What are Short Breaks? Short Breaks provide the primary carer of a disabled child a break from their caring responsibilities whilst giving the child an opportunity to have fun, enjoy new experiences and develop skills. Short breaks can take the form of: Daytime care in the home or elsewhere Overnight care in the home or elsewhere Leisure activities outside the home Services available to assist carers in the evenings, at weekends and during school holidays Short breaks come in many different forms and can last anything from a couple of hours to days. The length and type of break will depend on your child, young person and family.