Empowering Mums is on a mission to make your summer holidays as fun-packed and stress-free as possible. This is why we have put together a list of great activities for you and your children to enjoy. You can refer back to this list time and again to maximise the time spent with the kids, and avoid any unnecessary boredom that might set in during the long weeks ahead!

1. Plan Events Together
Find out how each family member wants to spend their summer holiday and plan in everyone’s chosen activities. Make sure the wish list is realistic and try to fulfil everyone’s choices throughout the summer.

2. Make It A Date
Life for working mums and stay-at-home mums can be hectic so try to plan at least one night a week where you spend some quality time together as a family. A good way to do this is to have a Friday film night or a Saturday morning swim. Whatever you choose to do, make sure the whole family is involved in the fun.

3. Allocate Responsibilities
Don’t make more work for yourself this summer holidays. Give your children and partner household chores to do. Ensure your children make their beds every morning and tidy their bedrooms at least once a week. Make chores fun by rewarding them for their help, such as giving them some extra pocket money for filling and emptying the dishwasher, or a special treat for helping to clean the car. Although these activities can be mundane, enlisting the help of the entire family will mean jobs get done quicker, leaving you more time to spend together doing fun things.

4. Avoid Doing Too Much
Sometimes we make ourselves do more because we think it will make us feel better. If you think at any point over the summer that you are trying to achieve too much and are ending up rushing around to satisfy the demands of your children, try to remember it is okay to slow down. Having some calm, relaxing time at home together will give you all a moment to recharge your batteries!

5. Keep Active
Kids love being outdoors. Take advantage of this by going on bike rides and walks in the countryside. Find out what outdoor activities your local council are hosting for the children during the summer holidays – local government websites usually contain this information. If you find it difficult getting to the countryside, have fun in your local surroundings, such as your garden or local park. Simple games such as football, tennis or catch can be fun with the kids.

6. Explore Nature
Children find nature fascinating. You won’t have to go far to find bugs and mini beasts for them to investigate! You can help your children make their own houses for ladybirds, nest boxes for birds and bug jars for creepy crawlies! If you want to go further than your own backyard, local conservation areas are great places to let children explore.

7. Pack A Picnic
Picnics can be great fun. Not only will you and your children enjoy eating a picnic out on some parkland or at the seaside, packing a picnic can be fun too. You can even spend time before hand baking special treats with the children for them to enjoy on the day of the picnic. Invite some friends along so your children can play together while you catch up!

8. Get Gardening.
Take advantage of the good weather and enjoy some family time in the garden. Children love to help with simple jobs so give them tasks such as raking or weeding. Planting can also be lots of fun and together you can create some colourful pots and hanging baskets. Children love getting dirty and filling tubs with compost can really appeal to them!

9. Invite Friends Over.
Sometimes having more children over to play can be easier than just having yours alone. As crazy as it sounds, it is true! If you are daunted by having to look after someone else’s children, then organise a coffee morning for other mums. Ask them over with their children and you can have a good chat while the children play. When it all gets too much, everyone can simply go home having enjoyed a lovely morning!

10. Enjoy Some Special Day Trips.
Children love visiting and exploring new places. Arrange some day trips to places such as the seaside, a farm or the zoo. A new environment will reinvigorate you all and give you something completely new to focus on. These are days that can be the most memorable so make sure you schedule a few into your holiday diary!

However you choose to spend your summer holidays, we hope these ideas help to keep you and your family entertained. By ensuring your children are amused and happy, you too will be happy. We hope you enjoy this special time with your family and have a fantastic summer!

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Tags: children, family entertainment, fun for the kids, fun packed summer, school holidays, stress-free holiday, summer holidays, things to do this summer

This entry was posted on Monday, August 9th, 2010 at 6:00 am and is filed under Family Relationships, Parenting. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.