School breaks can feel long- especially for parents of young students. We want our kids to feel connected and engaged to the world while also letting them (and us!) rest. How do we balance our kids’ needs for rest, recuperation and stillness without letting them fall into a screen-induced fog for five days? How do we get our own work done while also feeling connected to our kids? How do we make the most of these times with our young kids that we are supposed to be savoring and treasuring? 

There is no right answer to these questions, and our world doesn’t always support parents’ and children’s need for rest and play, but there are ways we can be a little more intentional with our breaks to feel more rested, more connected and a little less guilty. 

Incorporate some structure to your days. It can be tempting to fall out of routines on school breaks, but your kids actually crave a little consistency. You can still give a lot of flexibility to your kids, but schedule mealtimes, breaks from screens, or activities outside the house (like half-day camps or trips to the park).

Make a little time to go outside everyday. Even if it’s just a walk around the block with your kids during a 5-minute break from work, time outside can help you reset and recharge, and it can be a good way to break up your kids’ day. 

Listen to music instead of watching TV/tablets. Throwing on music in the background while your kids read, or draw, or participate in another solo activity can make it feel a little more relaxed, and a little more special. Music has been shown to help some listeners make more sense of new material and memorize (Healthline, 2023), so not only is it a fun, creative way to relax, it could be helping you and your child’s brain!

Get your child out of the house for part of the day. Maybe you want to spend quality time with your kids, but you still need part of your day to get your own work done. Maybe you know your kid won’t enjoy being at camp all week, but they want a fun and creative outlet to play for a few hours a day. Maybe you just need a few hours to get caught up on errands during the week. A half-day music camp like ours at Colorado AMP is a great way to engage your child in a fun, artistic, interactive and low-pressure setting, while still giving them room to rest and play throughout the school break. 

Give yourself a break! It’s hard to be a parent to young kids in any time or place, but especially in modern times. We all sometimes feel like we aren’t doing enough, but we should give ourselves a little grace and remember all of the things we are doing for our families. Take a moment to yourself to listen to a podcast, or go for a run, or maybe sit down and watch TV with your kids. We all deserve a little break, and even a little screen time. 

Kids and parents alike deserve some time to rest, play and get creative! Colorado AMP offers affordable and fun school-break programs throughout the school year, and during Spring Break and Summer to help you keep your kids engaged (and out of your hair for a few hours) so that everyone goes back to school and work feeling refreshed and inspired.