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

Go to your toy library and get some new jigsaws, DVD's and they wil be engrossed and you can swap for new ones in a couple of weeks (disinfect obvs)

Set the garden up with lots of activities/trampoline etc whilst I go on the garden furniture with a book. I get about 5 mins doing this

Balance. A hour or so if TV really doesn't matter, especially when you need a bit of time to yourself

Take the opportunity to do things slowly and carve out the me time where you can. I take my time over my favourite cup of tea in the morning and make the most of my toddlers quiet times or naps to do something for me rather than just rushing to do chores.

Daytime baths give some space in the day, then adult bath at night! Give up House expectations for a week. Listen to podcasts while doing essential housework.

Get the lego out - and leave them to build a zoo/hotel/space station ... then zone out with the soaps while you can

A pop up tent in the living room - and pretend we are outside ! I read a book whilst they are in the tent chatting away and having an indoors picnic

My local garden centre has a indoor beach - with lots of room for playing - I get in a deckchair and relax - then we head to the cafe and have a lunch - well it passes one day a week anyway....

Cut corners with cooking and buy frozen - fishfingers, garden peas, mini pizzas, chicken nuggets - and make sandwiches for lunch, so you are not prepping and cooking in the kitchen - I am NOT saying every night - I just find if I spend a a hour making a lasagne or a cottage pie - I could make a meal in a quarter of the time when they are at home - and you have to keep an eye out for trouble brewing. You can make the high prep time meals when they are at school

Grandparents for a day can help! Reciprocal play dates when younger.

Go to bed early so you can wake up an hour before everyone else. Have a coffee in the garden with a book in peace and start the day off in a positive way.

Get a spending money sticker chart for the holidays -
sticker for, getting up after 7, tidying their bedroom, reading a book, doing a jigsaw, being kind and playing nicely (no need to break up an argument as they know the consequences). then you get order, some peace, some me time, and a child who gets rewarded for actions.

Get divorced.

I bought an old fashioned ‘sports day’ set (think bean bags, egg & spoon etc) and set them up in the garden - the older one ‘running’ it. Gives me half an hour with a coffee to ‘supervise’ from a lounger!

I've got no idea, can I have £200 anyway?

Turn your loving room into a cinema, draw the curtains, set chairs in the living room, make popcorn, and pop in a DVD (or two).
If you have a projector (which we have used in the past) play this on your living room wall for the full cinema experience.

I’d like use the £200 for a small gin party with @CharlotteBog and @OhamIreally

We could have it at the zoo. Everyone’s a winner.

🐻🐨🫎🐂🐴🐾🦄

start a game of sleeping lions or statues - even the lowering of the noise levels over the day helps! plus they do get better at it 😅

A treasure hunt - write a list of things to find in your house that you've hidden - or indoors have premature easter egg hunt. Keeps them busy - then they can eat the treasures

Get out the brio/lego/crayons and let them be artistic and creative - and NEVER buy playdough.

Count me in.

Get a scrap book - a few of your old magazines (this is when I miss the ARGOS catalogue) and with some safety scissors and a pritt stick get them to make a scrapbook of news, pictures, weather ....

A day in the garden - if the weather permits - I lock the gates, get out all of the ride on toys and trampoline, get out a deck chair and let them play and release energy - keeping them hydrated and safe from the elements

Hide in the bathroom 😁