By Lynn Frank
The summer holidays are nearly here, and for most children, that means excitement, vacations, sports or activity camps, and long days to relax or play at home. But for parents, this season can bring a mix of anticipation and stress. Managing eight weeks of childcare while juggling work, family visits, and everyone’s expectations is no small feat. Soon what’s meant to be a relaxing break can quickly become a source of tension.
While kids may say they want total freedom, most like adults, they often feel better with at least a little structure. That doesn’t mean packing every day with activities. As parents, we often feel pressure to “fill up” the holidays with meaningful things to do. But some of the best memories come from simple, unstructured play. Boredom isn’t the enemy—it can actually spark creativity and independence.
This doesn’t mean letting kids spend eight hours a day in front of screens. Instead, it may help to try establishing a gentle routine: getting up at a regular time, having breakfast together, maybe including some quiet reading or a bit of schoolwork (especially for older kids), and then open up the rest of the day for free play, outings, or creative activities. You can also plan specific moments for screen time, playdates, or family outings alongside intentional “do-nothing” time.
Time spent with long-forgotten toys, books, crafts, or even just relaxing in the park or garden can be as important as any structured activity. Don’t underestimate the value of downtime.
The best way to navigate summer as a family? Make a plan and include everyone in the process. Sit down together and ask:
Try to include at least one favourite activity from each family member you can do together.If each family member has a say, they’re more likely to feel invested leading to fewer battles down the line. If you have more than one child you may want to do some activities 1-1 with a parent or family member this can help reduce sibling tension as long as each child gets a turn.
You can include younger children in this process as well. Get them to draw their favourite activities or places to go. By including them at a young age you are investing in your future relationship because they will feel seen and their choices valued.
Don’t forget to add activities that you enjoy as parents – it is important that our children understand that we need time for ourselves and our partners too.
It often helps to keep a shared family calendar or white board as a visual cue where you can include any scheduled activities including visits to family (including anytime they may be looked after) and friends, planned activities and down – time. Don’t forget to keep it updated and encourage children to talk about what the activities they enjoyed.
Even if much of your summer is already planned, involving children in the discussion can help manage their expectations and prepare them emotionally for what’s ahead.
Teenagers may sleep in and stay up late, that’s normal. But younger children often need more consistency to avoid getting overtired or unsettled. On the other hand, over-scheduling every day with back-to-back activities can stifle imagination and leave little room for spontaneous fun. The ability to enjoy both planned time and unstructured time is key to a balanced break.
A bit of planning and a lot of flexibility can go a long way in keeping peace and harmony at home this summer.
https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/visit/activities/activities-children.html
https://www.luxembourg-city.com/en/things-to-do
https://today.rtl.lu/family-matters/whats-on-family-edition
https://www.luxtimes.lu/yourluxembourg/educationandfamily/
https://www.chronicle.lu/events
https://whatsonforkids.lu/whats-on-for-kids-this-summer-august/
Volunteer
Contact Us
