What do you do with your kids all day during the holidays?

[OnlyVans]

I know this is late as summer is nearly over but what do you do with young primary kids over summer hols when you are looking after them? How do you structure your day?

I have two dc (4&6) and I'm also 30 weeks pregnant and work full time. DH has saved his leave and taken 3 weeks off, and I have taken two weeks off to look after the kids. One of those weeks we've taken off together to go away on a UK break. The rest of the time they have been in clubs while we work.

The week I had off with them on my own almost killed me. Kids wake at 6:30 and go to bed at 9pm (I cannot get them down any earlier). The time off has been full on to say the least. This pregnancy has not been kind to me and I've been pretty knackered. I've taken the kids to the park/museum/day trips/ let them play in the garden/painting but no matter where we are or what we are doing we always end up with at least 3hrs screen time a day just to get a break. DH has done the same during his time off. Sometimes it gets to 2pm and I just can't believe we have so much of the day left. We have been out almost every day and they run around like maniacs when we are out so plenty of exercise.

The other day we were in our local park from 10:30 -3:30pm which I thought was a great stint but before and after I used TV to supervise them while I made breakfast/lunch/snacks to take with us and when we got back to make dinner and just to bloody sit down. The 6 year old is obsessed with Minecraft (having been introduced to it at the bloody summer club) I would have said no but I've been so tired with anaemia I've let him play for a couple of hours when he wakes up in the morning so I can have a lie in.

I do read with them before bed. I'm not a crafty/arty person but will sit down and colour with them or paint. We will occasionally play a board game.

I can't really remember what I did in my childhood. Probably the same? I remember watching a lot of tv, being inside a lot and going to my aunts house a lot. I never went away when I was a child. we don't have relatives close by and no cousins for the kids to play with. Not done summer play dates as school friends are all abroad over summer.

Any tips for future holidays (and the remainder of this one most welcome)

Mine watch a fair bit of TV too OP, I wouldn't beat yourself up about it. It's on for quite a bit of the day - they watch it in the morning for a couple of hours but the rest of the day they're also playing with toys in the living room so doing a bit of both.

Honestly, I think it's fine. It's a looooong day and you can't hold yourself to an impossible standard of them being engaged in wholesome activities all day.

I would stop the Minecraft though, even though I know it'll be hard. Especially as a go-to as soon as he wakes up. But that's my personal opinion, I hate video games, especially when they're young - although I'm aware lots of other people don't have a problem with it.

Edited to add

In terms of what we do in the holidays - a bit of nodding about in the house, I try and get outside at least once so park or walk into town or heading to the beach / country park etc if you have anything nearby. Do you have a trampoline or paddling pool? That helps to kill a bit of time too and they love it.

Play dates so you can chat with other adults. Have family and friends round to see the children. Takes the intensity away.

You also do not have to 'entertain' them! Let them be bored, let them come up with their own entertainment. Some parents (not saying you are one) seem to feel the pressure to provide entertainment 24/7 - it's too much.

One tip of mine is don't take full weeks off. You and your husband could each take 2/3 days to cover the week or spread your leave out more and do holiday clubs for a few days each week. It gives less of a break from work but means you are more enthusiastic about the time with your kids.

I'm a sahm but my eldest does activity camps for about half the summer as it keeps them busy, they learn new skills and meet other kids. They've done drama, dance, forest school and swimming. But we've also done lots of day trips, mostly outdoors to big parks, family festivals and summer fairs and attractions. We usually do a few theatre trips, summer reading challenge, work through endless craft kits they get gifted, and we do weekend trips away with DH so they like having time at home to relax after that. Mine get to bed late in the summer and I think that's natural with the light evenings. It's tiring but I'm used to it as I have the youngest with me all the time so school holidays aren't that different

Well, I still have to work throughout the summer so on the days that I am working, they go to a holiday sports club. And then on days that I take off through at the summer, we will either go and do an activity throughout the day or if I’m just having a chill day they’ll watch TV in the morning l, chill out, go outside and play with their friends on the street, I tried to take mine for a sea swim 3 to 4 times a week. So depending on the tides can be here before bed swim. They love it and it’s really good for them. Sometimes, if there is no sports clubs, my Mum or dad might take them out for the day. So it’s a real mix really. But I don’t feel bad about letting them watch TV or play computer games because they’re not on it all the time.

I was a SAHM , and my DC didn't do holiday clubs. As they got older they would have a few days/week away with cubs/brownies/scouts/guides.

We would have maybe one day out a week - NT place, museum trip, coast etc.
One day to see grandparents.
Maybe a play date, itr get together with a friend group one afternoon every couple of weeks.

The rest would be shopping, library, local park.

They spent time in the garden, playing with toys, craft activities (painting in the garden if possible), and some TV.

We would have a family holiday too.

I certainly didn't entertain them every minute of every day. They definitely went to bed much earlier though!

It sounds like you're doing a brilliant job of taking them out as well as entertaining them at home. 6.30AM-9PM is a LONG day at those ages, and you are heavily pregnant too!

If you'd like to cut down on screen time at home then audio books are a good substitute (with enforced "quiet time" in their rooms for a while if necessary, to give you a break after you get back from several hours at the park or whatever). Yours are also very good ages to start getting them into reading aloud (their concentration spans will get better and better with practice, and if you choose good books then it's enjoyable for you as well, and can be done with a cup of tea on the sofa!) and simple board/card games.