Top tips for the summer holidays

We are pretty keen on family meetings . It may sound a bit touchy feely but buy a bag of pop corn and a bottle of pop , give everyone a chance to have a say set a time , stick a note on the fridge . Meeting , kitchen table to discuss summer holidays . This gives everyone a chance to have a say . At the appointed hour brainstorm with your children and come up with a realistic list of what you would all like to do . Make sure you include things for wet weather , things you can do at home and things that are free .
Our list looks like this …( Clearly I removed Disney world for a month and swimming with dolphins in a fair and democratic manner !!!)
Go strawberry picking
Go to the beach
Pond dipping
Sketching compettiton in a field
Fishing
Have a stall at a boot fair
Go to the cinema
The science museum
Find a skate park
Learn to roller blade
And so on ….pin it up it up on the fridge and work through it

You …Don’t forget that the summer holidays are a little bit of a misnomer for mums , they can be pretty tiring Remember plan some fun and time for you as well. Make sure you have some treats planned either before the school holidays start or plan some swaps during the holidays. My top tip is to plan how you want to spend your free hours before the holidays begin otherwise you may waste time. So create a list , with yourself .. mine looks like this
Get a novel , lie in the park with a big bottle of water a bought sandwich and read all day long.
Window shopping , get the lady ion the make up counter to do me , and buy the lipstick
Pic nic with a friend by water , river, pond or sea not fussed

Have a foody day with the children look at the books together and then make for the market or an interesting food hall. Buy some different things and then cook for supper, Let the children do as much as you think is safe, but encourage them to lay the table nicely with a cloth and candles and a special drink. If you work then they could do as much for the meal with whoever is looking after them and then treat you to a little restaurant at home.

Emily always laughs at me because she says I think the solution to most problems lies at the Library . I love libraries , even though some of them smell a bit. We all have a local library and they are crammed full not only of free books to borrow and enjoy but bags of information. Telling you what is on locally . Go have a look I guarantee you will get ideas and find out what is on in your area and if you fancy something , put it in your diary and GO. It is so easy to make excuses and just not bother .

Days out

They may kick and scream but they will enjoy a day out ( even if they don’t realise it for a few years ! ) . Go city culture / Rural / Tourist / Just walk from your home Fill a ruc sac , do a bit of research at the library before you set off ,plan a route leave the house early and spend the whole day out . Prepare yourselves for a really good walk. Shoes, water, backpack, refreshments, and then hike along the towpath from Putney to somewhere quite challenging and then get the train home. The local library usually has good walking guides. This is an activity that you may have to force your children on but they should enjoy it once they get going. Apparently you can bike along the towpath according to a friend of mine but I am not sure

Camping

7 Go immediately to Argos and, purchase tent a reasonable 4 man costs about £40 or £60 if you want to rooms and go camping. www.argos.co.uk Book your site by visiting www.caravancampingsites.co.uk which shows pictures of some sites who advertise there or www.uk-sites.com has listings of numbers and addresses of all sites in the UK. Do use a site though rather than pitching on your own not only for safety, but also for the loo blocks. Some forestry commission ones in the New forest don’t have loos!!!!!!! Could be a good thing could be a bad but beware. You do not have to go far. My top tip is the new forest which has loads of sites, Camping is fun honestly top tip don’t go for too many nights unless you have the gear and stamina and don’t need much sleep. Top tip take your duvet!!!

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Have a last minute summer drinks party for you and the children. Invite the neighbours and all those people you have wanted to get to know a bit better but have been unsure about
My top tips are to reduce stress and pressure on yourselves keep it low key and last minute invite people on the phone or drop invites through letterboxes. Buy a case of wine, which you probably won’t use as people will bring bottles, make a load of nice sandwiches and have a party from 6 – 9.30 ish . Cheap , pay back all the people you owe and fun for you and the children . Let them invite some of their friends and then you can get to know their parents a bit better rather than dropping off and picking up etc.