Family Support Thoughts

Family Support Thoughts Issue 2

How to Survive the Long Summer Holidays

How to survive the long summer holidays … just a few ideas to share, you probably have lots more.

There are some real benefits to being just a little organised over the summer holidays.

1.

Children feel involved in the planning process, which promotes self-worth and good behavior

2.

There is much less need to say 'no', because you have a plan, everyone knows what they are doing. For this reason it reduces 'parent guilt'.

3.

No afternoons or evenings go to waste! If you want a quiet one, schedule it in, if you want to be sociable, schedule that in too.

Fight fix it: Rest assured that children will always find the silliest things to fight about.

Who would have thought mine craft ‘Stampy Long Nose’ could have caused so many dramas, or what to watch on the Disney channel could signal a disagreement? If children can't get along, then life until September can be an awful long time.

Try finding individual things or toys to keep children amused and invite a few of their friends over. For the price of a few extra chicken dippers, you've got playmates to keep your child amused.

Watch the weather forecasts. If a week of cool, rainy weather is forecast, phone round friends to arrange a few play dates. If there is a guest child or two in the house, rainy day boredom is much less of an issue. Book in a lazy day each week, where they pretty much entertain themselves and you can get some of your own stuff done.

Reward a day of de-cluttering by booking a car boot pitch, so they can sell outgrown clothes/ toys. www.carbootjunction.com lists all major car boot sites.

For younger children, try giving them a taste of life before computer games.

Climbing trees, making dens and playing make believe. You can order a scrap book full of idea’s at www.persil.com If you want to join in the fun, try a treasure hunt. Computer printing company HP has designed a website that lets parents and children design there own treasure hunt. Its free to use and can be personalised by you adding landmarks from around your home. You can use sample clues given or create your own. To create your own go to www.hp.com/uk/summer Let the fitness industry association find activities ideal for your family. Its summer activity finder will show you what activities from health and fitness centres to football and summer camps are running in your area www.fia.org.uk Museums are free, fun and educational. There are loads of exhibitions up and down the country that will suit any age range. Let www.24hourmuseum.org.uk do the searching for you, it can even narrow the search by age suitability.

Top ten boredom buster ideas for over the holidays: 1. Search out those board games you usually get out at Christmas! Don’t leave them until next Christmas, they are brilliant fun and really bring the family together 2. Get the children to write some letters to their friends or even someone famous. The art of letter writing is a real skill and hopefully not one that is being replaced totally by electronic mail.

3. Have a mini sports day in your garden or your local park. Try egg and spoon races, simple obstacle courses, three legged races and all your childhood favourites.

4. Check out your local libraries they often have quite a comprehensive list of events held over the holidays.

5. Long walks can be a surprise holiday success and have a number of benefits, they make children healthier, they fall asleep quicker, it costs nothing and they may even like it.

6. Have a theme day! Pick something like pretending to be a Victorian and get them living without electricity, doing chores together, not speaking until they are spoken to. And everyone has to be in bed by 1901 or else they turn into an Edwardian.

7. Make a film. Encourage your children write a story board, create a script, design costumes and get them to act it out and film it too!

8. If your children want a sleep over with a difference, why not let them pitch a tent in the garden. If you are worried you can let them come in at bedtime.

9. On a good weather day, you could have a pool party. All you need is a small paddling pool, a sprinkler (you can water the lawn at the same time) and a few deck chairs. A few ice lollies and let them run wild in the water.

10. You could engage in their competitive instincts and arrange a computer tournament for them and their friends. Agree fixtures beforehand!

Top 5 free days out in the West Midlands 1. Cannon Hill Park 2. Licky Hills Country Park 3. Museum of Cannock Chase 4. Branston Water Park 5. Fradley Junction

Enjoy your fun packed summer holidays