With the school year keeping kids busy, the school holidays are definitely something they look forward to. While the holidays are meant to be a time of rest and unwinding, there are numerous activities to keep kids occupied during this time. For example, school holiday programs Melbourne at Camp Blue provide kids with fun and educational activities that make for many unforgettable memories.
In Australia, the school year averages about 200 days. It usually commences between late January and early February, running up to around mid-December. This means that students have over 100 days of holiday a year. Italy and South Africa have a similar 200-day school year schedule.
Other countries have variable numbers; China has about 245 days during the school year, while India has close to 300 days. In the U.S., a school year runs for about 180 days.
Common Australia School Holidays
There are some key holidays during a typical Australian school year. These include:
i)April school holidays: This usually lasts about 16 days, beginning in early April. For example, it can start on April 7th all the way to the 23rd.
ii) Winter school holidays: With snowfall occurring mid-year in this part of the world, the winter holidays come just at the right time. Winter school holidays last about 2 weeks. For instance, it can run from July 1st to the 16th.
iii) September/October school holidays: This is a two-week holiday that occurs between late September and early October.
iv) December school holidays: This usually starts after a School Development day, during which parents and the school administration analyze student issues. For the Eastern division, this holiday tends to run for about 39 days, beginning around December 20th to January 28th. For the Western division, it runs for an extra 6 days.
Making the Most of School Holidays
While 200 days of school may seem like a long time, it feels less daunting when it is peppered with enough holidays for fun activities.
Making the most of school holidays requires some creativity and a willingness to try new things.
The following are ways of ensuring fun during the weeks of school holidays.
1)Plan Ahead
Kids being out of school is an opportunity for doing fun activities together and bonding. However, just winging it is not the best way of utilizing the school holidays. It’s best to create a plan that ensures tasks and activities are properly scheduled. This starts with research. Find out about any fun activities that you can get the kids to do. It’s best to schedule such activities in the morning when they’re just fresh from sleep. If you plan on taking them to visit a particular place, ensure to make the arrangements in advance to avoid inconvenience.
2) Find as Many Fun Activities as Necessary
The idea is to have activities that are both fun and educational. Any activity that helps the kids to de-stress is welcome. Among the many activities kids can engage in during school holidays include:
i)Picnics: The local park can be an ideal venue for a picnic with the kids. There are lots of activities to engage in. For example, boat rowing is an exciting option if the park has a lake. Throwing Frisbees is also fun. After working up a sweat running up and down, the kids can always sit on a mat under a tree shade and enjoy picnic snacks.
ii) Visiting a zoo: This is both fun and educational. The kids can get to learn about different wild animals. For upping the fun, you can opt for a petting zoo which will enable the children to interact better with animals.
iii) Visiting a museum or a theme park: These are great places for kids to learn about the general aspects of specific things. For example, a history museum will feature fascinating artifacts. A water theme park can also be fun as the kids will have plenty of opportunities to play and interact with water. There will be water slides, swimming pools, fountains, and other water features to keep things fun.
iv) Camping: An overnight stay at a local campsite could be just the thing that your kids look forward to. Ensure that whatever campsite you choose has all the necessary amenities. Of course, safety should always be the primary concern. Ensure to carry a well-stocked first aid kit. Have plenty of water to avoid issues of dehydration. Such simple things will make camping a fun-filled adventure.
Ultimately, these activities will make the weeks of school holidays very memorable for your kids. Whether you plan on supervising such activities personally or getting the kids into a school holiday camp, there is plenty to keep them occupied. Even for a two-week holiday, any one of such activities can make for a thrilling two weeks!
