13/03/2026

How to Survive the Easter Holidays as a Working Parent

The Easter holidays can feel like a strange mix of excitement and pressure for working parents. On one hand, it’s lovely knowing the kids have a break from school. On the other, you’re suddenly faced with two weeks of juggling work commitments, childcare, routines and the inevitable question: “What are the kids doing today?”

For many parents, the school holidays bring a familiar set of worries: the guilt of not being around as much as you’d like, the screen-time battles, and the challenge of keeping any kind of routine when school isn’t there to structure the day.

If this sounds familiar, you’re definitely not alone. The good news is that a bit of planning (and the right support) can make the Easter break feel far more manageable. Here are some realistic ways to survive the Easter holidays as a working parent, without feeling like you’re constantly firefighting.

Managing the Working Parent Guilt

Many working parents feel a tug-of-war during school holidays. You want your children to have fun, memorable breaks from school, but you also have work responsibilities that don’t simply pause for two weeks.

The truth is, children don’t need constant entertainment or perfectly curated holiday schedules. What they benefit from most is structure, social interaction and engaging activities.

That’s why organised holiday clubs can be such a lifeline. Programmes like Barracudas Camps are designed specifically for school holidays, giving children a full day of activities with other kids their age while parents can focus on work knowing their children are safe, active and having fun.

Instead of feeling guilty, it can help to reframe things: you’re not missing their holiday, you’re making sure it’s filled with opportunities.

Reducing the Screen-Time Battles

Without the structure of a school day, it’s very easy for screens to creep into every spare moment. And once kids are glued to tablets or consoles, the inevitable negotiations begin.

A few simple approaches can make this much easier:

Set expectations early

At the start of the holiday, talk about when screens are allowed rather than banning them outright. For example:

• After breakfast
• After outdoor play
• After a camp day

Clear boundaries prevent daily arguments.

Keep days active

Children are far less likely to demand screens if they’re busy and stimulated. Activity camps, sports, creative sessions and social time naturally reduce screen dependence.

Holiday camps work well because they pack the day with activities from sports and team challenges to arts and crafts, meaning children come home happily tired rather than restless.

Make screens the “extra”, not the default

If screen time becomes a reward rather than the starting point of the day, battles tend to fade away.

Keeping Some Kind of Routine

While it might be tempting to throw routines out completely during the holidays, most children actually cope much better with some structure.

That doesn’t mean recreating the school timetable, just keeping a few anchor points in the day:

• A consistent morning start time
• Planned daytime activities
• A familiar bedtime routine

Holiday camps are helpful here because they recreate a natural rhythm: children wake up, get ready, spend the day being active and social, then return home ready to relax.

This kind of routine keeps the holiday feeling fun, but prevents the days from drifting into late nights, lie-ins and tired meltdowns.

Taking the Pressure Off Yourself

Social media can sometimes make school holidays feel like a competition; elaborate craft projects, day trips every other day, perfectly organised family outings. But the reality for most working parents is very different.

You don’t need to fill every hour with Pinterest-worthy activities. A healthy mix works best:

• Activity days (camps or clubs)
• Slower home days
• A few family outings when possible

Giving yourself permission not to do everything is often the biggest stress reliever.

Why Holiday Camps Can Be a Game-Changer

For many families, holiday activity camps become the backbone of school holiday planning.

They solve several challenges at once:

• Reliable childcare during working hours
• Active, engaging days for children
• Opportunities to make new friends
• Less reliance on screens
• A consistent daily routine

At camps like Barracudas Camps, children can try a huge variety of activities, from sports and team games to specialist sessions, all led by trained staff in a safe environment.

For parents, it means peace of mind and a lot less last-minute scrambling for childcare.

For children, it often becomes one of the highlights of the school holidays.

Final Thoughts

The Easter holidays don’t have to feel like something you simply “get through” as a working parent.

With a little planning, some flexible routines and the right support, they can become a time when children stay active, social and engaged, while you can continue balancing work and family life without constant stress.

And remember: surviving the holidays doesn’t mean creating perfect days. It simply means finding solutions that work for your family.

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