How to make the most of the school holidays while working from home
For many parents, the school holidays represent a unique set of challenges, trying to balance childcare with work. As a young business, this summer is our first proper experience of this dynamic—previously, Clare was a teacher (and then a childminder), so she had ample time and energy to spend with the children. As a family, we're only starting to work out the balance of summer childcare for ourselves.
At the start of the holiday, we felt pretty daunted and didn’t hear many conversations about this topic. So, in this blog, we'll share some ideas that have worked well for us and our two children (aged 5 and 7). Please do share yours, too—there's a lot of time to fill, many years to come, and we're only just getting started!
Take Help That’s Offered
If you’ve got eager aunts, generous grandads, or faithful friends around, accept their assistance and allow the kids some quality time with them while you crack on with work, undisturbed.
Childcare Share
Free up an afternoon for another parent by entertaining their kids at your house. Then you can have a free session to yourself when they reciprocate.
Check Out Holiday Club Provision
Nurseries offer holiday cover, while sports clubs, drama societies, and churches offer childcare provision as well as fun, new experiences. Strategically placed summer camps spaced throughout the summer could add variety for your children and give you the time to focus on your business.
Accept What You Can’t Achieve
The summer holidays may not be the month to smash financial targets or entertain your child every minute. Accepting this makes things more manageable—there’s no need to feel guilty or inadequate. In September, you’ll get back to full steam.
Work Out What Has to Be Done
The holidays may be a time to focus on the skeleton of your business while putting other projects on hold.
Plan and Prepare
Get your social media content written and scheduled before the holidays start. Aim to populate your pipeline until mid-September before the kids even break up.
Quality Time with the Kids
Quality time is more about attitude than activity. Even mundane tasks like hanging out washing, making tea, or shopping can become quality time if you approach them with attention, care, and fun.
Get the Kids Involved
Children can help with useful jobs around your home—vacuuming, dusting, sock-matching, or hanging out washing. It saves time and gives them a sense of achievement. They don’t need to be “having fun” to be happy.
Engage a Mini-Apprentice
Involve your children in your work creatively. Give them a chore, project, or ask for ideas. We had fun producing this video for our social media channels.
Have a ‘Fun Jar’ or ‘Fun Chart’
Write age-appropriate independent activities on a wall chart or in a jar: make up a dance, read a book, write a poem, pogo stick, shoot hoops, colour in, or make a domino run. When children say, “I’m bored,” direct them to the list. Let them get bored—it encourages creativity and imagination.
Get Out Every Day
Children need to burn off energy, and so do you. A trip to the park, beach, or museum for a couple of hours allows you to return home ready to work without complaints and frustration.
Spend Time with the Kids
Remember the privilege of spending time with your children. Even a few minutes colouring, playing Transformers, or a quick game of Top Trumps can keep them happily occupied for an hour.
Work in the Evenings
Summer holidays now mean working hard while children are around. Enjoy the noise and laughter while you can—rest will come later.
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Talbot Jones Risk Solutions is a family-run, community-focused commercial insurance brokerage. Based in Gateshead, we work nationwide, specialising in SMEs and not-for-profits. Get in touch if you’d value risk management advice, a free insurance review, or a quotation—we’d be happy to help.
