The summer holidays are looming and you need to be prepared. In order to help you out some top parenting bloggers have pooled their thoughts on how best to be ready!
1. Stock up on batteries and replace all the batteries in toys that need them
2. Charge your camera and have it ready to go
3. Check over you car, oil, water, tyre pressure etc. and pop in a few sick and rubbish bags too!
4. Sort through the felt tips, crayons and pencils (get the kids to) and restock if required. A ream of paper is a useful thing!
5. Get the kids to make a list of “things we’d like to do in the holidays” and try to work out how much it will all cost. You can then manage their expectations about what you can and can’t do. ( Jenny: Cheetahs in my shoes)
6. Check the swimming costumes fit! (also from Jenny!)
7. Pump up everyone’s bikes and check for punctures
8. Clean the paddling pool or replace it and maybe consider a watergun or two!
9. Get dates from your local cinema for kids club and cheap seats days
10. Get your local bus timetable
11. Get haircuts, dental appointments and the like booked in now for later in the summer to avoid everywhere being booked up.
12. Make sure your kids have library cards, you know the library open times and sign up for their reading challenge. Libraries are perfect for a rainy day and free fun! (they may also have free workshops on too)
13. Check your toys, charity shop or pass on any that are outgrown and discard those broken beyond repair. ‘Tis a fact kids are more likely to play with toys if they don’t have to wade through piles of too young, broken, mismatched bits first.
14. Have a little DVD swap around with a few friends ahead of the holidays, new movies for everyone!
15. Check out your council website to see what fun family days or events are on locally over the summer.
16. Book in playdates now!! You may miss your window as people go away and book up activities fast. get out your diary and plan some in quick! and don’t forget to et school friend’s parents phone numbers before they break up for summer so you can arrange play dates. (Liz: Me and my shadow)
17. How about buy your teacher a present or write them a thank you card? If you are a leaver … have everyone sign your uniform? be sure to mark the end of term(Susanna: A Modern Mother)
18. Stock up on craft supplies, old egg boxes and card board for craft projects on rainy days (Carolin: Mummy Alarm) Click here for a post all about how to put together a home-made craft box
19. Rotate some of the toys. Think about what toys the kids haven’t played with for a while and bring those out. Kids forget what they have so swapping them around gives their toy box a new lease of life and lots more hours of play. ( Laura: Tired mummy of two)
20. Why not make a bored jar with a big mix of ideas to keep them busy (Alice: Life as Alice)
21. Do an online search for free events at local parks and museums (Andrea All you need is love and cake)
22. On a practical level make sure the house is clean, the fridge is stocked (with wine) & the laundry basket is empty (Helen; The Crazy Kitchen)
23. Buy the kids a scrap book and encourage them to collect things, take photos and draw pictures to record their Summer – mine like to take theirs into school at the start of the new term for Show and Tell.
(Donna:Mummy Central) A daily diary is fun to do too and keeps them writing! (Aly: Bug bird bee)
24. Get picnic ready…. water bottles and a picnic basket are summer holiday essentials ! and it’s great for the kids to get outside and run off some energy! (Donna: Little lilypad)
25. Relax! I find the final weeks of the summer term such a whirlwind with all the additional activities school throw at them. It’s hard to keep up with it all, and they end up exhausted. So I try to take some downtime when I can. We just hang out in the garden together, eat simple food, or watch a movie. Everyone needs a bit of space in the mayhem of the summer term. (Helen:Actually Mummy)
26. I pop to the shops and put together an emergency fun bag that includes things like a couple of new DVDs, books, sticker packs and activity books, picking whatever is on offer so I don’t spend too much. When the weather has ruined our plans or things are stressful I let the boys pick something out of the bag to cheer everyone up. (Cat Cats yellow days)
27: Plan a few special days …..maybe a train ride to the seaside, a whole class meet up and sports day on the park, or maybe a weekend trip to grannies or a camp out in the garden. The secret to not going stir crazy in the holidays is to have a mixed bag of experiences, free time and play dates all prepared. (oh and at least a night or two off!)
Good luck hope you have a fabulous time and I hope these tips help.
great list, and thanks for including me – I am far from ready!
HELEN recently posted…Better with BRITA – Home Made Coconut Milk & Chocolate Iced Lollies
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Am not quite there myself Helen!
Becky Goddard-Hill recently posted…How to prepare for the school summer holidays
Super helpful and didn’t make me feel as panicked as I thought!
Penny A Residence recently posted…How to progress beyond Gin and Tonic: Blackcurrant Gin Fizz (Giveaway)
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That’s good to hear! We must book in a picnic at rushcliffe country park with all the kids
Becky Goddard-Hill recently posted…How to prepare for the school summer holidays
Wow what a great list! I’m loving the idea of an emergency fun bag….
Amanda recently posted…Chatsworth House & Gardens #SummerGoodTimes
Thanks for including my tip – I need to take my own advice! You’ve just reminded me to get lots of craft stuff in – J’s DIY projects are taking over the house and I hate to think what will happen when we run out.
Helen @actuallyblog recently posted…Home: Boys Room Makeover (part 1) GLTC Bunk Bed
Great ideas, thank you for including our tip!
Donna @ The Rose Diaries recently posted…How to complete a bedroom makeover in a weekend
Some fab tips here Becky – and thanks for reminding me to check the oil in the car before I head off this weekend! x
Mammasaurus recently posted…Street Photos: Lymington
Fabulous tips, I’m sure that we will manage to cross a few of these off over the summer
Boo Roo and Tigger Too recently posted…Fast Print – Boo Roo and Tigger Too business cards
Brilliant list! I’m busy counting down the days to the end of term next week, now I’ve got a few things to get on with while I’m waiting!
Jennifer recently posted…Making a fairy garden playset with #BostikBloggers
This is fabulous, the most useful list I’ve seen in a long time. Thanks for all the ideas. Mich x
Michelle Twin Mum recently posted…Kids Summer Essentials for Days Out by Car
Brilliant list Becky – I’m looking forward to this Summer even more than usual for some reason x x
Cass@frugalfamily recently posted…Dear so and so – the end of term edition….
Fabulous tips, Becky. Batteries are something I always forget, although sometimes that really saves my sanity 😉
Carolin recently posted…Win a LEGO set of your choice
Fabulous ideas! Thank you for sharing!
Otilia recently posted…The grass is still green!
Some great tips here – We are doing scrap booking and picnics for sure this summer as its so easy, cheap and fun
Vicky@AMumInspired recently posted…The dating game – is it all just about the sex?