Half term is here. But unlike last February’s school break, this time around there’s nowhere to go and not much to do that’s different from the usual routine of lockdown life.
The last 11 months have been exhausting for everyone, but children are the most tired of all. Homeschooling is exhausting so it’s no surprise children are bored by the relentlessness of it all.
So, with the half term ahead of us, here are some ideas of the things you can do with your child to re-energise them so that when school comes around again in a weeks time, they’re motivated and ready to go.
DON'T BE SO HARD ON YOURSELF
Remember, the end is in sight and you are not alone so try not to be too hard on yourself. Doing your best is enough and though this time may seem bleak and unfair for your child – they’re no longer socialising or getting
involved in group activities like dance and sport - I really do believe that these past months have taught our children to be more independent than ever.
Now is the time to tell them how proud you are. Positive praise will mean the world to them. And positive words will fill them with positivity too.
THE STRUGGLE OF THE JUGGLE
Maybe you’ve been trying to work from home as well as home school your child and as a result you may feel guilty that you’ve not been there for them as much as you should’ve been. But what if you switch your thinking on this? Children have been learning to fill their time, they’ve been learning to entertain themselves. It’s good for children to not always be reliant on a parent to ‘fill in time’ for them. If you’ve not been able to give your child your ongoing undivided attention, well maybe that’s not a bad thing. As they mature into young adults, they will naturally become more confident in making decisions for themselves based on the current situation.
SOME SIMPLE IDEAS TO HELP YOUR CHILD
RELAX & RECHARGE DURING HALF TERM
EMBRACE THE MESS!
Let the house - their bedroom, the kitchen or the playroom - become a little bit more messy, with a relaxed environment for all. Remove all pressure, embrace the calm atmosphere and enjoy the laughter and positive chat. A week of relaxing and removing all pressure will make your child to feel secure, confident and happy. It's time to let it go!
GET THEM TO TELL A STORY
Imagination is a wonderful skill and it will encourage them to ‘let go’ whilst developing their creativity which will enhance their confidence, strengthen their essay writing and teach them to have the confidence to think beyond the obvious. Spend time doing this over half term. Let their imagination run wild with no boundaries!
GET COOKING
Cook up some fun in the kitchen. A week off is a great time to let them learn to make/bake/cook whatever they fancy. Not only it is a great way to relax and do something together, it's also a great way to learn ingredients, measurements, and a little bit of science! Maybe they could write up their kitchen experiments or write a blog?
There are so many more things you can do with your children this half term. It’s all about giving them that feeling of having some space, some ‘time off’, whilst at the same time having some structure and calm.
So this half-term step out of the routine of lockdown life. Mix things up, have some fun and learn some new things together. Up the water, add in some extra sleep and have some downtime. This all adds up to a more relaxed child who will be happy and re-energised, ready for the start of the next stage of home schooling and hopefully the start of going back to school in March. Have a wonderful half term and remember to take care of yourself too! Shout if I can help.
Nadine.
