UAE School Holidays 2025, Now What? Specially for Working Parents

School’s Out. Now What?

The UAE school holidays 2025 have started, and while the kids are excited, many working parents during summer vacation are quietly panicking.

Balancing a full-time job and full-time parenting isn’t easy. In fact, it can feel impossible.

If you’re one of the many parents wondering how to manage kids and work, this blog is your go-to survival guide.

💼 What Working Parents Are Facing Right Now

Lack of Childcare Options

• Not every parent has a nanny or family support.
• Summer camps are expensive or fully booked.
• Home alone? That’s a safety concern.

➡️ Result: Parents are stuck juggling work calls with cartoons playing in the background.

2. Guilt and Mental Exhaustion

You want to work well.
You want your kids to have fun.
But trying to do both?

It often leads to burnout and guilt — feeling like you’re failing at everything.

3. Zero “Me Time”

During school days, parents get a few hours to focus.
Now, from sunrise to bedtime, they’re hearing:

“I’m bored.”
“Can I have a snack?”
“What are we doing today?”
“You said we’d go out!”

➡️ It becomes non-stop parenting alongside work stress.

4. Disruption of Work Routine

If you’re working from home, your Zoom calls may include background noise like Nerf battles, crying, or sudden crashes.

If you work from the office, you’re constantly worried:

“Are the kids okay?”
“Did the helper remember lunch?”

➡️ That focus you had before? Gone.

5. Financial Pressure

• Summer activities = more spending
• Camps, soft play, outings, snacks, AC bills
• For many families, it’s a budget squeeze

And with rising rents and daily expenses, it adds more weight to an already heavy load.

✅ UAE Parenting Survival Guide: How to Cope With School Holidays

You don’t need to be perfect. But you do need a plan — even a small one. Here’s how to make this break easier for everyone:

🗓️ 1. Build a Flexible Summer Routine

A simple daily structure helps both you and your kids stay sane.

Example:

• Mornings = work + quiet play or cartoons
• Lunch = screen break and connection time
• Afternoons = craft, reading, or outings (even if it’s just to the grocery store!)

Keeping things flexible is key for any summer routine for working parents.

🧠 2. Ask for Help — or Trade It

Find a fellow parent in the building or school group. Suggest a playdate trade:
One day their house, one day yours.

This gives everyone a short break — and helps your child socialize too.

💼 3. Talk to Your Employer

If your company allows, request:

• Flexible hours
• Temporary remote days
• Shorter lunch breaks with earlier sign-off

Being honest about your situation shows responsibility, not weakness.

💡 4. Use Free or Affordable Activities

Look out for:

• Public library programs
• Community centers with kids’ workshops
• Malls with soft play and hourly drop-offs

These are budget-friendly ways to keep kids entertained — a top parenting tip in the UAE.

🧘‍♀️ 5. Let Go of Perfection

Some days the house will be a mess.
Some days the screen time will win.
And some days cereal is dinner.

That’s okay.

What matters is that you’re trying your best. And your kids will remember your love — not the to-do list.

💬 Final Thought: You’re Not Alone

If you’re struggling with how to cope with school holidays, just know this:

• You’re doing something hard
• You’re not the only one
• You are enough

So take a deep breath. Make a plan that works for you. And don’t forget to laugh a little — even if it’s at the chaos.