As the end of the term approaches, we would like to extend our warmest wishes to you and your family for a well-deserved and rejuvenating school holiday. These breaks are a precious time for students to rest, recharge, and engage in activities that promote their overall wellbeing, so this week we aim to provide you with a couple of tips on how you can encourage your child to make the most of their time.
Active Rest
Active rest is a way of engaging in activities that allow children to relax and unwind from the stress and busyness of school while still remaining physically active. Encouraging children to participate in sports, outdoor activities or simply stretching can help clear their minds while also keeping them moving. If students also engage in these activities with others, the benefits can be two-fold, as the holidays can offer a chance to strengthen social bonds. Organising gatherings, outings, or other activities with friends and family can help boost meaningful connections with loved ones and enhance emotional well-being ready for a new school term.
Balancing Technology
Another important way to rest during the break is to encourage time away from technology. While technology has its benefits, it is essential to strike a balance, and during the school term, this balance can be skewed as students often spend a lot of time connected online or on a digital device to complete their learning. The holidays are a great time to encourage breaks away from the screen, with recent studies showing that teenagers themselves are aware that they spend too much time on their phones or devices but often struggle with making the decision to stay off them. Offering alternatives to screen-time such as visiting new places, spending time developing new or old hobbies, or trying something new, can be a great way to support our children in opting out of technology during the day.
Connecting to Community
With more time available and a break from the daily routine of school, the holidays can be a fantastic time for young people to get involved in volunteering. Volunteering can be very meaningful and enjoyable and can support positive mental health and wellbeing. Being a volunteer in your local area is a great way to meet new people and build healthy relationships, as well as helping to strengthen ties to the community. It can also give children the opportunity to practise and develop their social skills which in turn can boost their self-esteem and confidence. The City of Rockingham has a Volunteer Centre located in the Rockingham Library on Dixon Rd, that can help connect families with volunteering opportunities.
However you and your family choose to spend time together during this break, we wish you all a safe and restful holiday, and look forward to seeing everyone ready for Term 3.