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How Do You Cope as a Single Parent During School Holidays With No One to Look After Your Kids?
- lifeafterplusone
- Oct 2
- 5 min read
Managing school holidays as a single parent is a tough gig. No one really talks about how you make it work. All of a sudden, school holidays come around, and you’re left asking: What do I do with my kids when I still need to work and pay the bills?
It can feel overwhelming, but the good news is, there are options. Sometimes it’s about juggling, sometimes it’s about getting creative, and sometimes it’s about simply asking for help. Let’s go through some practical ways you can manage.
1. Take Annual Leave if Possible
It’s not always ideal, but sometimes taking time off during the school holidays is the simplest option. If you can plan ahead, book leave early to align with your kids’ breaks.
2. Rely on Your Ex
Your kids have another parent. School holidays can be a great time for the other parent to step up and share the responsibility.
3. Use Friends and Family
Don’t be afraid to lean on your family. Ask your parents, grandparents, siblings, or even your ex’s family, they’re still part of your kids’ lives. Get them on board to help where they can. Family can be a huge support, so don’t be scared to ask for help when you need it
4. Vacation Care and School Programs
Many schools and community centres run vacation care programs. They’re usually structured, safe, and full of activities, giving your kids a great time while you work.
5. Older Kids Staying Home
If your kids are old enough and mature enough, they may be fine staying home for short
periods. Set rules, give them things to do, and check in regularly.
6. Rely on Your Kids’ Friends and Their Families
Sometimes your best support network comes from your kids’ own circles. Reach out to their friends’ parents, whether from school, sports teams, or other activities. See if they can help out with a playdate or even a full day. In return, you can take their kids on your day off. It’s a win-win situation that helps everyone manage the juggle.
7. Ask About Flexible Work or Bringing Kids With You
Can your kids come with you to work for a day or two? Can you work from home during the holidays? Sometimes bosses are more open to this than you expect, especially if you’re upfront with them about our situation.
8. Teenagers Looking for Pocket Money
Maybe you have friends with older kids who’d love to earn some extra cash. Paying a teenager a small fee to help out and keep your kids entertained (and well-fed) can be much cheaper than full-time vacation care.
9. Reassess Your Job and Study Options
If your current situation isn’t working for you, don’t feel like you’re stuck there forever just because it’s paying the bills. I’m not saying quit your job on the spot, but if your job is making life too hard as a single parent, start exploring other pathways.
Could you start an online course to gain qualifications for something more flexible?
Could you retrain for a career that allows work-from-home days?
Could you shift your schedule, hours, or even career direction to better fit your family?
Studying part-time (even one subject at a time) can open doors in the future, and it may make the juggle of school holidays much easier down the track.
10. Think Outside the Box With Work and Side Hustles
Sometimes the best solution is to create your own flexibility. If your job doesn’t give you the balance you need, explore ways to bring in extra income from home or on your own schedule. This isn’t just for mums, dads can do this too. For example:
Virtual Assistant (VA) work – admin, emails, scheduling, customer support.
Skilled work – baking, photography, graphic design, social media, handyman work, carpentry, or tutoring.
Practical services – ironing, lawn mowing, car cleaning, babysitting, pet sitting.
Selling items – online stores, handmade crafts, or even flipping items on Marketplace.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Even starting something small on weekends or at night when the kids are asleep can grow into a steady income.
My Own Experience
I know firsthand what this feels like. When I first became a single mum, I had no family support nearby. I didn’t want to put my daughter in daycare every single day, so I made the decision to build my own business around her.
That meant sacrifices and financial struggles in the early days whilst building my business, but it also gave me the privilege of being there for her whenever she needed me. Often she came to work with me and was my little helper for the day. It wasn’t always easy, but it was worth it.
That’s what single parenting often comes down to: being creative, shuffling things around, and finding ways to make it work.
The Biggest Lesson: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help
One of the biggest lessons as a single parent is learning not to do it all alone. Use your ex. Use your friends. Use your family. Use vacation care. Ask your boss for flexibility. Look at study or business opportunities.
Think outside the square and look at what works best for you and your situation, and remembering that it doesn’t have to look the same as anyone else’s situation.
👉 If you want more inspiration, check out my podcast episode all about starting a business as a single parent, where I share how I made it work and different ways you can start small.
At the end of the day, school holidays are hard, but with a little creativity, you can find a way to make it work.
If you’ve been thinking about making a career change or finding a new direction but aren’t sure where to start, this is something I work with a lot. I often coach single parents through figuring out where they want to go, especially when they’re scared to take the leap, whether that’s starting a business, completely redirecting their career, or making a major life change.
I help single parents explore their options, weigh up what works with their current lifestyle, and find ways to make a shuffle without creating too much disruption. Together, we can look at whether taking that leap is the right decision and create a clear plan to make it happen. This is something I’ve guided many parents through successfully, helping them gain that clarity, confidence, and a sense of direction to align them with a career that works best for them and YOU.
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