Tips for parents to survive holidays

Children can find creative ways to spend their holidays. Photo / Rotorua Daily Post

A social worker believes parents need to take a deep breath and think positive to avoid becoming stressed during the school holidays.

Parents should "notice the little things" rather than focus on problems, says Dunedin Catholic Social Services parenting co-ordinator Sue Whyte.

"Often what happens is we notice everything that's going wrong. It's hard to remember the things that are going right," she says.

Rather than focusing on a child's messy bedroom or poor weather, parents need to find ways to look beyond perceived problems.

"If it's rainy, it's okay to put on your raincoat and go for a walk in the rain, and you can still have a picnic inside - have it on the lounge floor."

Holidays provide ways for parents to teach their children life lessons.

Ms Whyte also says it is the child's problem if they do not make their bed, or dress themselves in mismatched clothing. "Is it my problem or is it the child's problem? Is it worth fighting over?"

She says children think they need to be entertained all the time but they can easily do it themselves and parents should not feel responsible. "Kids can be really creative."

For those concerned about spending a lot of money during the school break, Ms Whyte suggests giving children $20 a week to spend.

This way they can decide for themselves what they want to do - and learn the value of a dollar.

She says it is important to stick to the allowance and "not bail them out".

"If you keep solving all their problems, how are they going to learn to fix it themselves?"

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES