With the Easter school holidays in full swing, parents balancing work, home life, and keeping little ones entertained (and not bouncing off the walls with Easter chocolate energy) can feel like a full-time job in itself.
For busy Sydney mum Vittoria Delutiis, keeping the learning going during the holidays doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. With two young children at home Christian, five and Alessia, three, she knows all too well how quickly the days can unravel without a bit of structure.
“Christian was just two and a half when he started counting to 30 and singing the alphabet,” says Vittoria. “We realised he was ready to take things a step further.”
Wanting to support his early reading journey, Vittoria began exploring simple ways to blend learning into everyday play – something she now swears by during the holidays.
Here are six of Vittoria’s go-to hacks for keeping kids learning (and entertained) when school’s out:
De-shame the screen time
Feel like screen time = bad parenting? Vittoria knows the screen time guilt all too well, but instead of battling screen time, Vittoria leans into it.
“It’s easy to feel guilty about giving your child screen time, but we’ve found that just 15 minutes a day can be surprisingly effective when it’s used for learning,” she says.
There are plenty of educational platforms designed to support literacy, numeracy and critical thinking in fun, age-appropriate ways. Choosing quality educational programs like ABC Reading Eggs can turn that downtime into something meaningful.
For busy parents, just 15 minutes a day goes a long way. Educational screen time can offer a much-needed breather.
Build a simple holiday routine
Even during the holidays, a little structure can go a long way. Vittoria recommends sitting down with your child in the morning to plan out a rough schedule together.
“I find that including a mix of outside play, quiet time, screen time and creative activities gives my kids a sense of ownership and helps prevent the dreaded afternoon chaos!” Vittoria adds.
Get creative and crafty with letters
Easter-themed craft can double as a literacy lesson without kids even realising.
Simple activities like an “Easter Egg Name Hunt” (hiding plastic eggs with letters inside to spell their name) or a “Word Box” filled with themed vocabulary turn spelling practice into an exciting game.
Game your way to Learning
Kids learn best when they’re having fun, so turning learning into a game can make a big difference, especially during the holidays.
Apps like Reading Eggs use stories, songs, and interactive tasks to teach letters, sounds, and early reading skills in a playful way.
For Vittoria, this approach was a game-changer. Her son Christian became far more engaged once learning felt like fun, not pressure.
“He just thinks he’s playing a game but he’s actually learning to read,” she says.
Monitor progress and celebrate milestones
“Tracking progress has helped us see just how far Christian’s come,” says Vittoria.
Whether it’s reading a new word, remembering a tricky letter sound, or finishing a learning game on their own, celebrating those moments keeps kids motivated and proud of their progress.
BONUS: When you need a break (or a hot cup of tea)
School holidays are a great time to relax—but let’s be honest, sometimes you just need 20 minutes to reply to an email, cook dinner, or enjoy a quiet cuppa. That’s where self-directed educational apps come in handy.
Simply pass them a tablet and let them get lost in an educational app like ABC Reading Eggs, which uses evidence-based literacy principles and a colourful world filled with fun critters to make learning to read fun.
It’s the perfect habit to get into, as kids can build their reading ability in just 15 minutes a day. What’s more, 91% of parents see an improvement in just a few short weeks of regular usage.
So, if the Easter holiday energy is running high, give yourself (and your child) a breather with some guilt-free screen time that keeps little brains ticking over—no pressure, no prep needed.
For more information on Reading Eggs, visit their website.