Tips to help you get through school vacation week!
No matter where you are or what you’re doing this week - we’ve got you covered.
🎉 If you went on vacation:
You might be having the time of your life (I hope you are!) And you also might be dealing with traveling, crowds, different beds, different foods, and different routines - all of which (especially for those of us with neurospicy or HSC) can be a little tricky.
CUE THE QT: Get on their level and ask them how they're doing. What do they miss? What do they wish they had? What do they like at the new place? What could make them more comfortable?
Just listening and validating their experience will help them feel more comfortable and help you feel closer.
🌸 If you are having a stay-cation:
If you're staying home and decided to make it special, you're having a stay-cation! Maybe breakfast for dinner, breakfast in bed, sleepovers (or sleepunders), or video games late into the night? How fun! Ok. Stay-cations are awesome... and can also be a bit boring. You're like. Wait. It's only 10am?! And my kid is asking, "What's next?! What are we going to do?!" for the 100th time already.
CUE THE QT: Together, make a stay-cation board (like a vision board). This could have pictures, words, a list, or whatever is easiest (or most fun) for you. Then together you can plan what your week will be like!
Being on the same page will help y'all settle in and enjoy yourselves more!
✅ If you sent your kid to camp:
This probably feels most like a regular school week. You still have the morning routine and get-out-the-door hustle, but you're potentially dealing with bigger feelings and more resistance because it's a new place, or new kids, or new teachers. (And, as we said before, neurospicy or hsc - new might not be easy...)
CUE THE QT: Do they want to talk about their camp? (What's similar, what's different, etc.?) Or do they want to collapse? (Don't talk about it... AKA "Please, please, please don't ask me how my day was") Honor whichever bucket they fall into and make the most of it.
Following their lead (honoring their needs) will help you go with the flow instead of fighting upstream.
💻 If you're trying to work with the kids home:
If your kids don't thrive with new people or places, you might not do camps. You might actually LOVE being at home together (this one's me!) but it comes with it's own set of boredom, sibling fights, (their) fomo, and (me) trying to work while they're wanting to be entertained.
CUE THE QT: Have them make a board of what they want to do! (Like, a 'don't be bored board') Then you can plan to sprinkle some fun stuff in here and there to keep them happy while also having time to get your work done. (And in the in-between time when you need to do work - screentime is awesome. I know there are conflicted views on this, but we're #proscreens over here - I love playing video games and binging, "Is It Cake" with my kids. And since they'll watch the same thing a million times, I can watch it with them the first time, and then get work done while they re-watch! WIN-WIN)
Balancing work and fun isn't easy, but a little planning and input from the kids can go a long way!
Want more personalized support?
I’m always happy to help - email me with a question and I promise to respond with some (hopefully) helpful advice. heather@elementsacademy.org