The school holidays can be a stressful time for you and your kids. All that time stretching ahead can seem daunting. If you work, you have the worry of arranging child care or booking time off. If not, you still have the problem of how to keep your kids amused. Pre-planning is essential for keeping kids entertained. If they’re bored, they start playing up, and tensions can run high! Avoid that by giving them plenty to do. But, what are your options? We’ve compiled a few for you to consider.
DAYS OUT
Days out are an excellent way to keep your kids happy. Even if you’re arranging child care, ensure your children spend plenty of time out the house. Good options are days at the zoo, theme parks, or even days at a museum. If you opt for that last one, ensure the museum has plenty to amuse children. Science museums or child specific museums are a much safer option. That way, you know there will be plenty of fun activities that will educate and entertain! Take a look at the attractions that are nearby and start booking up. Bear in mind that zoos and theme parks aren’t open all year round. Take a look at the opening times and make sure you aren’t disappointed when you arrive!
Camp is one option that will take the children off your hands for extended periods. For working parents, this option can be a lifesaver. It’s never nice sending your kids away but you’ll be able to rest easy knowing they’re enjoying themselves. There are various camps that run from a weekend to a few weeks. There are camps for all passions, from activity camps to arts and crafts options. Companies like the Camp Association can give you an idea of your options. Take a look and see if anything would suit your little one. If you do go down this route, make sure to talk it through with your child. Get them on side so that they’re happy to go!
VACATIONS
If you’ve got the time to go, a vacation can be the perfect way to break up the time your kids have off. Booking a week, or two-week long vacation will ensure the holidays don’t seem so long. When considering this option, choose child-friendly vacations. Look at locations with plenty of activities children would enjoy. You can also look for places that you and the kids can enjoy together, and at the same time is a stress buster (like an axe throwing lounge, for one). When booking hotels, make sure they have clubs your kids can join. Otherwise, they may end up bored regardless of your efforts!
FUN AT HOME
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with the occasional day at home, as long as you do it right. Ensure you have activities lined up for those days to avoid boredom. Those plans can be as simple as a film day. Make an event of it so your children have fun. Or, arts and crafts are always a good option to fall back on. You could even do a little baking in the oven with the kids and have something to show for your efforts!