Summer holidays. The bane of our lives or six precious weeks with our beloved offspring. As a work from home mum, I have mixed emotions as the summer break creeps up on us. It’s going to be tough trying to work and entertain the kids full time. But at the same time, I’m looking forward to it. And to help us along, the children and I have come up with a genius idea to prevent boredom.
The boredom busting summer holiday fun list
For the first couple of weeks of the holidays, we’ll be going camping. My husband will be with us and we’ll be busy. But after that, I’ll have four weeks to keep the children entertained. Four weeks! That’s so much time to fill. And yet, when I chat to the girls about it, there is a plethora of things they’d like to do. Some are big days out and others just involve playing at home. So we decided to make a list.
Four weeks is 28 days. I’m pretty sure it ends up being just over four weeks so I’m including a few extras. We’ve all pitched in to choose things for the list and now it’s on paper, I feel so much better. There will still be tears and tantrums. There will still be days when we’re kicking our heels. But we’ll also manage to fit in some brilliant family fun and hopefully make the most of this summer.
Just in case you decide to make your own list, here’s ours to give you a few ideas.
Our list
- Horse riding
- Visit a new National Trust property
- Go to our favourite National Trust property – Croome
- Go to the beach to do our Golden Bucket Sand Art for Konfidence
- Visit Eastnor Castle
- Go to Drayton Manor
- Walk on the Malvern hills
- Swim at our local pool
- Open water swimming
- Grass sledging
- Do some crafts
- Paint pottery
- Fly a kite
- Soft play
- Bouldering at the local climbing wall
- Visit the Black Country Living Museum
- Bake a cake
- See the girls’ cousin
- Go on a train
- Lunch at Wagamama’s
- Go out for dinner
- Feed the animals at Cob House
- Feed the ducks at a local pond
- Build a den
- Meet up with school friends
- Have a picnic at the park
- Afternoon tea in a café
- Visit a local farm park
- Spend a day at Warwick Castle
- Have chips at the seaside
- Watch a film at the cinema
- Do Parkrun
- Go kayaking
- Have a lie in (Libby’s idea not mine!)
- Get lost in a maze
Do you ever make a summer holiday list? What goes on your list? I hope you have a great summer whatever you decide to do.
Great list, I’ve seen a few people start planning early this year I’ve booked up several trips but not planned anything to fill the gaps yet. Probably should with how fast this year is going!
Love the horse riding idea
Yes, it does go too fast doesn’t it??
Nat.x
You’re right, there’s so much time to fill! I love this list, though. We usually make one too, but I haven’t got round to it yet. Might take your lead and try horse riding out this year….
Oh yes, horse riding is one I’ll have to make sure I book in – I’m not very good at that, tend to be more spontaneous!
Nat.x
What a great list! A good combination of big treats and cheaper, everyday things. We never make a list! It’s hard with kids who don’t get out of bed until 11. They still want to do stuff as a family quite a lot of the time, but of course they do their own thing too. The main thing we tend to do in the holidays as a family is go to the cinema. I also take the kids out for lunch once a week – only for a really cheap takeaway sandwich or something, but they always enjoy that.
Yes, it must be harder with older children. I’m making the most of this age!
Nat.x
This is such a good idea. I’ve got the first 4 weeks to entertain the girls on my own. I think they would love to make a list of things to do during it. I can’t believe our girls have nearly finished their first year x
I know, it has gone too fast!
Nat.x
They all sound lovely! A few new places which we will pinch off you – We recommend / going to explore . . .
RAF Museum TF11 8UP
Wrens nest national nature reserve – 400 million years ago in Dudley and it has real fossils
lapworth museum of geology
Great central railway Loughborough – 1940s style !
Maybe see you around some of them?
Thanks so much for the recommendations!
Nat.x
Hi Nat, the school summer holidays are a testing time. A time when memories can be made, but also a testing time for parents. You do sound prepared though! Grass sledging sounds like fun, but what about rolling down a grassy hill too? It’s great fun, but can be stomach turning!
When the children were younger we used to try and meet up with friends for an evening swim down the beach as often as possible and every now and again we would go to the waterpark. We enjoyed hot afternoons watching films and eating cold stuff. Other than that we tended to hibernate. The school holidays here are three months, which is far too long (unless you’re the children!).
I hope you get to do everything on your list and more!
xx
Oh yes, great idea about rolling down the hill! Oh wow, I wish we could go for a swim in the evenings, we’re too far away from the coast here in the Midlands!
Nat.x
I love your list of activities – you’ve got lots of fun things planned on this list. I love drawing up a list with the girls for the summer holidays – it’s such a good way of making sure you have lots of ideas of what to do during the holidays. I love that Libby has included having a lie-in on the list too! 🙂
Thank you, I do hope we get the lie-in!
Nat.x
I love this list! There really are so much fun things to do in the summer. A lie-in sounds good too, wish my two would add that to their lists, ha ha! 🙂 x
I hope we actually get that lie in!
Nat.x
Great list! Since my ragamuffin came along I also make a list, mainly of days out that we want to squeeze in.
So far our list for this year includes Whipsnade Zoo, The Tropical Butterfly House in Leeds and trips to the North Yorkshire coast.
I hope you make it to all your days out!
Nat.x
Oooo wonderful list! It’s good to be this organised. We must try and come and see some of these
Yes, come and see us!
Nat.x