School holiday guides for parents
Practical, no-fuss advice for planning the break, keeping kids learning and getting ready for the new term.
How School Holidays Work in Australia (and New Zealand)Australian schools run on a four-term year, with a break after each term, and every state and territory sets its own holiday dates. New Zealand also has four terms but follows one national calendar. Your school's own calendar is always the final word, because individual schools can add student-free days.How to Keep Kids Learning in the School HolidaysThe best way to keep kids learning in the school holidays is to keep it short, playful and connected to real life: around 20 minutes a day of reading, everyday maths or a project they care about. Protect plenty of rest and free time too, so learning feels like part of the holiday rather than an interruption to it.30 School Holiday Activities at HomeThe best school holiday activities at home mix something brainy, something creative, something active, a useful life skill and some calm time. Below are 30 low-cost ideas grouped by type, plus a simple way to plan a week so the days have shape without feeling over-scheduled.Rainy Day Activities for Kids of Every AgeGood rainy day activities for kids match their age and give them a mix of movement, making and quiet time. Younger children love dens, simple experiments and active games, while older kids and teens thrive on bigger challenges like baking, building, filmmaking and strategy games.Screen Time in the School Holidays: A Balanced Family PlanThe simplest way to manage screen time in the school holidays is to agree a family plan together, then favour active, creative screen use over passive scrolling. Pair it with appealing screen-free swaps and screen-free bedtimes so screens fit into the holiday rather than taking it over.Back-to-School Checklist for ParentsA good back-to-school checklist starts about two weeks before school returns: reset sleep and routines, sort uniforms and supplies, gently revisit key skills and talk about feelings and goals. Spreading the jobs out keeps the final days calm, so your child starts the term feeling ready and confident.