Calm In The Chaos – School Holidays

School holidays can bring a mix of joy, exhaustion, and pressure. Many families look forward to the break—but juggling work, child care, disrupted routines, and endless snacks can also feel overwhelming.

If you’ve felt pulled in multiple directions during the holidays, you're not alone. Many Australian parents report increased stress during school breaks, particularly when balancing employment and caring responsibilities (Baxter, 2013). It’s a tough season, and it’s okay to feel stretched.

Keeping it (mostly) together

Children naturally look to adults for cues about how to respond to big feelings and changes in routine. When adults can find moments of calm—even brief ones—it helps children feel more secure and supported, especially during unpredictable or overstimulating times like school holidays.

Research shows:

• Parental emotional wellbeing supports child development. The Growing Up in Australia study found that children do better socially and emotionally when caregivers offer warmth, patience, and structure—even during stressful periods (Australian Institute of Family Studies [AIFS], 2023).
• Stress impacts everyone differently. Parents under financial, emotional, or time pressure may find it harder to stay regulated. That’s completely human. What matters most is recognising your own limits and building small, sustainable coping tools (Low et al., 2019).
• Routines (even loose ones) make a difference. The 2024 AEDC data shows that children who struggle with emotional regulation often benefit from predictable environments—something families can gently support, even during school breaks (Centre for Community Child Health [CCCH], 2024).
• Connection helps calm. Research also reminds us that children don’t need perfection—they need connection. Even five minutes of focused time each day can support children’s wellbeing (Racine et al., 2024).

Here are a few low-pressure ideas that might ease some of the tension during the holiday juggle:

1. Create a flexible rhythm: Try a morning and evening routine, even if the middle of the day is unpredictable. Visual planners can help younger children feel secure. A simple piece of paper separated into squares with words and hand drawn pictures will suffice.
2. Tag-team when possible: If you share caregiving, plan breaks for each other—even if it’s 20 minutes of quiet.
3. Give permission to lower the bar: It’s okay if not every day is Pinterest-perfect. Connection matters more than productivity.
4. Take mini moments for yourself: Even short breathing exercises, a tea in the sun, or a podcast while folding laundry can give your nervous system a break.
5. Name feelings together: Children may also feel the change of pace or miss friends. Saying “holidays can feel a bit funny” opens the door for them to talk.

In the chaos of holidays, it can be easy to feel like you're not doing enough. But simply showing up with care—imperfect, tired, and trying—is more than enough. Children don’t need you to be calm all the time. What they remember is how you come back to connection.

Parenting is a journey filled with ups and downs. If you ever feel overwhelmed or would like to talk through strategies, there are local support services available, including:

• Women’s Health Clinic
• Anglicare Family Support
• Refocus
• Gympie West School Services such as the Chaplaincy program, Out Of School Hours Care, Kindy LinQ, and MyTime for parent support

You’re not alone—and there is always support nearby.

Charlotte | Student Wellbeing Psychologist

References

Australian Institute of Family Studies. (2023). Children’s social and emotional wellbeing. Growing Up in Australia. https://aifs.gov.au/research/research-reports/childrens-social-emotional-wellbeing

Baxter, J. A. (2013). Parents working out work: The impact of non-standard work schedules on family wellbeing. Australian Institute of Family Studies. https://aifs.gov.au/publications/parents-working-out-work

Centre for Community Child Health. (2024). Australian Early Development Census: Emotional vulnerability in children. https://www.schoolsplus.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/EVPS-Case-Study_final-002.pdf

Low, R., Taylor, Z. E., & Eckenrode, J. (2019). Parental emotion regulation and socialization of young children: Links to child self-regulation. Australian Journal of Psychology, 71(3), 198–210. https://doi.org/10.1080/00049530.2021.1884001

Racine, N., McArthur, B. A., Cooke, J. E., Eirich, R., Zhu, J., & Madigan, S. (2024). Global prevalence of parental stress and associations with child emotional and behavioral problems: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 65(2), 189–202. https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13540