It’s the school holidays. What are we to do?
I have a love-hate relationship with the school holidays. I am sure many SAHM can identify with that. I hate having my routine disrupted, and feeling the stress of occupying the children with fruitful activities. Yet I love the fact that we can all sleep in later, we don’t have to chase after the next tingxie/spelling, and we have the time and space to play and enjoy each other more.
There is also one thing which I find the holidays useful for – which is to correct errant behaviour, or instill good habits in the children. But first, here is a list of what my children do during the school holidays to be fruitfully occupied:-
1) The first thing the children and I will do immediately after the examinations is to visit the library. We will borrow sufficient books to keep the children occupied for a few weeks.
2) The second thing the children have to do is to pack up their cupboard and study table. We do it immediately after the last examination paper because that is when they are most willing – being in a super good mood. It would still take them about 3 half-days to get it done though. They would throw all the worksheets, workbooks and practice examination papers (and I usually keep all their compositions, for sentimental value and because their stories are often so amusing). We would recycle some books and consolidate all undone worksheets for them to complete. (“You will never be able to get away from work! Muahaha!”)
3) We would have signed the children up for some holiday programs. Before I stopped work, the boys would attend the Discovery Vacation Camp (5-days full-day Science program), Tien Hsia’s holiday program (5-days full-day Chinese program) and a few days of Nafa Art program (3-days, 3 hours each day). They enjoyed them and they would always come back with beautiful art pieces from Nafa. This year Elkan also attended a PSLE prep course at his Chinese Tuition Centre – Greenhouse Language Centre. For Samuel, I signed him up for a ‘Beat Feast‘ (3-days 4-hours music camp) at Learning Horizon and he came back with three lovely musical instruments. I also had the opportunity for Samuel to try out a Montessorri holiday program at Joyhouse (4-hours daily program).
Sometimes there will be school and church programs. For example this year, Elias attended a maths workshop (Visible Maths 3 days, 2 hours each day) and both boys attended a school program on problem solving (5 days, 2.5 hours each day). As for church programs, Elias attended the Barnadas Encounter (2-day overnight program for P4-P6 children, where they learn more about God and themselves). Edmund brought Elkan and Elias for a Father-Child Camp (3-days 2-nights overseas program, where they did mess-tin cooking, had a campfire and did other bonding activities). Elkan and Elias also attended a music camp organised by the School of Modern Levites and they picked up the guitar (3-days, 4 hours each time, ending with a ‘presentation’ by the children for the parents).
4) We may have a self-drive travel holiday in Malaysia. This year, we went on an impulse trip to Malacca, Philea Resort (see my review at TripAdvisor). We will also be going up to KL, Ipoh and Cameron Highlands, with two other families and their children. Every June, we would go to Jakarta to visit my grandma and relatives.
5) Of course, even during the holidays, the children have to keep up with their school work. Before this December holidays began, I got the children to do their unfinished assessment books (and there were quite a lot!). But do not panic, all kiasu parents, I am a wimpy mum, so they have not finished them, but I take comfort in the fact that they are at least doing some work and hopefully have learned some things. After the school holidays began, I made Elkan (who is going to take his PSLE next year) go through a lesson in the self-study ‘Handbook of Chinese Vocabulary’ everyday. I am also teaching them several Chinese Proverbs (谚语）everyday. For Samuel, he goes through his daily routine of learning to read, and less frequently – writing and maths.
6) Then there are the usual fun things like visiting shopping mall (and their playgrounds), visiting the Zoo/Science centre/Jurong East Swimming Complex and catching the events recommnded by wonderful event websites. In between, the children read, play the Wii, or practice their guitar.
Besides enriching their lives, the holidays are also great for instilling good habits. I am ashamed to say this, but my children do not make their beds in the morning. I have an excellent excuse for it – they are too sleepy to do it, and getting them out of bed to get ready for school is all that I can do. However, I believe that it is an important habit to have, because it teaches them personal responsibility. So I am using this holiday period to train them in making their beds every morning. I am also using the school holidays to tighten Samuel’s morning routine (make bed, brush teeth, change).
The other good thing which is coming out of this holiday period is that Edmund has started bringing Elkan and Elias out for daily jogs in the evening. I am again, sorry to say that I have been a misguided and confused parent for certain periods of my time. Having been overwhelmed with academic pursuits (“No time! No time! You gotta do your work!!”), the children have become rather unfit physically. Now that they do not have school work stresses, our evenings are easier and allow for an exercise routine. The children also go over to their grandma’s house to sleep over during the school holidays, as they do miss their grandmother (especially Elkan and Elias who was cared for by my mum till they were 10 and 9 years old).
The school holidays are excellent times for us to re-think our priorities and re-examine where we are investing our resources and time. At the end of each school holiday period, I would be inspired to do new things and ignore the craziness of the Singapore education system. But as the school term progresses, part of my dream would disappear into madness and harshness of the Singapore student’s world. But I believe that after each period of soul-searching, I am one step closer to what I describe to friends as a ‘Zen’ state when it comes to my children’s academic achievements. ~ Elisa
