School Holiday Activities for Wellbeing – Dan Siegel’s Healthy Mind Platter Explained
School holiday activities for wellbeing can be more than just keeping kids entertained. With the right mix of play, rest, and connection, holidays become a chance to build resilience, support emotional regulation, and nurture growing brains.
One simple and powerful framework for this is the Healthy Mind Platter, developed by psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr Dan Siegel. It outlines seven daily mental activities that support emotional balance, cognitive growth, and long-term wellbeing — not just for kids, but for adults too.
In this blog, we’ll explain each part of the Healthy Mind Platter, why it matters during unstructured school breaks, and how to build it into your family’s routine without turning holidays into hard work.
🍽️ What Is the Healthy Mind Platter?
The Healthy Mind Platter offers a “mental nutrition” model, encouraging balance across these seven areas:
| Platter Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Getting enough restful sleep for brain and body repair. | |
| Physical Time | Moving the body to strengthen the brain and release stress. |
| Focus Time | Engaging deeply in goal-directed activities without distraction. |
| Play Time | Spontaneous, creative exploration that’s fun and unstructured. |
| Connecting Time | Relating to others or nature to build empathy and belonging. |
| Time In | Quiet moments for mindfulness, reflection, and emotional awareness. |
| Down Time | Doing “nothing” — no goals, no screen time, just mental rest. |
Each slice plays a unique role in supporting emotional regulation, executive functioning, and social wellbeing — especially important during holidays, when normal routines are disrupted.
🎯 Why the Platter Works Over the Holidays
Holidays often involve less sleep, more screens, skipped meals, and high-energy events. For many kids (especially those who are neurodivergent or sensitive to changes), this can lead to increased meltdowns, dysregulation, or emotional fatigue.
By gently using the Healthy Mind Platter as a guide — not a strict rulebook — you can create a rhythm that supports your child’s mental health while still enjoying freedom and fun.
🛠 Practical Ideas for Each Platter Element (Preview)
- Sleep Time → Keep wake-ups consistent (±1 hr); use blackout curtains and calming bedtime routines.
- Physical Time → Walks, dance breaks, backyard obstacle courses, pool play.
- Focus Time → Puzzles, Lego builds, writing/drawing stories, cooking with a recipe.
- Play Time → Messy play, pretend games, unstructured Lego or crafts.
- Connecting Time → Family meals, calls with grandparents, “kindness missions.”
- Time In → Try guided breathing, emotion card games, feelings journalling.
- Down Time → Hammock time, cloud watching, quiet snacking on the couch.
You don’t need to “fit everything in” every day. Just keeping an eye on balance can go a long way in supporting wellbeing.
🍽️ Healthy Mind Platter Blog Series
This blog is the first in our School Holiday Wellbeing Series, where we’ll explore each element of the Healthy Mind Platter in its own dedicated post — including how to make it work for toddlers, school-aged kids, and teens.
Stay tuned, or sign up to our mailing list to get updates when each post is released.
💤 Sleep Time
Why rest isn’t optional – how sleep supports emotional regulation and mental health during the holidays | Read now »
🏃 Physical Time
Move to feel better – ways to help kids burn energy and reduce stress without needing a gym or sports team | Read now »
🎯 Focus Time
Growing attention and persistence – holiday-friendly ideas for helping kids build concentration | Read now »
🎨 Play Time
Why unstructured fun is serious brain business – fostering creativity, social play, and joy | Read now »
🤝 Connecting Time
The power of human (and pet!) connection – how relationships boost resilience during less structured weeks | Read now »
🧘 Time In
Helping kids look inward – supporting self-awareness, mindfulness, and emotional insight | Read now »
😌 Down Time
Doing nothing is doing something – why boredom, rest, and mental space are essential | Read now »
📚 Further Reading and External Resources
Looking for more research-backed guidance on children’s wellbeing during the school holidays? These trusted sources provide helpful insights for parents, educators, and clinicians:
The Healthy Mind Platter – Dr Dan Siegel
Learn more about the framework and each of the seven essential mental activities.Why Routines Are Good for Kids – CDC
Guidance from the CDC on how consistent routines support emotional and behavioural wellbeing.Self-Regulation and Brain Development – Harvard Center on the Developing Child
A helpful breakdown of executive function, co-regulation, and developmentally appropriate strategies.Benefits of Play – Raising Children Network
Australian resource explaining how unstructured play supports learning, resilience, and social growth.
📍 Supporting Families Across the Holidays
At aMAZEin’ Minds Psychology, we support children, teens, and families across Mount Waverley, Glen Waverley, Burwood, Chadstone, Ashwood, and surrounding Melbourne suburbs, as well as via telehealth across Australia.
👉 Explore our therapy services »
👉 Contact us to book a session or ask a question »
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