Colman Noctor: We all need to kick back during the school holidays

Show a bit of self-compassion this summer. Parenting children and teenagers at home for up to three months is challenging

Do things with your child during the holidays - such as how to repair a bike puncture - so they don’t spend too much time on their phones. Picture: iStock

The school holidays are complicated. Excited children are looking forward to the long break from school, but parents are fretting about how they will fill their children’s free time and fund the additional childcare costs.

Back-to-back summer camps are a survival plan. These camps are often selected not because the child will gain a remarkable skill set, but to provide structure to their days and relieve the childcare pressure.