School’s out for summer! Like other parents, I won’t miss the lunches, the uniforms, the homework or the morning scramble for the next few months.

A slower pace of life awaits most of us as the summer holidays begin for primary school children. For many parents, school closure can create a headache as they juggle work and kids. It’s not easy.

Firstly, it’s inevitable that the kids will declare they’re ‘bored’ – no matter what you line up to keep them entertained. Experts recommend that kids should experience regular boredom; supposedly it’s important for their emotional development and it can promote creativity. As annoying as it is to hear them say they’re bored, rest assured that it won’t do them a bit of harm.

Some kids thrive on routine. If yours do, it might be a good idea to provide them with a loose daily schedule – TV time in the morning, lego time in the afternoon. The structure can be comforting for some children who like predictability.

Lots of us have the kids signed up for summer camps. It’s a costly affair and the drop-off and collection times can have parents spinning even more plates.

If you don’t have the kids signed up for camps, don’t worry about it. There’s such a thing as ‘camp burn-out’ too!

Resist the urge to schedule the life out of the summer holidays. Children need downtime.

I’m lucky that my kids never ask, ‘What are we doing today?’ We go with the flow in this house. I try not to make promises such as ‘we’ll go to the beach this week’ in case something crops up and it doesn’t suit after all. We tend to favour a bit of spontaneity.

Sure, it’s a nice idea to set some summer goals, such as a trip to the zoo, but mine would have my head fried asking about it if I casually mentioned it in advance. I keep these summer goals to myself; again, the element of surprise gives me a bit of wiggle room.

Not every day or every weekend needs to be jam packed with fun and costly activities. It’s ok to lean into extra screen time if that will buy you a bit of peace and bring them a bit of enjoyment.

If you’re working from home, set boundaries. Communicate your work hours clearly, even to younger kids. Use timers or visual cues such as a “stop/go” sign on your door so they know when you’re available.

It might be an idea to recruit the help of a trusted young teen to keep the kids entertained in the garden for an hour or two while you’re working. It’s so hard for young teens to get summer work, so it could well be a win-win situation if you can come to some sort of arrangement.

If you have a house full of toys, it can be a good idea to rotate the toys, rather than leaving all the toys out all the time. The novelty of different toys might keep them entertained for longer. The same goes for arts and crafts supplies. Drip feed them as necessary.

As a teacher myself, I don’t have any personal insight into how tricky it truly is to balance work with the kids’ holidays. However, I have encountered plenty of parents who feel an enormous sense of guilt that they’re not available to ensure their children have a fun-filled summer – as I am.

Trust me, this is a classic case of the grass always being greener. I’m no Mary Poppins. I deeply appreciate the fact that I don’t have to contend with the summer juggle, but rest assured, my kids will be just as bored as anyone else’s this summer.

Louise Flanagan is an admin of Letterkenny Babies Facebook page and the author of the children’s book series, Dragonterra and Dream Beasts. www.dragonterra.ie