It seems as though the first half of the Autumn term has simply flown by and we are rapidly-approaching the October half-term. While children eagerly await their week off from school and a fortunate few look forward to staycations or overseas travel, parents can often find themselves juggling work, holiday plans and the challenge of keeping their family entertained during the break.
This is where a nanny can step in, taking the lead in planning engaging activities and ensuring that the half-term break is enjoyable and productive for children but also allows parents those all-important opportunities to focus and rest too.
Fortunately, we’re no strangers to the needs of families during school breaks so we’re sharing practical tips on how nannies can help take the reins on half-term activities, relieving pressure from parents and making sure children have a memorable and stimulating time away from school.
Organising Educational Outings
Half-term is the perfect time for nannies to organise educational outings that are both fun and informative. Whether it's a trip to a local museum, park or historical site, these excursions offer children the chance to learn outside of the classroom. Many attractions host special half-term events or workshops tailored to children, providing hands-on experiences that can spark curiosity and creativity.
In North London, popular options include visits to ZSL London Zoo, the Natural History Museum or (if weather permits) the beautiful Hampstead Heath for outdoor exploration. Nannies can coordinate simple outings by ensuring that travel and logistics are taken care of in advance and planning age-appropriate activities that align with the child’s interests and family values.
Fun Home-Based Projects
For those occasions when staying home is the best option, nannies can create a schedule filled with home-based projects that combine learning and fun. Craft projects, science experiments or even baking can keep children engaged for hours while also building new skills.
Some ideas for home-based activities include:
Autumn-themed crafts: Create leaf collages, make bird feeders or paint pumpkins to celebrate the season.
Cooking and baking: Let children help prepare simple recipes, like homemade pizzas or autumnal treats, teaching them basic cooking skills. This is the perfect time of year to make things like pumpkin muffins or a pumpkin pie served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
DIY science experiments: Simple experiments, like making a volcano with bicarbonate of soda and vinegar. You could even take this a step further and create a full papier mache volcano that you decorate to look like the real deal. Alternatively, creating slime is a favourite among younger children and can help develop motor skills as well as keep children entertained and spark their love for science.
Nannies can plan these crafty activities in advance, ensuring that all necessary supplies are on hand and that each day of the half-term is filled with enriching experiences for children.
Encouraging Physical Activity
Physical activity is crucial for children’s well-being and during the October half-term, it’s important to balance screen time with outdoor play. Nannies can organise local park visits, bike rides or nature walks to keep children active and energised. On rainy days, indoor games like obstacle courses or dance-offs can also provide a fun and active alternative.
For parents concerned about balancing work commitments with the children’s need for exercise, a nanny can create a structured plan that ensures kids are getting plenty of movement without disrupting the household routine.
Supporting Learning Through Play
Half-term doesn’t have to mean a complete break from a child’s learning and development. By incorporating educational play into a child’s daily activities, a nanny can help children practise their reading, writing and problem-solving skills in fun and interactive ways. Building blocks, puzzles and board games are also great tools for developing a child’s cognitive abilities without it feeling like homework.
For older children, activities like journaling, working on creative writing projects or simply enjoying some quiet time to read a book they enjoy can help foster their imagination and refine their literacy skills while still making the most of their time off.
Balancing Downtime with Structure
While it’s important to keep children busy during half-term, it’s equally vital to strike a balance between structured activities and moments of relaxation that allow children time to recharge before returning to school without getting into the habit of late nights that make the return to school that much harder. By ensuring a balanced mix of activities, nannies can help children return to school feeling refreshed, rather than overstimulated or tired out.
We know that busy work schedules and other commitments mean parents often struggle to find time to plan daily activities for their children so one of the most valuable roles a nanny can play during the half-term break is relieving some of the planning pressure and supporting parents.
By creating a half-term calendar and coordinating activities in advance, a nanny can ensure children have a memorable half-term break and that parents can focus on other responsibilities knowing their children are in capable hands.