How to Plan Summer Holiday Fun for Kids

he summer holidays are almost upon us! So why so glum mum?

Hmmm … maybe it’s the thought of being Chief Entertainment Officer alongside CEO of the Household, alongside fitting in work and anytime for yourself.

Plus there’s all the extra mealtimes to provide for – why do kids expect to have lunch on non-school days eh?!!

So how on earth do you survive the summer vacation without it costing a fortune and without losing your marbles? I asked a whole host of my mummy friends and these are what they came up with …

Planning Summer Holiday Fun for Kids

1. Don’t over schedule … don’t plan every last minute of every day!!
2. Just have simple prompts to play ready to go … particularly no prep ones like these … so you’re not constantly back footed …
3. Check out museums and parks for free activities – there’s usually far more than you might think. If you’re a fellow Londoner, you’ll love this list of 50 Free Things To Do In London …
4. Kick off a project … that will last all summer long. We’ve got a whole list of ideas for projects here AND on our brand new mama.codes website you and your kids can actually learn to code over the summer. You can get started for free in less than 5 minutes right here …
5. Love, love, love your library … go every week
6. Try to create a bit of routine … i.e. do something similar each Monday … kids much more adaptable if they know what to expect
7. Get out early … before the squabbles start … and beat the crowds
8. Prep something fun for packed lunches on trips so not tempted to buy stuff
9. Create simple weekly meal plan and bulk cook + freeze everything in advance … pizza Monday, Spag Bol Tuesday helps give kids a routine …
10. Share meal plans with neighbours – it’s as easy to cook for 6 kids as for 2 – if 3 or 4 mums share lunch time duties will cut effort even further and kids will have more fun
11. Tolerate mess … BUT have a quick tidy up together before lunch, 15 minutes at end of day and 30 minutes once a week
12. A rota for simple chores … setting table, filling dishwasher, helping with laundry, watering plants … and have a reward chart for them …
13. Put aside at least 15 minutes everyday for reading practice
14. Work mental arithmetic into as many every day activities as you can – going to the store – adding up reward points
15. Create a a daily diary to keep up writing practice
16. Arrange for them to volunteer and help someone else once a week … great if can be tied into seeing a relative who might not see so much of during term time.
17. Book in stuff like dentists, hair cuts that never get round to during term.
18. Shop back to school stuff early so not caught in last minute scrap for stuff
19. Plan time off for yourself every week … to get your hair done, have a child free coffee with friends, read a book, take a nap … don’t wait until you’re in melt down to demand time off!
20. Let them be BORED some of the time!! Working out how to entertain yourself an incredibly important skill

Luci McQuitty Hindmarsh

Luci is the founder of Mums Make Lists. She has written about all aspects of organising family life for ten years. Her main areas of expertise are family finance and budgeting, simplifying housekeeping and family admin and kids’ party planning. Read more.