Children thrive when they feel heard. And that only happens when listening is built into the culture, not bolted on.
At Practically Family, listening is something we weave into everyday life at Holiday Club, because when children feel listened to, it has a quiet but powerful effect on how they experience the world around them.
One of the first things many children notice at Holiday Club isn’t an activity table or a game. It’s a board that sits at the centre of Club life.
Our ‘Our Voice, Our Choice’ board is there very intentionally. It’s a space where children can vote on activities, share ideas, answer daily questions and reflect on what they’ve enjoyed or would like to explore next.
To children, this feels natural and straightforward. To us, it’s an essential part of how we help them feel confident and involved. It shows them that their opinions are valued, that they’re trusted to make choices and that they’re part of a community rather than simply attending something organised for them.
This approach is rooted in one of the core parts of our Holiday Club Promise: every child is special.
Children are wonderfully different. They play, communicate and explore in their own ways and our Holiday Clubs are designed to reflect that. By creating inclusive, respectful and fair environments, we make sure children are truly at the centre of everything we do.
Our Crew take children’s opinions seriously and work hard to create experiences that feel meaningful and memorable. Rather than expecting children to fit a set mould, we build around who they are, recognising that difference brings richness to a group and helps children feel confident being themselves.
Listening only works when children feel safe enough to speak.
That’s why team culture matters so deeply at Holiday Club. A positive, supportive team culture shapes how children feel from the moment they arrive, not just the activities they take part in. It turns a group of children and adults into a community where kindness, curiosity and respect are modelled every day.
When adults listen to one another, support each other and genuinely enjoy being together, children notice. They take their cues from what they see, and that sense of mutual respect naturally carries through into how they interact with others.
When children know they’re being listened to, they feel understood. That sense of being heard supports confidence, communication and a genuine feeling of belonging. It also means your child’s Holiday Club experience isn’t something that happens to them. Instead, it’s something they actively shape alongside the adults and children around them, which can make all the difference to how settled and happy they feel.
Listening doesn’t have to be formal or forced. In fact, some of the most meaningful moments happen in small, ordinary ways that fit naturally into family life. Here are a few simple ideas, inspired by how we work at Holiday Club, that work across different ages.
At this age, listening often looks like giving space rather than asking lots of questions. Try offering simple choices during everyday moments - which story to read, which song to play, where to sit at the table. Getting down to their level, noticing what they’re drawn to and narrating what you see (“You’re really focused on that…”) helps young children feel understood, even before they have all the words.
Children in this age group often have lots to say, but not always at predictable times. Some of the best conversations happen while doing something else together - drawing, walking, tidying up or getting ready for bed. Asking open-ended questions like “What was the best part of your day?” or “What would you change if you could?” invites reflection without pressure and shows their ideas matter.
Older children value being taken seriously. Creating small, regular opportunities for them to share opinions - planning a weekend activity, choosing a meal, deciding how to spend time together - helps them feel trusted and respected. Listening here is often about resisting the urge to fix or correct straight away and instead showing curiosity about how they see things.
Across all ages, the Practically Family magic lies in keeping listening light, genuine and woven into everyday moments. When children feel heard at home, just as they do at Holiday Club, it builds confidence, connection and a sense that their voice truly matters.
From the Outset
One of the first things many children notice at Holiday Club isn’t an activity table or a game. It’s a board that sits at the centre of Club life.
Our ‘Our Voice, Our Choice’ board is there very intentionally. It’s a space where children can vote on activities, share ideas, answer daily questions and reflect on what they’ve enjoyed or would like to explore next.
To children, this feels natural and straightforward. To us, it’s an essential part of how we help them feel confident and involved. It shows them that their opinions are valued, that they’re trusted to make choices and that they’re part of a community rather than simply attending something organised for them.
Every Child Is Special... and We Mean It
This approach is rooted in one of the core parts of our Holiday Club Promise: every child is special.
Children are wonderfully different. They play, communicate and explore in their own ways and our Holiday Clubs are designed to reflect that. By creating inclusive, respectful and fair environments, we make sure children are truly at the centre of everything we do.
Our Crew take children’s opinions seriously and work hard to create experiences that feel meaningful and memorable. Rather than expecting children to fit a set mould, we build around who they are, recognising that difference brings richness to a group and helps children feel confident being themselves.
Why Team Culture Makes All the Difference
Listening only works when children feel safe enough to speak.
That’s why team culture matters so deeply at Holiday Club. A positive, supportive team culture shapes how children feel from the moment they arrive, not just the activities they take part in. It turns a group of children and adults into a community where kindness, curiosity and respect are modelled every day.
When adults listen to one another, support each other and genuinely enjoy being together, children notice. They take their cues from what they see, and that sense of mutual respect naturally carries through into how they interact with others.
Why This Matters to You as a Parent
When children know they’re being listened to, they feel understood. That sense of being heard supports confidence, communication and a genuine feeling of belonging. It also means your child’s Holiday Club experience isn’t something that happens to them. Instead, it’s something they actively shape alongside the adults and children around them, which can make all the difference to how settled and happy they feel.
Bringing More Listening into Everyday Life at Home
Listening doesn’t have to be formal or forced. In fact, some of the most meaningful moments happen in small, ordinary ways that fit naturally into family life. Here are a few simple ideas, inspired by how we work at Holiday Club, that work across different ages.
For ages 3–4:
At this age, listening often looks like giving space rather than asking lots of questions. Try offering simple choices during everyday moments - which story to read, which song to play, where to sit at the table. Getting down to their level, noticing what they’re drawn to and narrating what you see (“You’re really focused on that…”) helps young children feel understood, even before they have all the words.
For ages 5–8:
Children in this age group often have lots to say, but not always at predictable times. Some of the best conversations happen while doing something else together - drawing, walking, tidying up or getting ready for bed. Asking open-ended questions like “What was the best part of your day?” or “What would you change if you could?” invites reflection without pressure and shows their ideas matter.
For ages 9–11:
Older children value being taken seriously. Creating small, regular opportunities for them to share opinions - planning a weekend activity, choosing a meal, deciding how to spend time together - helps them feel trusted and respected. Listening here is often about resisting the urge to fix or correct straight away and instead showing curiosity about how they see things.
Across all ages, the Practically Family magic lies in keeping listening light, genuine and woven into everyday moments. When children feel heard at home, just as they do at Holiday Club, it builds confidence, connection and a sense that their voice truly matters.
Practically Family
07939 942334 (during Holiday Club weeks only)
