Another School Holiday Is Over

I genuinely enjoy the boys being at home. We have some fun times and the break from the school run and the early starts is a wonderful rest. I regard it as being my holiday too!

This week has been a typical sort of holiday for us and I thought that some of the things we get up to would help you if you've ever wondered what to do with the kids for a week or longer. I know there are loads of family friendly attractions to go to but if you spent every day on an outing it would cost an absolute fortune and to my mind is completely unnecessary.

Here's my top list of things to do with the children

• Just do one outing - ie to an 'attraction' - per week (that's 6 during the summer school hols) Make it special but one is fine - don't feel guilty.
• Cooking with mum - and I don't just mean making cakes. Proper cooking; grating cheese, measuring out pasta etc. Older children can look through a cook book; decide what to cook; and then help with shopping and cooking (and clearing up!)
  
• Helping with the domestics. The house doesn't magically clean itself so get the kids involved. Even young ones like to wave a feather duster about. Older children should be able to work the vacuum and polish. No it won't be as good as you'd do it; but its done!
• Ditto any other things that Need To Be Done - mine have ended up shelling beans, digging up old shrubs, picking blackberries or helping with other harvesting or gardening jobs. Children like to be useful I've found.
  
• Clearing out their rooms. This serves various purposes. Firstly it enables you to have a cull of silly bits of plastic who's original use everyone has forgotten. Secondly all lost puzzle pieces and games bits can be returned to boxes so that they can actually be played with and thirdly and most importantly I'll guarantee you that by the end of the day they'll have rediscovered some long lost at-the-back-of-the-cupboard game and will be happily playing it
• Small treats. Even simple outings that don't cost much can be a big treat. Just going in to town to do some errands can be turned in to something special if you stop and have a drink and cake in a cafe. My kids love picking up a meal-deal sandwich lunch from Boots if we do town. Inexpensive but something different
• Equally I remember when the boys were smaller, a mum use to arrange to always be in the park once a week, same time, same place. Anyone was welcome to join her for a picnic. This of course is practically free; the kids get to play with their friends and the mums get some adult company.
• Different sorts of transport can make an outing. If you normally go everywhere by car try the bus or even train. I remember my eldest's playground organising an outing that involved the bus to the train station, a ride on a train as far as the next station, drink and biscuit in the station cafe and then the reverse journey to get home. Magical!
• What about a walk! I was horrified to learn that after a recent school trip some children in my son's school had struggled to complete a 3 mile walk! 3miles is nothing; get out and enjoy a nice walk with them. (bike rides of course too)
  
• Get the crafts out - painting is loved by all ages; just put down plenty of newspaper and keep paper towel to hand at all times
• By the same token collecting packaging of all descriptions so that the children can glue and tape it together is equally loved. Be prepared for some lovingly made big monster creations! Never underestimate the play value of a plain cardboard box...
  
• Good old fashioned board games and card games - perfect for wet afternoons. They're not usually expensive to buy and can often be found in charity shops.
• Family film afternoons - but let them bring down the duvets and snuggle under them on the sofa to watch. Perfect for wintry afternoons when being cosy is to be indulged
• There are various websites that offer printable colouring in and puzzle pages which my boys have enjoyed in the past. www.abcteach.com is one such website

Above all don't fear them being bored - this is quite a natural experience for a child, and if you feel you have to provide 'entertainment' all the time to relieve this then you're not allowing them to be creative and innovative with their time. Its important that they learn to amuse themselves. This is particularly true today when children's school time is so scheduled. Allowing them the freedom to think of things to do themselves is an important part of becoming self reliant young people and adults.