Boredom Busters for a Stress-Free Summer
Summer holiday tips for divorced or separated couples
1. Get organised!
There’s nothing worse than arriving at your chosen destination and spending a fortune on entrance fees, only to find that your eldest finds the entertainment boring, or that your youngest isn’t tall enough to participate in the activities on offer.
A little planning and research at this early stage can help keep days out calm and stimulating for the whole family.
To avoid last minute stresses and delays, prepare packed lunches, lay out clothes and find sun cream, hats and any medication in advance.
The extra half hour this may take the night before a big day out will pay off no end the next morning, especially if you have an early start and you need to motivate sleepy, slow moving little ones!
2. Choose a “treat day”.
One of the principal complaints from parents during school holidays either at home or abroad is the cost. Financial strains and constant spending can cause arguments not only between parents and children, but also between couples.
Combat this by establishing a “treat day” in advance and – more importantly – by sticking to it!
Budget in advance and set aside a certain amount for each day or week of the holidays. Follow your plan through as scrupulously as possible. Involve older children in the budgeting and explain how you plan to prioritise where money will be spent and why. This is a great way to connect and impart responsibility.
3. Spend time outdoors and doing inexpensive activities that promote wellbeing and exercise.
Try to spend time outdoors, breathing in the fresh air whilst your children let off steam, in the local park for example. Being outside helps stimulate the feel-good hormones, puts a clear perspective on any impending frustrations and gives everyone some well-earned space, to play or think!
Plan a picnic somewhere not too far away from home. Children love the idea of a picnic and it’s a good opportunity to sneak in a few healthy snacks. If you can walk to a local beauty spot, rather than drive there, even better.
4. Meet up with Friends – theirs and yours.
If you have friends with children of a similar age, arrange a lunch date at a pub or cafe with a play area, or a soft play area if the weather is inclement and your children are small. It’s a great way to let them amuse themselves whilst you catch up with all the news.
Also, arrange for them to go stay their friends – you can use the time while they are away to get some valuable work done, though it may be double-trouble when you re-pay the favour! However, watching a DVD with their friends always goes down well and is a stress-free way of passing a couple of hours!
For more information visit Painless Divorce at www.painlessdivorce.co.uk
I shared this article with my mum, mum-in-law and my step-sons mum’s mum – really useful!
You are right, I need to pack more picnics. The summer holidays are very expensive when you are entertaining two hungry boys.