SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS FOR ACTIVITIES? HERE ARE MY TIPS...
School holidays are great! They give me a much-needed break from packing lunches and preparing uniforms, not to mention the early starts and constant race from one activity to another. But they can also be stressful, trying to fill the time with fun activities that keep the kids happy without running us into major debt.
It’s not always possible to take the kids on a holiday or to fill every day with a movie or play centre. Especially with a family of eight, it gets tricky to find things we can do on a budget. If COVID taught us anything though, it’s that we have plenty of wonderful parks and gardens, and a picnic is always lots of fun for the whole family.
We like to take balls, a frisbee and bubbles for the little ones, and of course, plenty of food and a picnic rug. It’s a great way to spend a few hours, and if friends come, it’s even better.
We also like to occasionally splurge and blow the budget with something exciting for the family. We recently went to Luna Park and it was amazing. I sent Matt on all the rides that terrify me (pretty much all of them!) and was happy to just watch the kids laugh and enjoy themselves.
I remember going there as a child and it was so much fun to give my kids the same experience and share a little piece of Melbourne history with them.
Sometimes it’s those sorts of days where forever memories are made.
Other activities we like during the school holidays are trips to the beach when the weather is nice. And they are even better finished with fish and chips on the beach as the sun goes down.
I didn’t really spend much time at the beach as a child, but Matt did and I have started to love it with Matt and the kids, as they are all so happy around the water. I will never love sand through everything, but you can’t win them all!
We also love a trip to the zoo or a wildlife sanctuary, and a pony ride is always a winner for the younger kids.
For me, it’s about balancing the fun while still trying to relax and enjoy a break from the usual routine. Just having the time to play with their toys and connect with one another is so important.
Before we know it they will be at university, so I’m really trying to make the most of these years where they still all want to be with us.