School holidays are coming. Here’s how families can keep some sort of routine

Jacob Wackerhausen/Getty Images School holidays mean more free time and less structure.

School drop-offs and pick-ups disappear, bedtimes may shift, and families may need to organise childcare, travel or visits with extended family to fill out the days.

It means everyone in the household is adjusting to changes in how each day looks.

So how can parents and carers create routines that give children some predictability without turning the holidays into another timetable? Why do routines matter? At its core, a routine is about predictability .

Routines mean children gradually learn what to expect.

They begin to understand the sequence in which things take place, the cues that signal what comes next and what is likely to happen when they follow familiar routines.

In other words, the pattern of the routine helps set expectations of what the day will look like.

When children know what is likely to happen, it can make it easier for them to navigate everyday life.

Consistent routines, responses, and boundaries also provide them with opportunities to practise skills such as managing emotions, behaviour and attention .

Flexibility is important This doesn’t mean every minute needs to be planned .

Predictability and flexibility can coexist.

What matters is children have enough consistency to know what to expect, while families can adapt when circumstances change.

There is also no single “best” family routine.

Families have different work arrangements, cultural traditions, caregiving arrangements and children’s needs.