With summer school holidays finished, some Bay of Plenty parents are relieved their children are finally back at school.

SunLive talked to visitors at The Strand playground last week to gain feedback on whether our district thinks the summer school holidays are too long.

With fulltime workers permitted four weeks’ annual leave, the rising cost of living, and summer holidays stretching up to seven weeks at some schools, the responses were mixed.

Tauranga parents Jan and Rachelle Tentativa said this topic had been a frequent conversation they’ve had recently.

With three children, aged 10, 4 and 9 months, the family’s eldest child had returned to school last week. With four weeks’ annual leave, Jan believed it would be better for summer holidays to be four-five weeks long. “It would minimise the stress.”

The couple, who’d lived in New Zealand for nine years, have been focused on working and paying bills. Jan said longer holidays place a financial burden on parents and caregivers.

“In school holidays, they’d be like: ‘We want to go there’; ‘We want to do this’ and financially it’s a lot more expensive than them going to school and just preparing their lunch.”

Hayley with her grandchild. Photo / David Hall

However, grandmother Hayley doesn’t believe summer holidays are too long.

“I think it’s important when they’re little that they have a break and get to hang out and do fun things.”

Hayley looks after her granddaughter during school holidays while her parents work.

“It makes it very difficult when the holidays are so long and you’ve only got four weeks’ annual leave, but when you’ve got grandparents that are able to look after them, that works really well.

“I love spending time with them.”

Meanwhile, 14-year-old Vincent Cairns said the summer holidays are too long and he’d been struggling to find things to do.

“You try to do stuff every day or every other day, but it’s a long time,” said Vincent’s father Shae Voyce, who is a tertiary student while his wife works fulltime.

“My holidays coincided, but even my holidays are way too long. I’ve got a 16-year-old, and Vinny’s 14, so we’ve got older kids, but if you don’t have older kids I don’t know how parents are supposed to get time off because even having her [he points to his youngest] in daycare two days a week is so expensive,” said the father-of-four.

“Then, as parents, your nerves get frayed being at home with all the kids. People don’t like to talk about that fact. It’s just a long time and if you don’t have other parents or adults to talk to, they can wear you down.”

First-time mum Amy Finlayson said even though her daughter isn’t at school yet, she thinks it’s neat kids get such a long holiday in summer.

Amy Finalison and her daughter Aria. Photo / David Hall

“I don’t have a problem with it. I think it’s important because you’ve got time to do things and it’s something to look forward to at the end of the year.

“They need some downtime. School’s so hectic throughout the year and it’s nice to just switch off and not have any pressure to do assignments and just spend time with family.”

Peter Wright said parents who are working, facing high living costs and have four weeks’ annual leave must find it very complicated.

Father of two Peter Wright. Photo / David Hall

“Maybe it’s too long,” said the father-of-two under-5s.

*What do you think?

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