- Reading time: 5 minutes
- Suitable for: Parents with children of all ages
Picture the scene: it’s been a long school term. Your child is frazzled, you are frazzled, and everyone is desperately in need of a break. Luckily, the holidays are just around the corner and you start to fantasise about long lie-ins and spending quality time together as a family.
The holidays arrive and everything goes swimmingly - for a while. Then, after just a few days, you find yourself shouting at your child for not tidying up after themselves, despairing at the state of the house and wishing they were back at school. This is not the holiday you had in mind! You ask yourself, where did it all go wrong?
Holidays can be a source of stress
Whilst holidays are meant to provide an opportunity for fun, rest and relaxation, the truth is that they can be tough for children (and for parents and carers, too!). Whether you’re staying at home or jetting off on a holiday, there’s so much anticipation surrounding half terms and holidays, but the reality rarely lives up to the expectation.
Instead, holiday periods can actually be a source of anxiety and stress. And because children can struggle to understand and express their feelings, they communicate their emotions through their behaviour.
The good news is, there are lots of things you can do to ease holiday-induced stress and anxiety, and help your child thrive during time away from school.
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