everything you need to do before taking the kids out, give them a small amount of undivided attention, pay in to their bank and they are then set up for the rest of the day
2. Give Responsibilities
Chores to help around the house are a great way to give them something to do and to also help you out at this particularly busy time.
Come up with a list of jobs that you are willing to give pocket money for – encourage them to earn, it helps them learn how to manage money and it definitely slows down their spending when they know it’s their own cash!
3. Have boundaries and routine
Set some sort of routine in place, maybe have a holiday timetable or a calendar up with planned dates on. Children respond well to boundaries and a framework. They are used to it in school and gives them check points through the day, the week and the holiday. This also helps you see the holiday as a whole, where your work fits in and where there are gaps that might need filling.
4. Be Slow To Lay Down The Law
Don’t go making huge threats that you can’t uphold. Have few and fair rules, this is holiday, it’s time to enjoy some down time but that doesn’t mean that everything goes out of the window – and remember, consistency is key.
5. Don’t Be The Referee
Get them to sort their own battles with each other, it’s a huge life skill and will deter unnecessary fights as it won’t become about getting Mum/Dad’s attention.
6. Enjoy your children
They are only with us for a short time!
The book I read from is The Rules of Life by Richard Templar and Liquid Thinking which I quoted earlier on re the psychology in the OJ Simpson defence was Liquid Thinking by Damian Hughes
049 Still Smiling Through Grief, Sadness and Depression
048 Disconnected in a Connected World
047 Hamster Wheels, 2020 and Sunshine
046 What Makes A Good Life
045 Lean In and Lean On
044 Planning Pleasure and Purpose
043 Charging Toward Christmas
042 FINDING JOY PART 4
041 When To Trust Again
040 Finding Joy Part 3
039 FINDING JOY PART 2
038 Sorry Not Sorry Part 5 - Codependency
037 Sorry Not Sorry Part 4 - Transvision Vamping It
036 Sorry Not Sorry Part 3 - Saying No
035 Finding Joy
034 Sorry Not Sorry Part 2 - Yes You Can!
033 Sorry Not Sorry Part 1 - Taking Back The Power and Owning Your Space
032 Bricks in Backpacks - How To Love Myself
031 Taking Control of Your Destiny, Like Dick Did!
030 Inspired or Intimidated By Make Up
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