Summer Holidays

Here in the UK the summer holidays are just begun. 

So often I hear parents dreading the long summer weeks that drag on endlessly. 

Many times I hear children bickering and driving their parents up the wall.

The thing that gets me is that I don't

know why this happens. 

Maybe it is just me, but the holidays, whether they be half term holiday weeks or the long summer break we always have so much planned and often not everything we plan to do is done, so there is always stuff to do in the evenings and weekends as well.

Where I live; the local libraries, museums, gardens, zoos, art galleries, and even the schools do low cost (even free in many instances) events on a regular basis and I just book us in to guarantee us a space - if I double book I can easily call back and cancel something - but at least we never turn up at something and find that there are limited places and no room left for us!!  If a change of plan is the order of the day there are invariably waiting lists for activities that require booking into - so don't worry.  Just remember that your family happiness is the most important thing and the reason you are making the effort.

All of the things we do are within a half hour walk from our home, (we live on the outskirts of a city).  So as long as you are prepared to allow 45 mins or more to stroll along to wherever you are due to be then you have even saved more money and created different experiences for your child(ren).   In the past 5 days of holidays we have totalled 8 picnic meals out-of-doors, and all in different locations.  I am looking forward to a 'normal' home cooked meal tomorrow evening!!  It has been fantastic though, just stopping along wherever we are and finding a nice place to rest our feet, relax in the shade and admire the local flora and fauna (including one midday in the local massive roundabout underpass which is surrounded by leafy walks and loads of grassy areas to sit and enjoy).

We do nature walks as we go along and other random things like child inspired games of 'I spy', 'Spelling tests' (go figure), Math games and many more that pop into her imagination. To date, for us; "Are we there yet?" has never yet been uttered in that seriously bored voice - only as a joke and I honestly think she does not understand the joke properly.

We have developed lots of craft related activities over the years and now have spare knitting, glass-painting, painting, drawing and so on around the house to fill in moments when we are home and in need of a fresh activity or project. 

We are booked into at least one activity each day for the first few weeks of these holidays.  It means not only that we do not get bored, but also that there are plenty of new experiences.  Today we were at the museum for the whole day on a workshop for children based on the museums summer theme "Venezia!"  Today E painted a Venetian landscape using inspiration from landscapes around the museum and making sketches of them before compiling them into scenes that represent Venice.  It was a fascinating exercise and there were some amazing pieces of art that flowed from those involved - not least those who were younger. 

So take time to check the local amenities and see what is laid on for the children.  I have been constantly amazed by the activities, the quality that we have been provided with and the willingness of staff to help the children every step of the way through the activity.  As time goes on I am hearing of more and more activities in the local area as well, and networking with a wider range of parents and carers is widening my knowledge all the time.

Sometimes it can seem difficult when you have children that cover several age ranges - so see where there are opportunities to leave older siblings at a place for an hour or two and take the younger off for a special date - alternatively see if an available teenager fancies taking the younger ones while you spend quality time doing something more complex with your older child.  Or whatever the circumstances suggest - there is a lot of scope for opportunities in ways to spend time trying new things with all the family - it is just having the patience to sort it all out.

• So check out local facilities and what they may be hosting
• Make sure they are within a 'reasonable' distance for you to walk/drive to.
• Budget and be imaginative - it is heaps of fun.
• Have fun every moment - this is where memories are made.
• If everything is going wrong and it is too much just chill out and change plans.

I hope that as holidays come and go you too will find that there is much to do in your local area to keep the kids happy until it is time to drive/jet off to the sunshine and spend that special week of family quality time together away from home.

 Peace
EF.x