How many times have you heard “I’m bored” from your darling cherubs this school holidays? I do love having them home for 6 weeks, because of the sleep-ins, no lunchboxes and freedom to do what we like each day, but I’ve found we still need some structure.
Kids need structure
“Routines give them a sense of security and help them develop self-discipline. Children, like the rest of us, handle change best if it is expected and occurs in the context of a familiar routine. A predictable routine allows children to feel safe, and to develop a sense of mastery in handling their lives. While helping children feel safe and ready to take on new challenges and developmental tasks would be reason enough to offer them structure, it has another important developmental role as well. Structure and routines teach kids how to constructively manage themselves and their environments.” – www.ahaparenting.com/parenting-tools/family-life/structure-routines
As a busy mum who works from home, I’ve found that having some gentle structure and routine during school holidays, keeps us all happier and fewer arguments. I’ve put together my top 3 tips below, I hope you find them helpful.
#1: Write down a set time schedule for “electronic device” use for the week.
Are your kids constantly glued to devices? My kids would sit on the iPad/iPhone/play station, 24/7 if they could. Each Sunday night I write down the allocated times for device use for the week ahead, & it is stuck to the fridge. This makes it clear for the entire family, there’s less arguing and nagging all round.
How much time you allow per day is up to your personal family circumstances. In Australia, the current recommendation is for no more than 2 hours of screen time per day for children - Sydney Children’s Hospital Network.
#2: Write a list of activity ideas.
As a family, discuss what fun things there are to do in the holidays and make a list. This doesn’t need to be expensive trips or anything, just a simple list of things to do at home. Eg. LEGO, board games, craft, drawing, colouring, bike riding, motorbike riding, scooter, cooking, reading, build a fort, sort toys, kick the footy, trampoline, take the dog for a walk etc. This has definitely reduced the number of times I hear “I’m bored!”
#3: Get up, get dressed and sort breakfast together.
Whether we have a sleep in or not, I find that getting all three kids to stick to a simple morning routine really helps the mood of our entire day. If not, we get to 11am and I have a house of hungry zombies, fighting each other!!
Ensuring they are up and about, have eaten breakfast and know what activities they will do for the morning really helps to create peace across the house.
So, go on give these strategies a go and hopefully the result is a happy family with healthy habits, where everything runs more smoothly!
And remember…
“Choice is the most powerful tool you have!”. If you're feeling stuck in your own life, and not sure where to start making better choices, go and download my FREE ebook and reach out for a chat anytime.
Jodie Spinks is the founder of “Giving You Choice" and is also a successful online business owner, Mentor & Choice Expert. With over four years' experience in the online business space, she's transformed her life from overwhelmed and unfulfilled, to positive and thriving. And all of this has been achieved, simply by prioritising a growth mindset, daily personal development and linking arms with an empowering online hub of driven women in her group “Women’s Wealth Warriors”. Jodie’s passion is educating & supporting driven women to build an income online using clear personal branding and a simple proven business growth system. If you're ready to go from #unfulfilled2thriving you're in the right place!
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