Anyone who can't occupy their kids for six weeks needs to take a look at themselves. We are never bored- it's so nice to just have a flexible life-style without the routine of school. To be be able to spend time in the garden, visit the local park, go on bike rides, visit friends and family, stay up late, sleep in in the mornings, have meals when we choose, do arts and crafts, visit museums, go to the cinema, bake, read, play board games, go for a long walk, etc.
If you go on holiday abroad for two weeks then a four week holiday from school is no where near enough time off to really relax. The first couple of days off would be spent packing and sorting out for the holiday, then two weeks away, then when you come back it takes a few days to get back into life with all the jet lag, unpacking, washing and ironing all your clothes, restocking the fridge, etc. That only leaves about a week for other things and half of that would be spent sorting new school uniform, bags pencil cases etc., and then trying to get the kids back into a good sleep pattern ready for school. Six weeks too long? Never! I would like eight!