Singapore 2026 year-end school holidays (21 Nov – 31 Dec): how do I adjust my helper's day with the kids at home?

Yiru · Updated 23 October 2026

In 2026, the year-end holidays for Singapore primary and secondary schools run from 21 November to 31 December (announced by the Ministry of Education, MOE; for JC Year 1 and Millennia Institute Years 1–2, the holidays start on 28 November).

Six weeks with the kids at home changes the whole rhythm of the house. The way to adjust household work with your helper (maid) is cut first, then add:

• Cut first: pause things that aren't needed, like school runs;
• Then add: lunch, looking after the kids and other new things;
• Keep her lunch break;
• Tell her about changes a day ahead.

Step 1: cut first

With no school, some things aren't needed for these six weeks:

• the morning school drop-off and afternoon pick-up;
• packing school lunch boxes;
• ironing uniforms and scrubbing school shoes (once in the last week of the holidays is enough).

Pause these first. If you don't say so, she'll keep preparing them as usual.

Step 2: then add

With the kids at home, there's more to do:

• Lunch: you may usually have only breakfast and dinner at home; the holidays add a meal;
• Snacks: what time in the afternoon, and what to give;
• Looking after the kids: which hours she needs to keep an eye on them, and which hours they play on their own or go to classes;
• Extra tidying: toys and snacks make the living room messier, so it needs tidying more often.

Whatever you add, take a little away somewhere else. For example, during the holidays, weekly jobs like window cleaning or a big clean can move to every two weeks.

Step 3: keep her lunch break, and keep her rest day

• With the kids at home, her lunch break is the first thing to get squeezed out.
• Keep it as usual: during that time a family member looks after the kids, or the kids nap or read.
• Her weekly rest day stays the same — see Singapore helper rest day rules.

Step 4: tell her about changes a day ahead

Holiday plans change a lot: out today, guests tomorrow, the kids at grandma's the day after.

• If tomorrow is different, tell her before dinner today.
• No new instructions after 9 pm.

A holiday day (example)

Yiru makes this easier

• Change the house guide once in Yiru, and it's updated on her phone straight away, translated into her language.
• Tell Momo something like “The school holidays have started — no school runs or lunch boxes for now, and add lunch at noon”. It lists what needs changing, and once you confirm, it's done. Before school starts again, tell it to change things back.
• From 9 pm to 6 am, and on her rest day, nothing disturbs her.

FAQ

Sources

• Ministry of Education (MOE): School terms and holidays for 2026, 30 July 2025

All checked in October 2026. Rules and figures may change; official websites take precedence.