We’ve been on a couple of very expensive days out (despite taking a picnic and telling ourselves we won’t spend too much). Themes parks are great to entertain the children, although far too expensive and exhausting to do everyday, so what do we do for the rest of the school holidays?

• Having their friends over to play can relieve you for a few hours although the tidying up after will more than keep you busy as they play with each and every toy within grabbing distance.
• A trip outdoors is always good to relieve them of their endless energy and it keeps your house tidy.
• The swimming pool is good for everyone and can be stretched out with the promise of cake in the café afterwards.
• Baking, arts and crafts will keep them occupied for an hour or possibly two.
• Board games are fun and great for counting and learning the art of not always winning!!!

Then what?

The favourite play of my daughter is ‘let’s pretend’.

First of all I have to point out that I find this play particularly difficult as she expects me to play as a fellow 5 year old. I try, I really do but I do find that after an hour of looking after her numerous babies, changing their nappies, feeding them and walking them, I generally feel like I’m loosing the plot!

My husband actually does have his concerns as he came home early the other day to find me sitting in her plastic play house in the garden looking after her ‘babies’ whilst she was sitting indoors on the comfy sofa. Do you know I actually enjoyed sitting out there in the playhouse as I had sneakily taken a magazine and was enjoying my ten minutes of peace and quiet!

How far will you go? Am I alone in the fact that sometimes it all seems a bit much and I feel guilty if I am not making their summer holidays fun?

The school holidays are here and the time where we think about taking the children off for a day trip or maybe even a holiday. 

If you are travelling with children can mean a fraught journey full of shouts of ‘are we there yet?’, fighting with their siblings or needing toilet stops every 10 miles, however, it doesn’t have to be like this or at least there are a few things we can do to make it easier! 

• Be prepared – fill a bag up with plenty of wet wipes, snacks (preferably without lots of E numbers) and lots of refreshments.
• Take a change of clothes so it won’t matter if they spill their drink or squash a nice big piece of chocolate into their shorts.
• If they have a machine to play games on make sure it has plenty of batteries and they have all their favourite games. You could even swap with a friend for a few days so both your children get to try a new game.

Don’t forget all the old favourite journey games! 

• Eye-spy is one we all probably remember and if your children are too young to play using letters than try eye-spy using colours.
• Another great one, all choose a colour and get a point for every car in your colour.
• The ‘YES/NO’ game is a quick fun one.
• Older children may like playing the game where you name celebrities throughout the alphabet. Start with A and work your way throughout the alphabet until a player can’t go. You don’t have to use celebrities, you could choose animals, places etc.

There are plenty of games to try, and don’t forget it’s also a great time to talk to your children about where you are going and what sort of things they will find when they get there. Chat to them about what things they want to do when they arrive and let them take a photo of each other on the journey so they feel their journey is the start of their day out or their holiday and part of the excitement.  

You may feel guilty that your son’s best friend has the best of everything. Designer clothes, games consoles and all the latest trends but don’t feel guilty if you can’t do the same for your child.

Giving you child everything they want and never saying ‘NO’ may seem like you are doing your best for them but what they need more than anything is our love. Material possessions are not the same as spending quality time with your child which is invaluable.

·        Let them choose an activity which you can do together. It can be as simple as baking a gooey chocolate cake, or making something with some messy arts and crafts.

·        Read with your children, let them read to you and take it in turns. Make a little time every night before bed to tell them a story. They will remember the fairytales or stories you tell them and will enjoy the undivided attention.

·        Go to the park, take a ball, a kite or simply go on a nature trail. Just enjoy being out in the fresh air with them.

·        Make meal times a chance where the whole family can sit together and talk. Let it be a time where they can talk to you about places they would like to visit, find out who their latest best friend is and show interest in them. It’s good if they can share their fears, excitement and worries with you without it becoming a ‘big deal’.

·        Start up a new family hobby, such as bike riding, playing skittles or even starting a vegetable garden and letting everyone choose what they would like to try and grow.

Sometimes it can be hard to find time to dedicate it just to your children, with piles of ironing, washing, hovering and meals to cook. If this is the case ask them to help. Pop on some funky music and get busy in the kitchen. Let them help you cook, make sauces or lay the table whilst doing a boogie. Show them your best disco moves whilst dusting and get them to join in. It may not be as perfect as you’d like but as least you had fun!

In many years ahead your child will remember the funny stories you told at bedtime or the crazy dances you used to do together. These make much better memories than a child who had everything he wanted except his parent’s time!