Two years ago I broke a bone in my foot on the very first weekend of the summer holidays! The next six weeks with a 5 and a 2 year old were well, interesting to say the least, but it taught me a thing or two about keeping children physically and mentally active without the fail safe option of leaving the house. We not only survived most weeks home alone with me on crutches, we found ways to enjoy it. The summer holidays are fast approaching again and while I’m keeping my fingers crossed for no trips to A&E before it comes around, I’ll be relying on these quick tips and some very handy tech to make our summer the best (and most stress free) one ever. Read on for How to Survive the Summer Holidays with Small Children.
Keep Them Cool
I cannot stress enough the importance of stopping little ones from overheating. We’re talking paddling pools, homemade ice lollies and especially fans you can follow them around with. The handheld ones do nothing but blow warm air in their faces so this year I’m bringing in the big fans. The SharkFlexBreeze High-Velocity Hibrid Fan is already keeping us cool at night (which also helps everyone get the sleep they need) but it has a genius trick up its sleeve. With the press of a button this standing fan becomes a cordless and portable with all of the of a mains powered fan. It can keep you cool anywhere in your home and garden.
Easy Access to Fun
A basket or box with a selection of games and toys. This not only gives you an out for when they’re bored, it’s also easy to tidy up again later. In fact, you can give them the job of keeping that organised for a weekly reward.
Save Screens for Emergencies
And by emergencies I absolutely mean mum needs 10 minutes to actually enjoy a cup of tea. I’m a big believer in using screens as a tool, but not allowing our lives to revolve around them. That doesn’t mean I don’t run out of energy and need my kids to be fully occupied without my attention every now and then.
The solution, a portable speaker. I have used my phone in the past but my children are obsessed with what’s happening on the screen whenever I play anything out loud on it. Even if it’s just a picture they can’t take their eyes off it. But when I play our entertainment through a speaker, there’s no screen to stare at. Instead we draw, read or play while listening. All very wholesome and all very calm.
Music, ebooks or podcasts all have this magical power to stop bickering instantly. I can take this JBLGO 4 Compact Portable Speaker anywhere in the house or garden with me as my magic wand for a calm a peaceful day of fun.
Snacks!
I don’t need to tell you this but snacks are your secret weapon.
If your children have any self control you could set up a snack trolley or drawer and have them help themselves. When I broke my foot I had a basket which added an element of surprise to the endless renditions of ‘mum can I have a snack’
Don’t forget the snacks!
Staying Healthy
As I’ve already stated we do not want any trips to the hospital for the foreseeable future. I’ve recently been diagnosed with Asthma which has been caused by a dust allergy. And while I have my own systems in place for ensuring my house is clean (see my blog post on 11 Hacks to Make Spring Cleaning Surprisingly Quick and Easy) I still get allergic reactions every now and then. Add to that the pollen, pollution and brought in through open windows and managing the asthma becomes that much harder. I’m now using the Russell Hobbs Compact Dehumidifier and Air Purifier in my bedroom to keep the air clean through the night and the difference is clear. I have been waking up less in the night and the room smells fresh and clean when we wake in the morning. Such a wonderful way to start the day.
Wake Up with the Sun
Speaking of starting the day keeping a morning routine going through the summer holidays not only makes it easier to fill your days with fun. It also makes the transition back to school easier come September. And yes, no one wants to be woken up with an awful alarm during the holidays, but equally not when the sun actually rises at 4am. We have blackout blinds that are a godsend throughout summer to block out the sun in the late evening and early mornings, but there’s nothing more refreshing than waking up naturally with daylight. The Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100 Wake-up Light gives you the best of both worlds. Set the time you wan’t the sun to rise in your bedroom and the light will mimic the sunrise to wake you gently from your sleep. You can also set the light to fade for a relaxing evening wind down before you go to sleep.
Make Chores Fun
I’m no Mary Poppins but I’ve got two foolproof ways to get my children to help around the house. Firstly set a timer. The 10 minute tidy is a regular occurrence in our house. It helps if you run around with them but make it fun and set them small targets as you go. Second is the ever reliable reward chart, but I don’t mean putting gold stars onto a grid. We go big. This could be a pom pom jar that needs to be filled to the top. Bluetac squares of paper on the wall starting from the floor and work your way to the ceiling. Maybe play songs from their favourite album and see if you can get through it in a day. Be creative and build your reward charts around the things they love.
Streamline the Everyday Tasks
Is there a way to make each task easier? At meal times make double the amount and freeze. Keep phone chargers in one place so you don’t lose them. Get an electric toothbrush with a long run time for less charges. With the Philips Sonicare Series 5300 Electric Toothbrush you get two weeks of cleaning from a single charge, meaning you could even take this away with you on holiday without worry. It’s all the little things that help keep you on top of the big things!
