Own happy childhood for my kids
As a couple, Joe Swash and Stacey Solomon could probably afford to live a jetset lifestyle with their six kids.
But the down-to-earth pair had such happy childhoods themselves that they want nothing more than to replicate that happiness for their young family – and rather than jetting here, there and everywhere with the kids in tow, they love going on plenty of days out and enjoying the British Isles, whatever the weather.
The couple, who have three children together – Rex, aged four, Rose, two, Belle, one – plus Stacey’s two sons from previous relationships, Zachary,
16, and Leighton, nearly
12, and Swash’s son Harry, 16, have returned from a long weekend away at a
Kent caravan park, where Swash says the kids love the clubhouse, the kids’ disco “and all that malarkey”.
“The kids love it down there, and I have such fond memories myself of being down the caravan,” said Swash, 42. “It was a chance to explore – mum and dad let me run around the campsite with my pals exploring and having unstructured play. All those memories are so fond for me.
“Me and Stacey were really blessed – we had a really stable, loving upbringing, and we did some lovely things. We have memories that stayed with us, so we just want to replicate them and make new memories. And it’s so precious this time – they’re not going to be kids forever, so we just try to make as many memories for them as possible.”
Swash is supporting the launch of Dairylea Discovery Days.
“I’d encourage people to get out and let their kids have a little bit of unstructured play. It can be really difficult – it’s hard times, people are working really hard. So, if you can do little things for the kids it really does help – they’ve just got to do their best.”
Swash is supporting Dairylea Discovery Days, in partnership with Trainline, offering £10 off a rail ticket booked as a family to encourage them to get out.