In my neuro-spicy and ability-diverse household, the school holidays lack-of-structure can provide both a welcome break from the frantic pace of term time, and terrifying unpredictability leading to countless hours of sibling squabbles and the abolition of any mental space for me as a parent. Saving money during school holidays with complex family circumstances can be a challenge, but with some planning and creativity, it's definitely possible. Here are some low cost holiday ideas to help you save money over the school break:
Create a budget with a set daily and overall spending limit for holiday activities and be clear about it with your kids:
This will help you prioritise and avoid overspending and will give them a valuable life skill to help them understand opportunity costs. It’ll also give kids a sense of autonomy in their decision making process and give you concrete boundaries to guide them as they make decisions.
Plan ahead, plan early and plan often:
Start talking with your kids about holiday plans now. Work collaboratively to find out about their wishes and goals for the break. Is there something they’d like to achieve over the break? Now is the perfect time to create that masterpiece, rearrange their room, or sell their old toys. If they’re aiming to gain a skill or achieve something, take before and after videos to help them reflect. Even if they don’t achieve their goal, understanding the progress they did or didn’t make will help set them up for next holidays.
Rhythm not schedules:
In my home, one child LOVES routine and the other despises it, so we meet in the middle and use a visual and written “rhythm” or “soft-schedule” to give each day a sense of predictability without removing flexibility. This means days tend to have the same shape, but not the same activities each day. I print mine into a physical book and display one day at a time on the wall during the holidays. I sit with my kids and the rough outline (free printable and editable template) and begin filling it out together in the weeks leading up to the holidays so they can get a sense of what is realistic for our break.
Use your community:
Look for free or low-cost activities at your local library, or reach out to other parents who “get it” and do a half-hour care swap. Taking turns to go for a 30 minute walk can give you both a much needed break. Check out local garden cooperatives, organise a skill-swap with a neighbour and pack picnics to make the most of sunny winter days in local parks. Find out if you have a toy library service near you and get things now that might help through the holidays.
Add a touch of silliness and fun to the break by turning it into your own Taskmaster competition:
This is especially good for families with older kids. Pull out a phone and record each member of the family competing to complete tasks (watch the show Taskmaster for a wide variety of ideas you can adapt for your family’s unique abilities). Select activities and games that can be completed with what you already own. At the end of the holidays get together for a screening and determine the winner. The prize doesn’t have to be expensive, it could be a week off washing up or getting to pick the movie the next time you have a movie night.
Get inspired:
Pinterest and YouTube can be great resources for finding DIY project ideas and how to up-cycle materials you already have around your home, or research recipes you might like to cook. Involving your kids in meal planning and cooking can be a fun and educational activity while also saving money on dining out. Plus they gain a valuable life skill that contributes to family life.
What’s old is new again:
Create a sense of scarcity with special items by only allowing access to them at certain times of day. Dig through your cupboards and pull out toys they have loved and forgotten and pop them into boxes for specific times of day. I have a “quiet time box” for each child that I switch up and always gets them excited because it has the sense of opening a present. It’s the best way I have found to get 15 mins peace to brush my teeth and take a shower.
Keep it real:
Remember, it’s ok if being at home during the school break is hard, boring or irritating. The most important thing during school holidays is to spend time together as a family. This will inevitably mean annoying each other at times. Learning to work through and repair those difficulties is actually the most important life skill your kids can learn. So while holiday camps and fancy activities may make great instagram content, try to remind yourself everyday that your investment of presence during the holidays will pay dividends as they grow.
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Holly Karten
Holly Karten is an educator and artist living on Gadigal Land. She is the mother to two fierce daughters and delights in the privilege of raising strong, neuro and ability diverse children. She works with institutions and schools to create anti-ableist culture. Her illustrations and further musings can be seen on instagram @holly.draws.her.own.universe.