How busy are your children in the summer holidays?

[Yoghurtget]

In my work I am fortunate to have the summer break off. In the past we would have a holiday for a week then I would take the kids on a couple of days out each week. Not anything huge, we had a NT membership, walk in the woods etc. Now the children are a bit older (10 and 12) last summer they had a few of their own plans with friends and were reluctant to go out with me. I was keen not to over scheduled then and thought they could do some crafts, play in the garden, go swimming etc. The reality was a lot of time watching TV and on the internet- with conflict managing it. I am now thinking to this summer- I have suggested some (what I think) are interesting activities- sports, sailing, sewing. I am getting a lot of push back and moaning. Or ‘only if someone else comes’ (I am not keen to organise other kids too.) I am interested to know how much others kids do over the summer holidays if they are similar ages. Or should I just relax…?

Depends a lot on the child.

Oldest (nearly 18) was very busy past age 12, entirely self-organised, but they are very proactive that way - out with friends or at events a lot of the time.

Youngest is 14, has ADHD (like most of his friends) and as they're all a bit behind their peers maturity-wise they've only just started as a group to be self organising. The last few years DS has been in a residential camp for two weeks, then on holiday with us a week or 10 days - the rest of the time at home on screens a lot, but seeing friends once or twice a week. Think this summer will be the same but hopefully more self-organised, though he might need a nudge.

Mine are primary aged and they tend to be busy with summer camps and weekend breaks away as well as our main summer holiday. I've always seen the summer holidays as a good chance to pick up activities that we don't have a chance to do during term time (eg certain sports camps that they don't do the rest of the year) or visit places that we wouldn't have time to because of weekend extracurriculars during term. I don't work over the summer so we've never needed camps for childcare but it's a good way to keep them active. I'm sure it is harder when the dcs are older though as there is less need for it for childcare.

I think not needing the childcare is part of the issue. Some of their friends have to be at various camps/ grandparents. They don’t have to have the activities so push back. I just feel they waste so much life on screens. We do have limits - 2hrs on the lap top but if you add that to the TV it’s a lot. I guess I was romantically imagining my childhood of pottering about and busying yourself but with the easy screens available now that’s not quite happening. I feel I should have firmer boundaries.

The oldest two +18 yo have 3 weeks off from job and training. They spend 2 weeks with us and their younger sibling.

3rd child has 8 weeks off school.
2 weeks abroad with us and siblings. 2 weeks of summer camps Mon-Fri 9am-4pm and scouts' camp 8 days. 2 weeks at home petsitting for friends and relaxing/see friends/outings/reading/gaming.