Should You Take a Break from Therapy During School Holidays?
Therapy during school holidays is a common question for many families. When school wraps up and routines shift, it’s natural to wonder: should we take a break from therapy too? Or is this a time when support is actually more important?
Therapy during school holidays is something many families reconsider each term — is it helpful to keep going, or better to take a break? There’s no one-size-fits-all answer — and no right or wrong choice. Some children thrive with a little time off. Others benefit from the stability and support that therapy provides, especially when the rest of their world feels different. In this blog, we’ll walk you through the benefits of both approaches, offer a few in-between options, and share some ways to support your child’s wellbeing if you do choose to pause.
🔹 The Case for Continuing Therapy During School Holidays 😴
✅ Potential Benefits
Your child is doing well
If things have been stable lately — emotionally, socially, or behaviourally — a short pause can offer breathing space and help your child reset for the term ahead.They’re feeling therapy fatigue
Some kids need a change of pace. If they’ve been in weekly sessions for a while, they might respond well to a few weeks off, especially when the break is planned and positive.You’ve got a full holiday schedule
If you’re travelling or juggling other commitments, it’s okay to focus on connection and rest. Kids often learn a lot through play, family time, and real-world experiences.
⚠️ Key Considerations
Will your child lose momentum?
Some kids — especially those working on big goals — may lose confidence or progress without ongoing support.Are holidays a stressful time?
If your child finds routine changes tricky, or if things tend to unravel during breaks, it might be worth keeping therapy as an anchor.Will they miss the connection?
Therapy is often more than just strategies — it’s a relationship. Some children feel unsettled without regular check-ins, especially if therapy has been a safe space.
🔹 The Case for Continuing Therapy During School Holidays👍🏻
✅ Potential Benefits
It provides structure
With school out, therapy can offer one familiar part of the week — which can be calming, especially for neurodivergent kids or those who get dysregulated without routine.You can address holiday-specific challenges
Therapy during holidays can focus on different things — like managing sibling conflict, preparing for family events, or handling boredom and big feelings.You might get more out of it
With fewer competing demands (like homework and school fatigue), your child might actually engage more deeply during sessions.
⚠️ Key Considerations
Over-scheduling or competing priorities
If families are juggling travel, appointments, and activities, therapy may feel like a burden. A poorly timed session can reduce engagement and even prompt pushback from the child.Child may be in a rest-seeking state
Some children genuinely need time away from structured input — including therapy. For these children, continuing therapy without adjusting expectations may result in resistance or misfires.Therapy content must adjust
Sessions during holidays should shift tone and pace to remain relevant. If therapy is rigidly focused on school-related challenges, it may feel disconnected from the child’s current reality — undermining buy-in.
💡 Supporting Mental Health When Pausing Therapy During School Holidays
For families unsure about continuing therapy during school holidays, a middle-ground approach may work best — like fortnightly sessions, parent-only check-ins, or one-off transition appointments.
If you do choose to pause therapy, here are practical ways to keep emotional and developmental progress on track:
🧠 1. Use Visual Schedules and Planning Tools
Why it works:
Children — especially those with ADHD, autism, or anxiety — often struggle with unpredictable routines. Visual supports help with executive functioning by improving planning, memory, and emotional regulation (Diamond & Lee, 2011).
Try this:
Create a daily visual plan with pictures, symbols, or icons (e.g. breakfast → park → screen time → lunch → rest)
Use sticky notes or magnets for flexibility
Include “quiet time,” transitions, and buffer zones
Review the plan each morning with your child and adjust together
🧘♀️ 2. Build Daily Co-Regulation and Movement Breaks
Why it works:
Physical activity and co-regulation (calming together) support emotion regulation, stress relief, and nervous system balance. This is especially important during unstructured time when kids are more prone to dysregulate (Porges, 2022).
Try this:
Do 5-minute “reset walks” together (no talking, just noticing sounds or colours)
Try mirror breathing: face each other and match your inhale/exhale
Play calming games like “statues,” yoga freeze, or animal breathing (e.g. snake = slow hiss out)
Create a “movement menu” to pick from: jumping, stretching, spinning, crashing on a crash mat
📚 3. Use Emotionally-Rich Books, Shows, or Podcasts
Why it works:
Children often process feelings more deeply when they can project them onto fictional characters. It supports emotional literacy and builds empathy, perspective-taking, and problem-solving.
Try this:
Read books like The Huge Bag of Worries or The Invisible String
Watch shows like Bluey or Puffin Rock and pause to ask: “How do you think she felt then?”
Use podcasts like Imagine This or Big Life Kids to explore emotional topics indirectly
Use a “Feelings Chart” or emotion wheel to reflect on the story afterward
🗣 4. Encourage Reflective Conversation
Why it works:
Intentional, low-pressure conversation builds metacognition — the ability to notice and reflect on thoughts and feelings. This is a core therapy skill and supports emotional regulation long term.
Try this:
Use “rose, thorn, bud” at dinner:
🌹 Best part of the day
🥀 Hardest part
🌱 Something you’re looking forward toAsk open-ended questions: “What surprised you today?” or “When did you feel proud?”
Avoid over-focusing on problems — celebrate small wins and efforts
Use drawing or symbols for non-verbal children (e.g. “Show me your mood as a colour”)
🎨 5. Prioritise Play-Based Learning
Why it works:
Play is the brain’s natural mode for building social, emotional, and cognitive skills. It promotes flexible thinking, communication, and stress relief — especially in neurodivergent children (Ginsburg, 2007).
Try this:
Offer role-play toys (e.g. doctors kit, kitchen, animal figurines) and join in as a co-player
Use puppets or toy characters to “act out” daily struggles or feelings
Play turn-taking games like Uno, Spot It!, or cooperative board games like Outfoxed!
Encourage creative play: building forts, dressing up, messy art — let your child lead
🧭 Not Sure What’s Right for You?
Every child is different. Children experiencing significant anxiety, family stress, behavioural escalation, or major transitions may benefit from continued support. Others may flourish with a break and some low-key scaffolding at home.
If you’re unsure, speak to your child’s therapist — or contact our team to talk it through.
FAQ – Taking A Break From Therapy During School Holidays
❓Should my child keep going to therapy during the holidays?
It depends on their current goals, stress levels, and developmental needs. Children going through high stress, transitions, or emotional difficulties may benefit from continued therapy. Others may do well with a break, especially if emotional and behavioural skills are well-established.
❓Is it bad to take a break from therapy?
Not at all — a planned break can give your child space to consolidate progress. Just ensure it’s discussed with your therapist first so you can monitor for signs of regression or distress. For many kids, breaks are part of long-term success.
❓What if we’re going away during the holidays?
Many clinics offer telehealth sessions, parent-only consults, or flexible scheduling during holidays. You might continue therapy remotely or book a one-off “check-in” before the new term starts.
❓Can we reduce session frequency instead of stopping completely?
Absolutely. Switching to fortnightly or monthly sessions during school breaks is a common approach. It maintains momentum without overloading your family’s schedule.
❓What are signs my child may need to continue therapy over holidays?
🚩 Heightened anxiety or distress
🚩 Difficulty with transitions or unstructured time
🚩 Regression in emotional, social, or behavioural skills
🚩 Family stress, school concerns, or upcoming changes
📍 Therapy in the Holidays – We’re Here If You Need!
At aMAZEin’ Minds Psychology, we offer support year-round — with flexible school holiday options including telehealth, parent consults, and transition planning.
If you’re considering therapy during school holidays, we’re here to talk it through. We offer flexible options for families in Mount Waverley and via telehealth across Australia.
📞 Call us on (03) 7046 4528
✉️ Email info@amazeinminds.com.au
📍 Contact us online
Based in Mount Waverley, we support families from Glen Waverley, Burwood, Chadstone, Ashwood, Notting Hill, Clayton, and Oakleigh, and provide telehealth across Australia.
📚 Further Reading and External Resources
Interested in learning more about the research and ideas behind this blog? Explore these trusted resources to deepen your understanding and support your child’s wellbeing during school holidays:
CDC – Positive Parenting Tips
Guidance on fostering healthy development and routines for children.
🔗 https://www.cdc.gov/child-development/positive-parenting-tips/index.htmlHarvard Center on the Developing Child – Executive Function Guide
Insights into developing children’s executive function and self-regulation skills.
🔗 https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resource-guides/guide-executive-function/Raising Children Network – Benefits of Play
Information on how play supports child development across various domains.
🔗 https://raisingchildren.net.au/toddlers/play-learning/why-play-is-important/benefits-of-playEmerging Minds – Engaging Children Learning Pathway
Resources for supporting children’s mental health through effective engagement strategies.
🔗 https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/engaging-children-learning-pathway/Beyond Blue – Parenting and Mental Health
Support and information for parents to promote mental health in children.
🔗 https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/parenting