Share your secret to having a bit of me time during the school holidays. £200 Voucher and London Zoo tickets to be won.

[EllieSmumsnet]

Do you struggle finding time for yourself during the school holidays? The summer holidays can bring lots of excitement and some much needed family time. However, we understand that it can be hard to find time for yourself. We would love to know how you manage to gain those precious moments of peace amidst the whirlwind of the school holidays.

• Share your tips and tricks on how you gain a moment's peace in the summer holidays.
• One lucky MNer will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice and a family day ticket for 2 x adults and 2 x children for London Zoo.

Here is what Whaoo! has to say:

“School is out for Summer. Parents, brace yourselves for the whirlwind of excitement that comes with summer holidays.

The little ones burst through the door, full of energy and endless demands, Whaoo! have got just the trick to keep everyone smiling. Whaoo! Chocolate filled Crêpes are the ultimate summer treat, guaranteed to bring moments of peace amidst the summer mayhem. So, gather round, savour the sweetness, and let the chaos unfold with a side of scrumptiousness!

Let’s put the fun back into snacking!”

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

play dates. Take turns with friends to get some peace and quiet.

Go to a sports centre they do their club you go swimming and to the jacuzzi and steam room

Play dates - I have 2 DC so invite a friend each over. They go off and do their own thing, I can get on with some work or enjoy a cuppa! Everyone is happy :)

I do have time while the kids are playing in the garden, or in the evening once they're in bed. In general, I'm quite happy to spend my time with them while they still want to :)

Look at your local council 'what's on' and see if they are running any sports clubs, fun swims or craft days which you can take your DC's to - it's been such a hard summer to keep them occupied now they cannot play outdoors - keep the tips coming ... 😘

I have just found an amazing YouTube channel to entertain the kids while I have 30 minutes to myself (much needed) https://www.youtube.com/c/StorytimeforKidsMelissaMcCurley

I am sure that there are more content providers there which can offer free entertainment.

Firstly we would LOVE to go to the zoo - my budget just won't run to an outing like that 😿 My way of getting some me time is to pop in my earpods and listen to one of my lovely podcasts or audio books whilst they are playing - I can be there and zone out a little at the same time - If i have had a bad day - I will ask grandma and grandad if they will have the little darlings for a few hours 😊😉

Can’t believe I’m the first to suggest hide and seek. Make sure they know not to hide in the wardrobe/anything dangerous then send them off. Every few minutes call out how amazing they are at hiding. Once you have finished your cuppa then actually go and look for them 😉

Oh and also - timers. They design a course/track (can be indoor or outdoor) and include obstacles - eg two laps of the garden, throw the ball into the hoop, 10 star jumps and once round the garden backwards - and then you time how fast they can go round it. It’s very motivational if you knock a couple of seconds off each time as they keep going for a PB.

Take another kid on a day out or have then over to play.

Then that kid's parents SHOULD invite your kid over to theirs.

100 bonus points if they invite your kid for a sleepover 🙌🏻🍹😂

When I have paperwork to do or just want to read a bit of my book or scroll through a shopping site I set up a craft table (on my dining table) for my two (5 and 2 and a half).

I put all sorts colouring sheets glue things to stick on stickers masks (things picked up from pound shop and random things also packaging from boxes gift bags whatever couldn't work as "craft"

Then I sit on the other end or the table and crack on with my work etc

They love it and get really excited when it's all set up!

Challenges or scavenger hunts eg find twenty yellow things- the more difficult you make it, the longer break you get!

We have movie afternoons which involve lots of snacks and snuggle up on the sofa. I can then nap if I need to!

We also have days in with just leftovers/snack style lunch and dinner so no cooking required! Also use paper plates so no washing up! This means more time to myself in the evening rather than cleaning up the kitchen!!

Now the kids are older (14 & 11) I usually pop to the shops or go for a walk at least once a day for 30 mins or so just to get some time alone! I stick my headphones with music on, feel the fresh air, zone out and the stress all kind of melts away!

Indoor camping. Make dens/shelters indoors, give them snacks and let them sleep there. Keeps them occupied so I can relax with a bit of me time.

Let them pick a movie - or two, and make a home cinema with popcorn and the works ! If they feel in charge, they will enjoy more an behave better.
A netted trampoline and a chair for you - I bought a 13 foot one - and it's given me hours of 'me time' whilst in the garden with them

Get the lego out the more the merrier ! and let them build towns, farms, space stations and tower blocks - keeps mine occupied for an hour or two

Make a den for them to play in - my DC's love a den - with all their pillows and the living room cushions -(they call it the land of soft) and the tablet with a movie - works for an hour at least

The weather has been crap but in good weather, putting a bucket of water outside (or a water play table) and ask dc to wash some of their toys.
This gives me time to just sit out in the sun with my coffee.

Be busy in the morning, get dc out and active then when we're home in the afternoon, a movie and snacks gives me time to sit for a while.

When my dc were old enough to read by themselves, we'd have a reading session in my bed before their bedtime so I got to read my book too.

I found that planning and being organised frees up more time for relaxation. I meal plan and prep everything early in the morning or the night before, I do one main chore a day, podcast on, get dc involved in some tidying and cleaning before dinner (with music) so when dc are in bed, I can go and relax for the rest of the evening.

Playing sleeping lions 'who can keep still the longest' for a prize - works every time

Take them and their pals, a cricket set and a picnic to the park area, take yourself a camp chair and your book or podcaset, and let them bat and bowl till hunger/exhaustion/rain sets in - then the pals parents 'should' reciprocate the favour

Suggesting watching a film on a rainy afternoon is a great opportunity to enjoy a cuppa & 'rest your eyes'! :) Also agree with what others have said about playdates - we often have son's friends over throughout the summer holidays & he is invited over in return - this is not expected as everyone's family situation is different, but is always appreciated when it is returned!

Sit them in a huge cardboard box and let them decorate it with crayons as a house/car/spaceship - or all the - mine love to do this - then then they can be recycled - a great way to catch up on the soaps while they are engrossed with their creations

A story teller on YouTube, a soft play park, a Council run sports day for age groups

A WhatsApp group with the other mums in your child's friendship circle - and a rota of who can do what, where an when, we did this last year - we had one afternoon swimming, the cinema, leisure centre clubs - for a minimal cost we had 2 afternoons a week with some 'me' time.

Arrangements to go to friends houses for the day are good.

Yes, you have to reciprocate, but it does give some proper time off.