60 School's Out
A s a parent of two children, I enter the summer with the very best of intentions. I imagine meaningful family time, spontaneous adventures, children happily rediscovering forgotten hobbies and long conversations over breakfast. The reality is usually a little different. One child is bored before I’ve finished my first coffee. The other is asking for a screen before we’ve even opened the curtains. I’m trying to balance work commitments, family time, the guilt that comes with both, and a growing sense that I should probably be creating magical childhood memories at every available opportunity. If you’re a parent reading this, chances are you’ve experienced some version of the same thing. SURVIVING THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS THROUGH A COACHING LENS By Julie Keyes Every year, somewhere around the second week of the summer holidays, I have the same thought: “Whose idea was eight weeks?”
“Summer isn’t simply a break from learning. For many children, it is a chance to recover from a year they haven’t yet had time to process.”
This year, however, summer feels particularly significant.
SUMMER IN THE UAE: A UNIQUE CONTEXT
For many families across the UAE, the academic year has been punctuated by uncertainty, disruption and periods of heightened anxiety. Children have experienced interruptions to routines, changing travel plans, global events discussed in homes and on social media, and, in some cases, concerns about family and friends living in regions affected by conflict. Even when we think children aren’t paying attention, they often absorb far more than we realise.
Longer days, hotter weather and indoor time can test patience and routines.
Connection, curiosity and conversation create the most
Family travel, time with grandparents and cultural connections bring opportunities for growth.
Children may need time to process a year of change, uncertainty and information overload.
meaningful memories.
For many families across the UAE, the academic year has been punctuated by uncertainty, disruption and periods of heightened anxiety. Children have experienced interruptions to routines, changing travel plans, global events discussed in homes and on social media, and, in some cases, concerns about family and friends living in regions affected by conflict. Even when we think children aren’t paying attention, they often absorb far more than we realise. At the same time, schools have worked incredibly hard to maintain continuity and support learning. Children have navigated assessments, transitions and the everyday demands of school life while many parents have balanced increasingly busy professional and personal commitments. By the time the summer holidays arrive, many children aren’t simply ready for a break from school; they are ready for a chance to breathe. As a coach, one of the most important lessons I have learnt is that the quality of our conversations shapes the quality of our relationships. Coaching isn’t about having clever answers or giving perfect advice. It is about creating space for reflection, understanding and growth through curiosity. Summer gives parents something that can be hard to find during the school year: time. Time to move beyond the daily logistics of family life and reconnect with the people our children are becoming. Time to replace management with curiosity. Time to ask better questions.
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