School’s Out: Your First Day Of Holiday Survival Plan

School has closed. The uniforms are folded away, the bag is in the corner, and for the first time in months, there is no alarm to rush anyone out of bed by six.

And then, somewhere around 9am on that first holiday morning, it hits.

Mummy, I'm bored.

Sound familiar?

For those whose schools closed early, one iMumZone mum told us her son said this to her before she had even finished her first cup of tea. Another said her daughter asked for her tablet before she had brushed her teeth.

The first day of the holiday sets the tone for the weeks ahead. Here is a simple survival plan to help you start strong, without pressure to make it perfect.

Step 1: Let The Morning Breathe

Resist the urge to jump straight into a packed schedule. Children need a day or two to shift gears from the structure of school life. Let them sleep a little later. Let breakfast be unhurried. This is not laziness, it is a reset.

Step 2: Have One Simple Anchor For The Day

You do not need a full itinerary. You need one thing that gives the day shape.

This could be:

A trip to the market together

Helping prepare lunch, even something as simple as washing rice or peeling yam

A visit to a cousin or family friend's house

An hour in the compound or estate playground

One anchor activity is enough to stop the day from dissolving into what do I do now boredom, which is often what pushes children straight to a screen.

Step 3: Set The Screen Rule Out Loud, Together

If you are aiming for a screen free or screen light holiday, say it plainly, as a family conversation, not a sudden rule dropped on them.

Try something like, This holiday, we are going to try more games and outside time, and less phone and TV. Let's figure out together what that looks like.

Children respond better to a shared plan than a command. Ask them what they would like to do instead. You might be surprised by their answers.

Step 4: Prepare A Boredom Basket

This is one of the simplest tricks we recommend.

Fill a basket or old carton with playing cards, whot, a jump rope, colouring sheets, chalk, or a puzzle. For more ideas by age group, our Age By Age Guide To Screen Free Fun is worth a look.

When boredom strikes, point them to the basket instead of the remote. Over time, they learn to reach for it themselves.

Step 5: Involve Older Children In Younger Ones' Play

If you have children across different ages, the first day is a good time to set the expectation that older siblings help supervise or include the younger ones in play.

A simple game of ten ten or hide and seek across age groups builds bonds that last well beyond the holiday.

Step 6: Expect Some Whining, And That Is Okay

The first day of any big change comes with a little friction. Your child may complain, sulk, or ask repeatedly for the tablet. This is normal.

You are not failing as a parent because your child is adjusting.

Stay calm and consistent. Give it a few days.

Step 7: End The Day With A Wind Down Routine

However the day went, close it gently.

A short story, a quiet chat about the day's best moment, or simply sitting together for ten minutes before bed helps children feel secure, especially with the shift in routine.

A Note For Working Parents

If you are heading to work while the children are home with a helper or grandparent, leave a simple written plan for the day, even three bullet points. It helps whoever is home know what screen light looks like in practice, rather than defaulting to the TV to keep the peace. If you have not yet mapped out your holiday plan, our guide on planning a screen-free holiday walks through this step by step.

You Do Not Need To Get It Perfect

The first day is not a test. It is simply the opening move of a longer holiday. If it does not go exactly as planned, there is always tomorrow.

Next week, we will check back in to see how the first week of screen free momentum is holding up, and share what has worked for other families in our community.

For now, breathe, take it one activity at a time, and enjoy having your children home.