Spring Break SOS: The Ultimate Survival Guide for Parents

Attention all parents! Dubai's spring break is coming up and as a primary school teacher, I'm here to give you the inside scoop on how to survive two weeks without school.

Whilst we, teachers, will be taking some well-deserved time off work, we know that you, as parents, will be diligently working to find ways to keep your pocket-sized protégés both entertained and educated. But fear not, we're professionals, and we've got you covered! Here are some top tips and tricks to survive the upcoming break:

1. TRASH TO TREASURE: Embrace their inner Picasso and assign them a project creating something out of recycled materials! A great way to stimulate their imaginations whilst teaching them how to be a Super Eco-WARRIOR (and you might even have some time to catch up on that Netflix series you've been dying to watch!). So let their inner artist shine; you might just be surprised by their masterpieces!
2. SUPERCHARGE YOUR SCAVENGING: Create a list of items for your scavenging scholars to find around the house. It can be anything from a red pencil to a heart-shaped rock. This will keep them active, engaged, and excited to find new things (like that odd sock you just cannot seem to find anywhere!).
3. HACK YOUR HOME INTO A CREATIVE CLASSROOM: Designate a space and decorate it with posters and charts to make it feel like a real-deal classroom. This will give your kiddos a sense of structure and routine (and hopefully prevent them from turning your entire house into their own personal playground - bonus!).
4. TAKE A VIRTUAL VOYAGE: If you're working from home with limited time to take the wee nippers on a field trip of their own, why not take them on a virtual one? There are tonnes of free resources offering virtual tours of museums, zoos, and even outer space (yes, you read that right). So, let's keep those little Einstein's engaged and learning (without having to trade in those cosy pyjamas for real-life clothes), and you get to save money on field trip snacks - win-win!
5. EMBRACE SCREEN TIME: Let's face it, sometimes, we need to let our little minions have a break from reality and indulge in some screen time. Download some (fun) educational games like Times Table Rock Stars for them to get their teeth into and get their brain juices flowing. Just be sure to balance digital time out with other activities, whether that's playing at the park or brushing up on their painting. Voilà!
6. SOAK UP THE SUN: Dubai's weather is often hotter than a chilli pepper, but during spring break, it's the perfect temperature to get outside and have some fun in the sun. Dust off your bikes, pack a picnic and get ready to catch some balls in the backyard.

With these survival tips by your side, you'll be able to make it through spring break with your sanity (mostly) intact, and maybe, just maybe, you'll even have a little fun. But don't forget, the key to success is to channel your inner Katniss - may the odds be ever in your favour! Go forth and conquer, parents!