Summer is nearly here and that means for many parents the summer holidays are nearly upon us. Six weeks where you have to juggle childcare, have your children at home and manage their expectations as well as having some fun for yourself as well.
The summer holidays are either something that you love or that you dread. No matter what camp you fall into, preparation and planning can help you to thrive during the summer. Whether that is embracing opportunities to do things, especially as things start to ease after the global pandemic, or whether you just need to manage the logistics, knowing what you are doing will help.
Summer holiday planning
Planning now might seem a little extreme, but we all know how fast time seems to be going right now. Who else feels like it was five minutes ago and it was Christmas? So now is the ideal time to start thinking about what is coming, planning for it, booking things in, and also budgeting for it. With that in mind, here are some ideas to help you plan for the summer holidays that will be here before we know it.
Go away on holiday
One of the first things you can consider doing is going away on holiday. Travel hasn’t been an option for the past year and so it might be something that you are desperate to do as a family. This is a great way to enjoy time together as a family and one of the most popular things to do during the summer holidays.
There are so many holiday options you could consider. You could go camping and stay a little closer to home, perhaps rent out some self-catering accommodation like an apartment, a house, or a caravan and do something a little different. Or you may even want to think about going away somewhere abroad and enjoying a new experience and culture. Of course, that may be limited as restrictions begin to lift but it could be a possibility.
The UK staycation is growing in popularity this year so it could be the ideal time to explore places in the UK. A lot of people work hard all year for their summer holiday, and it is definitely a great way to split the break up for your children.
Explore your local area
When was the last time you explored your local area? Of course, you may have done a lot of that during the lockdowns, but it doesn’t mean you can’t plan to explore the local area or a little beyond during the summer break. You are probably more inclined to travel outside of the place you live but actually, but many of us have realised there is a lot on offer on the doorstep.
There are things like local museums, exciting walks, and trails to explore, or even just little shops and cafes you may not have been in before. Now more than ever it is important to support local and small businesses. It really could be a great few days out if you plan.
Book in some holiday clubs
If you do feel that you need to consider other ways to keep the children occupied during the summer break, or perhaps you need alternative childcare instead of using grandparents or childminders, then perhaps a holiday club or camp could be the answer.
You could discover more online about some of the possibilities that could be open to you. From camps where your children stay for the day to where they enjoy learning new skills or sports. It really could be a great way for them to spend their time and could be the ideal way for them to feel stimulated and occupied during a time where boredom can really set in.
Plan your days and weeks
It is very important for you to plan your days and weeks in advance, this is so you avoid boredom setting in where everyone involved can get a little frustrated and upset. If you plan ahead, you can make more use of the time you have and do things that are less likely to cost you a fortune like taking advantage of free facilities and locations. Set out a plan and look at the places you want to visit.
Use the advance time you have to research prices and offers. Planning things will help you to look at your budget and also factor in other things. It might be that once a week you go off somewhere new, and the other days are used for time spent at home or going to the local park. It needs to be suitable for you and your family.
Meet up with friends for playdates
Children can often miss their friends in the holidays, especially if they don’t have siblings close in age, so it might be worth organising some playdates with school or nursery friends. It could be a great way to alleviate pressure for other parents as well. You could take it in turns to host, having different themes, or even just head to different local areas and spend some time outside.
It is one of the hardest things to navigate but it can be very useful to you to have someone at your home that will keep your child occupied, and equally, if your child goes to somebodies home for a morning or a few hours it can alleviate time for you to other things such as catch up in the home or work. It keeps them socialising with their friends and gives you some necessary adult conversation.
Relax and go with the flow
Finally, just relax and go with the flow. You have no choice but to embrace the summer holidays and it could be a lot of fun if you plan and think ahead. Budgeting for the break will also help so you don’t run the risk of spending unnecessarily. The more you think about it, the better it will be.
Let’s hope that sharing these suggestions will help you with your summer holiday plans.
