In most parts of the UK, the summer break is about to start. If you’re following me from other countries, you might already be a month into it or even due to go back to school soon!
I always write my Substack based on my own thoughts and feelings about current events so you’ll have to forgive me if this article has come a little too late for you. To make up for this, I am currently in the middle of reorganising my page so it is easier to access articles that are relevant to where you are either mentally or physically. I will send out an email in the coming weeks to let you know more!
But for now, back to the topic that is on my mind - Summer! As I type this, my children have one day left in school. I am personally excited to have them with me for the next 6 weeks. It has been something of a crazy year for us: an international house move followed by nine months of house renovations have left me craving a slower pace. But I also know that the Summer break can be overwhelming. There’s the pressure to entertain, spend heaps of money and possibly work to juggle too.
We’re reminded constantly that we only have 18 summers until our children fly the nest and so we should make the most of every single second. This can be as sobering as it can be guilt inducing.
Personally, I don’t subscribe to the ‘18 Summers’ narrative. I don’t sign myself up to the pressure of making every summer the best one yet. I believe that Summer can be pretty simple and still be full of wonder.
Results from the Instagram Poll:
To find out how other parents felt about the summer holidays, I did a poll on my Instagram page. As you can see, the results show a mixed reaction to the break.
64% of respondents had mixed feelings about the Summer holidays
33% loved and looked forward to the summer holidays
45% cited the difficulties of work-life balance during the holidays as one reason they disliked the break
35% worried about the pressure to entertain their children
53% saw the slower, less pressured schedule as a reason to love the break
24% enjoyed spending more time with their children
In this article, we’re going to explore some of the common concerns parents have during the summer holidays. Due to the timing of posting this article, I’m not addressing vacations or summer camps because I’m almost certain you have those organised by now!
The expense of summer holidays
According to research, British parents spend more than £2600 a year ($3,265) keeping their children entertained. During the summer holidays, an average of £127 ($159) per week is spent on trips and entertainment. There’s no denying that fun family trips have gotten so much more expensive.
I recently researched, then quickly dismissed the new Paddington Experience in London which would’ve cost me £176 by the time I added up tickets and train fares!
“Financial constraints led me to explore local community programs and free resources. I’ve realised that it’s not about extravagant outings or expensive vacations but rather about embracing the beauty of our surroundings, enjoying picnics in the park, and making memories through simple experiences.”
This Playful Home Voice of Parenthood Focus Group 2023
Take a moment to think back to your own childhood.
What is your most treasured memory from your own childhood? What were you doing? Who with? What made the moment special?
Back in the early days of my childhood, we didn’t go on package holidays to Spain or Greece, nor was there a big surprise trip to Disney World, but I never felt like I was missing out. Every Summer we would travel to Wales, stopping along the way to visit my grandparents, then we’d head down to the Gower, in South Wales for a caravan holiday. As a child, it felt like the ultimate adventure.
The reality for my parents, of course, was different. Only my father worked, and so caravan trips to Wales were what they could afford. And whilst trips abroad came later, I still most fondly remember our summers in Wales.
Aside from these trips, most of my summers as a child were slow. Hours spent hanging out with the kids from the neighbourhood, learning new skills such as riding a bike without stabilisers - in fact, it was an older girl who lived on my street that taught me to ride my bike and not my parents.
Simple Solutions to Summer Spending:
When I’m looking at the cost of summer, I research trips in advance and calculate how many we can realistically do. As a family of 5, even a simple trip to the cinema can really add up. During the holidays, I aim to do one ‘wow’ trip per week but that doesn’t mean that the rest of the time is spent stuck in the house.
Ideas to try:
No spend challenge days
Find free museums to visit
Take a picnic along on day trips
Research new parks to visit
Host a recycled craft challenge
Be a tourist in your local area
Recreate a 1980s / 1990s summer
The Duration
Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do about the length of the summer holiday! The best thing to do is aim to embrace it by creating a slow summer routine.
“Finding a balance between work and childcare was initially overwhelming. However, by setting clear boundaries, establishing a schedule, and involving my children in the planning process, I’ve been able to create meaningful moments while still meeting my professional commitments.”
This Playful Home Voice of Parenthood Focus Group 2023
Simple Solutions to try:
Creating a daily, weekly and seasonal family rhythm was one of the best things I did for my family. With that being said, the summer holidays have a whole rhythm of their own!
You can also try encouraging your child to pursue a hobby they love or reach a non-academic goal they have been striving for. This helps to bring some focus to the holiday period.
I will be addressing summer rhythms in full detail in Wednesday’s email.
How to Entertain the kids?
The typical summer break might start out something like this:
Pinning all the summer schedules you see on Pinterest
Frantically googling activities to ‘keep the kids entertained’
Creating an ambitious timetable where every waking hour of the day is scheduled and accounted for
Good intentions to complete ambitious summer projects
Daily trips and adventures to avoid feelings of boredom
A declaration that there will be no-screen time that is hard to follow through with.
Most children are really used to the rigours of a typical school day, so when faced with the unstructured nature of the summer holiday, they can get bored quickly and become frustrated.
Simple Solutions to try:
One of the key things you can do as a parent is to help your child to understand their passions and interests so that they can problem solve during periods of boredom.
‘Boredom also helps children develop planning strategies, problem-solving skills, flexibility and organizational skills – key abilities that children whose lives are usually highly structured may lack.’
Jodi Musoff, MA, MEd, Child Mind Institute (Child Mind Institute, 2023)
Encourage your children to explore their interests and pursue activities that ignite their curiosity. Whether it’s diving into a new hobby, honing their artistic skills, or delving into a subject they’re passionate about, the summer becomes an opportunity for personal growth and skill development.
Establishing a gentle summer rhythm was one of the best things I did for myself and my family. Summer no longer holds the heavy weight of expectation. I don’t over-schedule our days, nor do I leave it up to chance. Purposefully choosing to weave in planned activities with slower paced days means I don’t burn out so quickly.
Too much Screen-time
It’s easy for screens to become the go-to source of entertainment during the summer break, especially when faced with the pressures of work and the need for moments of respite. However, relying too heavily on screens can create a disconnect within the family and limit the opportunities for meaningful interactions and shared experiences.
According to the non-profit Common Sense Media, so-called tweens, children ages 8 to 12, spend nearly six hours per day using media, and teenagers average closer to nine hours a day.’
(Science X, 2019)
While I’m not in any way against screen time, relying on them can hinder creativity, exploration, and the cultivation of new skills. Here’s the thing though, the more screen-time your child gets, the more they want. It becomes a battle and before you know it, the TV gets switched on before breakfast and becomes background noise for the rest of the day.
Simple Solutions to try:
Experts recommend a maximum of an hour of screen-time per day for children aged between 2 and 5 which is all very well and good, but I think we’ve all been in a position where TV just feels like the golden solution!
Again, having a predictable daily rhythm can really help reduce screen time and helps children to understand when they can play games or watch TV.
The toll of Sibling Conflict
Let’s be honest, fights between siblings can be exhausting at the best of times, but they are magnified during the summer break! They can end up squabbling over the most mundane of things which can really take it’s toll.
Siblings can take fights to brand new levels of petty. I personally find that mine argue the most when they are either tired or have spent too long in one another’s company.
Simple Solutions to try:
To reduce sibling conflict, I ensure that our daily rhythm has opportunities for a break. Mine will either play in their own rooms, read or create which gives them a chance to recharge - after that they are usually the best of friends again
Dr. Cara Damiano Goodwin from
wrote an article for my website This Playful Home, on the subject of sibling squabbles, which you can read here.To conclude…
You might’ve noticed that many of the solutions have a common theme - create a simple family rhythm! On Wednesday, I’ll be sharing a simple family rhythm strategy to follow throughout the holidays.