Ask a group of children what they look forward to the most during the school year, and chances are all would shout in unison, “School holidays!”
Indeed, this is the time of year where students get to rest, relax, and play their hearts out. Or is it?
These days, even during the year-end school holidays in Singapore, more students have stacks of homework to complete, intensive tuition classes to go for, as well as co-curricular activities and remedial lessons to attend.
Work or play?
Some parents view the year-end school holidays as an opportune time for their children to revise on school work, prepare for the new school year, or go for enrichment classes that their children have no time for during the school term.
The school holidays are a perfect opportunity to equip their children with new skills and knowledge so they can fare even better when school resumes, so why not make use of every moment to do so?
In fact, the main purpose of the school holidays is to provide students with a much-needed breather before the new school year resumes.
They have been working hard the past year and will continue to do so once the holidays end, so a break is necessary to ensure they do not burn out.
We’re not saying they can throw all their homework away or ignore the work, but they do need a good respite every now and then.
Almost every parent desires for their children to succeed academically and not fall behind. Perhaps the best way to do that is not to flood them with more work, but allow them time to relax and have some fun. They will then be more rested and ready to take on the next half of the school year.
Have fun during the school holidays!
Other than giving your children space for personal leisure, play games with their siblings, and go out with friends, there are plenty of fun activities you can do together as a family.
If your family enjoys playing together, how about having a few rounds of UNO or Monopoly Deal? If there’s a good, family-friendly movie showing, bring your children to watch it!
Alternatively, order some pizza, rent a few DVDs and watch them in the comfort of your own home.
You might also like to check out some attractions like a trampoline park or S.E.A. Aquarium, or the many museums in Singapore. Countless places in Singapore also offer special family and child-friendly activities during the school holidays, so keep a lookout for that!
Related: Best After-school Activities in Yishun for Your Kindergarten Child
During the school term, students in Singapore spend a lot of time indoors. If the weather permits, try to get outdoors as much as possible during the holidays.
Bring your children to the park, get a healthy dose of Vitamin D and play a simple game of catch or even Frisbee. Alternatively, having a picnic by the beach, coupled with roller skating, cycling or building sandcastles, is a good idea too.
Other options include going to the Marina Barrage to catch the sunrise and fly kites, or enjoying a day out at Coney Island or Pulau Ubin.
If your family is game for something more, have a short staycation right here in Singapore, or plan a road trip to Malaysia.
Whatever you do, intentionally build in some time to laugh, talk, and spend time together as a family. Make the effort to put your phones aside for a day to truly connect with them.
Let your children tell you what they’d like to do and how they want to spend their time away from school. Enjoy bonding with your children and letting them do the things they love; they only have this season of life to be children.
© 2017 Focus on the Family Singapore. All rights reserved.
Written by Samantha Chin