Written by, Kalpita
9th Jul 2025
School holidays often tend to offer me some time to ponder over the unique opportunities these weeks provide. I consider this time as a moment to focus away from the school runs and extra-curricular activities, and truly connect with my child on a meaningful, memorable level. One of the best ways I've found is reinstating my role as a teacher into some classic “growing up” skills: like biking, skating, swimming, and a whole lot more.
Why Holidays Are My Perfect ‘Contemplation Time’:
I realise that teachers and coaches usually take over my kid’s life during the frantic school term. But holidays slow life down just enough for me to engage, encourage, and celebrate my child’s milestones. In this lies an understated value that ranges far beyond the actual skills by themselves. Might not seem all too that important, but this holiday, my seven-year-old mastered her biking skills (sans the training wheels). Teaching my kid to ride her bike ended up being more than just the end goal here. Those cheeky giggles after an embarrassing wobble, comforting consolations over a shin scrape, warning stares whenever I let go, and the pride in that very first solo ride became experiences that now form core memories inscribed deep down into the inspiring family stories-to-be-mulled over for years down the line.
What amazed me the most was how much I learnt through the process. I re-learned patience, got even better at explaining the simplest things, and got to see the world through my kid’s eyes. Her resilience and curiosity reminded me to not lose sight of that openness in life.
And these learning moments eventually translated into me passing down more than just a ‘skill’. Each skill — whether it’s biking, skating, doing laundry, playing catch, or even doing the grocery runs — becomes a way to share family values. She loves to listen to the stories I tell about how my parents taught me stuff, and in doing so, I pass down not just knowledge, but our family’s spirit of perseverance and togetherness.
The Classic Skills to Explore Together
Here are some life-skills that can easily transform into family bonding-based holiday projects:
- Toilet Training: One of the earliest and most important milestones, teaching independence, patience, and self-care.
- Showering and Brushing: Building consistency in routines around personal hygiene, responsibility, and self-respect.
- Getting Dressed: A small win that boosts self-belief in a big way, at any age.
- Cycling: The perseverance to go from balancing to that first ride by themselves.
- Swimming: Building on confidence and water safety.
- Cooking Simple Meals: Orienting to messy, fun, and delicious teamwork.
- Gardening: Watching seeds grow and learning patience.
- Playing Catch or Basic Sports: Mastering coordination and fun laughs to go along.
- Reading a Clock: Teaching time-telling and the responsibility that goes with it.
- Basic First Aid: Empowering for little emergencies.
- Riding Public Transport: Navigating the world together.
- Budgeting Pocket money: Starting early lessons on spending power.
- Fixing Broken Toys/Books: Problem-solving in action to encourage sustainability.
- Folding Laundry: Turning chores into shared moments.
- Speaking in Public: Practicing gratitude and manners respectfully by communicating in real-world situations like having a meaningful conversation with a neighbour or thanking a server at a cafe.
The Emotional Rollercoaster of Learning Together
Learning and teaching these life skills together is not only a practical family adventure — it's an intense, emotional one to boot. Each step is filled with BIG emotions, for both my child as well as me. But I have come to realise that rather than fighting each feeling, allowing them to become the foundation for making these experiences truly transformational has been the key.
The Emotions Encountered (And Why Each One Is Important)
1. Excitement and Anticipation
Why it matters: The thrill of starting something new sets the adventure going. My child's wide-eyed innocence makes me discover the world afresh.
For Example: Every night before our biking lessons, my child was buzzing with queries on how she could enhance her balance and avoid getting hurt.
2. Frustration and Impatience
Why it matters: Frustration is a crucial part of the learning process. It teaches resilience and the value of persistence.
For Example: After several failed attempts at catching a paddle tennis ball, both of us would usually want to give up. By acknowledging the frustration though — saying, “This is tricky, isn't it? But we're getting closer!”— we managed to turn it into motivation to keep going.
3. Pride and Accomplishment
Why it matters: Celebrating small wins makes both of us feel more confident. It makes us see that it is progress and not perfection that counts.
For Example: When my child mastered swimming a couple of new strokes independently, the pride of achievement beaming from her smile could only be matched by my pride, elation and sense of achievement.
4. Fear and Anxiety
Why it matters: Confronting fears together fosters trust and emotional safety. Okay, we're nervous — what does matter is how we decide to move forward anyway.
For Example: Standing at a cafe counter, my daughter hesitated, then requested that I stand beside her, before ordering herself a cookie and thanking the barista by herself. I reminded myself of my own childhood "fear" of addressing strangers, and we together addressed those worries step by step - one polite word at a time and she finally placed her first independent order.
5. Laughter and Joy
Why it matters: Happiness makes learning stick. Laughter releases tension and builds positive connections to the skill.
For Example: We both laughed out loud when I demonstrated how ‘not to’ ride a bike, wobbling wildly and letting out a pretend tumble. It put both of us at ease and released my kid's tension.
6. Disappointment
Why it matters: Not every effort can be successful, and that's alright! Disappointment encourages humility and the value of trying again.
For Example: When she missed those early-years 'nature' calls, my girl was visibly embarrassed and heartbroken. I told her that everyone gets through such tough times, and every try is only getting her closer to doing it right.
7. Connection and Love
Why it matters: The greatest of all emotions is the deepened connection which arises from collective effort, openness, and support.
For Example: After a long afternoon of organising her room, laughing fondly at the dust filled, accumulated playthings, I felt a strong sense of closeness and gratitude for this shared moment.
Why Welcome Every Feeling?
Every feeling — the joy, the frustration, the pride, the fear — is there for a reason in the process. They're all indications that we're involved, that we're invested, and that we're learning from it all. By owning the whole range of feelings, we show our children that emotions are not annoying detours to the final destination but well-meaning travel companions along the journey to success. They learn that:
• It's okay to feel it all: Feelings are part of being human.
• Growth comes from discomfort: Frustration and disappointment are stepping stones out of our comfort zones, not obstacles.
• Celebration is important: All wins, no matter how small, deserve a celebration.
• Connection is the foundation: Through all those feelings, our love and presence are what really matter.
How We Made It Work?
• Start with enthusiasm:
I didn't need to be good at any of those skills — just willing to try, fail, and laugh together.
• Break it down:
We did things step by step, and every small success was cheered.
• Create a safe, encouraging space:
Mistakes were a part of the process, not something to be feared.
• Share stories:
I shared my own childhood successes and failures, making learning less daunting.
• Be patient and consistent:
We take time every so often, without any pressure, to appreciate and believe in the process, believe in ourselves.
The Lasting Impact for Life
In hindsight, each school holiday lesson is so much more than technique instruction. They are about learning to develop together and gaining confidence - for the both of us. Those memories of learning will endure longer than any certificate, medal or trophy. And now, even when we do need a coach for an ‘expert’ skill to be picked up, just me being there, being attentive, and the support I offer is what makes all the difference.
As every school break approaches, I remind myself that the greatest gift I can give my child isn't just a new skill to master — it's my time, my stories, my willingness to engage with every emotion, and my capacity to learn and evolve along with her. So here's to dusting off that old bike, catching those curve balls, and discovering the excitement of learning together — with each laugh, each tear, and each victory in between.
