What Kids Should Do During the School Holidays

School holidays feel like a much-needed pause. After weeks of homework, spelling lists, and packed schedules, most children need time to breathe.

At the same time, many parents notice that when a short break is completely unstructured, the first week back to school can feel rough. Children struggle to focus, daily routines become harder to restart, and English tasks like reading, speaking, and writing feel more tiring than they should.

The goal for a short holiday (like a one-week break) is not to “push ahead” academically. It is to help your child rest well, enjoy meaningful experiences, and keep a light learning rhythm so they return to school feeling refreshed and ready.

Here is a simple, parent-friendly plan that works.

Holidays Are for Rest, Exploration, and Growth

A short break does not need to be packed with enrichment classes or revision worksheets. In fact, children usually benefit more when the holiday includes three things: rest, exploration, and growth.

Reset from academic pressure

Even children who appear fine can carry mental fatigue after a long term. A short reset helps them feel calmer and more open to learning again. That could mean sleeping slightly earlier, having slower mornings, and reducing the “must-do” checklist for the first couple of days.

Explore new experiences

New experiences give children something to talk about and reflect on. This matters more than many parents realise, especially for English. When children have real experiences, they describe them more naturally, and writing becomes less “forced”.

A meaningful holiday activity can be simple:

• a park outing

• a museum visit

• an event at the library

• trying a new food place together

Build non-academic skills

Short holidays are a great time to build skills that school does not always focus on. These include communication, curiosity, flexibility, and problem-solving. They also support confidence, which is often the missing piece in oral and composition performance.

Develop confidence and independence

Children gain confidence when they feel trusted. In a short holiday, you can give small responsibilities without turning it into a big lesson:

• let them plan one family activity

• let them order food at a café

• let them be in charge of packing their own water bottle and book

• let them “teach” you something they learnt

These are small actions, but they build independence quickly.

Why Children Still Need Some Structure (Even in a Short Break)

Many parents worry that structure will “ruin the holiday”. But structure does not mean studying for hours. It simply means having a light rhythm so children do not lose their learning habits completely.

When a one-week holiday is entirely free, children often fall into patterns that make the return to school harder:

• irregular sleep

• screen-heavy days

• less patience for reading

• weaker focus during tasks

A light routine helps maintain rhythm, which is especially helpful for Primary English because English is skill-based. Children improve when they use the language consistently, even in small ways.

A simple holiday rhythm that works

You can keep it very realistic:

• Reading: 10 minutes a day, most days

• Speaking: 2 to 3 short conversations across the week

• Writing: 1 to 2 low-pressure writing tasks

• Experience: 1 meaningful outing or activity to talk and write about

That is enough for a short break. It keeps the “learning muscles” warm without taking over the holiday.

How to Give Your Child a Meaningful Holiday (Without Overplanning)

If you want a holiday plan that is easy to maintain, focus on a few simple habits that naturally strengthen English.

1) Daily reading (10 minutes is enough)

Short holidays are not the time to force long reading sessions. Keep it small and consistent.

To make reading more effective without making it feel like homework, ask one simple question after reading:

• “What was the story mainly about?”

• “What happened first, next, and finally?”

• “What is one new word you saw today?”

This strengthens comprehension, sequencing, and vocabulary in a natural way.

2) Family conversations (a two-minute habit)

Oral confidence does not come from memorising “good answers”. It comes from practise speaking clearly and explaining ideas.

Try a “two-minute talk” during meals or car rides:

• “Tell me about something you did today.”

• “Describe something you saw, with three details.”

• “What is one thing you would do differently next time?”

Then guide gently:

• “Say it in complete sentences.”

• “Add one detail.”

• “Explain why.”

This simple habit helps children speak with more structure, which is exactly what oral requires.

3) Simple writing prompts (low-pressure, low resistance)

Many children resist writing during holidays because it feels like school. Reduce the barrier.

Choose one of these:

• Three sentences a day, for three days only

• One short paragraph, twice in the week

You can give an easy structure so they are not stuck:

• First…

• Next…

• Then…

• Finally…

If your child enjoys creativity, use short prompts:

• “Write about a time you helped someone.”

• “Write about a small mistake you made and what you learnt.”

• “Write about an outing and describe the best moment.”

These prompts build fluency without turning writing into a long task.

4) Cultural or nature activities (and how to turn them into English practice)

An outing becomes an English activity when you add one simple routine: Observe → Talk → Write.

Before the outing:
Ask, “What do you think you will see today?”During the outing:
Ask, “What do you notice?” or “What is one detail most people might miss?”After the outing:
Ask your child to retell it in order, then add three details.

This trains observation, vocabulary, oral sequencing, and writing content, all from one simple activity.

The Importance of English Exposure During Breaks

Some parents assume that a one-week break is too short to matter. But short breaks are exactly when habits change quickly.

A little English exposure helps because it keeps three skills warm:

Oral fluency

If children do not practise speaking clearly, they tend to become less confident and give shorter answers. A few short conversations across the week keeps them comfortable expressing ideas.

Vocabulary memory

Vocabulary works like recall. When children hear and use words regularly, they retrieve them faster. When exposure drops, they revert to simpler words like “nice”, “good”, and “bad”. Light reading and short conversations help prevent this.

Writing readiness

When children stop writing completely, the first composition back often feels slow and frustrating. A small writing task once or twice in the holiday keeps their writing fluency steady.

The aim is not to “get ahead”. It is to return to school without needing a long warm-up period.

Holiday Programmes as a Balanced Option

Even with a simple plan, some families find it hard to maintain routines during a short holiday. Parents may be working, schedules may be packed, and children may resist home-based practice.

A short holiday programme can be a balanced option because it provides:

• light structure without feeling like school

• guided practice without parents needing to plan everything

• a sense of progress that builds confidence

If you would like a structured way for your child to stay engaged in English during the holidays, you can explore the available options on our Holiday Programmes page.

Make Every Holiday Count for Your Child

A meaningful short holiday does not need to be complicated.

If your child can rest well, experience something new, and maintain a light English rhythm through reading, speaking, and small writing tasks, they will return to school feeling more confident and ready.

And if you prefer support that is structured, guided, and holiday-friendly, you can always take a look at our Holiday Programmes page to find an option that suits your child’s needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What should my child do during a one-week school holiday?

A short holiday works best with a simple balance: 1–2 days to rest, a light daily routine (10 minutes of reading), a few short speaking moments, and one or two low-pressure writing tasks.

Q2: Do children really need structure during school holidays?

Yes, but it should be light. Total “free play” often leads to irregular sleep and screen-heavy days, which makes it harder to restart school routines. A small rhythm keeps learning habits steady.

Q3: How can I keep my child’s English warm without making the holidays stressful?

Keep the time short and consistent. Use 10 minutes of daily reading, two-minute family conversations, and simple writing prompts like “First–Next–Then–Finally” once or twice a week.

Q4: Are holiday programmes worth it for a short break?

They can be helpful if you want guided structure without planning daily activities at home. A short programme can keep children engaged, build confidence, and help them return to school feeling ready.

Agnes Ng

This article was authored by Agnes Ng, Co-Founder and Teaching & Curriculum Director of WRITERS AT WORK. An NUS Honours graduate and published author with over 30 years of experience, Agnes has been the architect of the organization’s student-centric curricula since 2012.

Dedicated to teacher mentorship and academic excellence, she has guided hundreds of students to achieve outstanding results. Her expertise and commitment to high-quality education remain the cornerstone of WRITERS AT WORK’s success in empowering every learner.