Holidays are here!

Yep it is holiday time, the children of the world are roaming the streets (or our lounge rooms,) with free time!

This usually ignites a couple distinct reactions in parents.

1: Relief, no school lunches to prepare, no yelling at the kids to hurry up and get dressed, no school bags to pack and unpack. And no fighting school traffic!

2: Fear! Oh my gosh what am I going to do with my kids for weeks on end?!!! How much money will I need to spend to keep them amused, and stop them, (or me) from committing violent acts upon one another?!!!

Whichever category you find yourself leaning towards, or if your pendulum swings somewhere between the two, we can all agree that school holidays can be both trying and wonderful all at the same time. (Can’t we?) Whatever you have planned, or (if you are more like me a serial procrastinator), don’t have planned, the one thing we are all aiming for is relaxation, fun, and some money remaining in our piggy bank come February!

Depending on your holiday budget there a many wonderful things we can do with our children over the school break. From Lavish overseas holidays, boat cruises, and Disney land, to hiking in the mountains, bike rides by a lake, ice-skating, and old favourites like bowling, swimming and roller-skating there are hundreds of options out there, but at the end of the day the children just need some down time, (just like us) and some time to be with their family and friends without the pressures of homework and extracurricular activities.

An overseas holiday can be full of  cultural and even educational experiences for children, seeing the way others live, and  how they prepare food are fascinating learning experiences. More and more people are also choosing to take their children on holidays overseas that teach their children to help others less fortunate than themselves. People are getting involved in conservation projects, or helping in orphanages, and even building homes for the disadvantaged in some overseas countries such as Cambodia.

Then we have the adventurous spirits, who might enjoy an action packed holiday. If you are a city dweller then getting the kids off the beaten track can be an awesome experience for the whole family. Consider farm-stays, horse riding, motor bike rides, or off-roading (as long as you have the right car and safety gear!) Heading off in a 4WD can be lots of fun, and camping under the stars is a beautiful experience for all ages, just pack some bug spray. Mountain climbing, surfing and skiing are lots of fun, as well as skateboarding or just heading out on scooters. Take a camel ride, go boating, head out on a Jet-ski or go mountain biking, there are lots of adventurous options. Skies the limit, literally!

Our world is full of natural beauty. Go out and enjoy it. There is no need to stay stuck in doors, unless you’re in an area of a country where you door is literally barricaded shut by snow this time of year. If it’s hot, then choose a shady option and be sun smart, if it is cold then rug up, it will do the whole family good to get outside. Head to parks, Zoos and Sanctuaries, beaches, botanic gardens, lakes and snow fields. There is so much to explore in nature, take the time to stop and look at the different leaves, bugs and flowers. Let the children touch them, and talk about how things feel. Take a packed lunch, not to keep costs down, but because it is fun to sit on a rug and share a meal. We really do live in a world full of wonder and beauty, just lay and watch the clouds, or let the children stay up one night to see the stars and talk to them about what their dreams are, our children have so much to say, sometimes we just need to stop, be patient and listen.

 Can you see a butterfly in this cloud? Children love to use their imagination:     Image by mackenzie glanville

If you love animals then there are plenty of amazing options, from aquariums and zoos to wildlife sanctuaries where you can get up close to native animals, ask the rangers questions, and take part in the touch and feel experiences that are offered. On a recent holiday with my children we visited a sea turtle hospital and were able to talk to their carers, it was such an amazing experience for our children and for us. If you have the opportunity to visit a animal hospital, shelter or sanctuary it is a great learning experience for children, (and adults) to learn to respect animals, and their environment. Offering to volunteer and your local animal shelter can be a rewarding experience for all. If you can not help out physically then encourage your children to donate pocket money earned over the holidays to an animal shelter, this can lead to your child feeling very proud of themselves!

Lovers of all things art there are plenty of options for you too. Check out your local papers for plays, fetes and carol services. There are usually plenty of holiday art programs for children where they can get the art venue messy rather than your home! Of course if you don’t mind your home resembling a craft store then art and craft activities at home can amuse children of all ages for hours on end. Head into most shopping centers and you will find a variety of shops selling crafts. From Lincraft, spotlight, to Kiki K, Typo, Kaisercraft and smiggle. Target and Kmart have craft sections and even the supermarkets. For cheap crafts head into your local $2 shop, or bargain center. Play-doh is also a popular pastime for most children, or if you live in a warm climate send them outside with a small bucket of water and a paintbrush and they can paint whatever they like.

Keep their education going over the holidays . . . What? I don’t mean have them sitting at their desks with a Math book, there are so many ways that children learn and if we go back to their kindergarten years you will remember how important play based learning was, and yes it still is! (Even for us adults!) Learning through play and adventure is one of the best ways to learn because it is in a relaxed, non pressurised environment. Makes sense right? A great way for children to learn Math is through baking at home, counting the ingredients, measuring and using timers are all fun, but also great skills to learn. The same can be said for heading to the beach with a bucket and spade and some measuring tools. Children learn a lot from visiting the Museum, Art Galleries, or Zoos, but the truth is Children don’t need expensive outings to learn, there are lessons everywhere.

build some sandcastles these holidays:                                     Image by mackenzie glanville

Holidays are about giving our children a break from their everyday routine, it is a time for them to recharge their batteries, we don’t have to fill every moment with outings or take them on expensive trips. Let them have some time relaxing with friends, family and their pets. Trips away are wonderful, but don’t feel guilty if you can’t afford that, or you don’t have the time off work. Our children just want to have fun, relax and unwind. They will be happy as long as we are.

Most of all they want to feel loved, so make the most of the down time with your children and give them extra hugs these holidays! The best things in life really are free.

And maybe you might even get a sleep in! Well we can dream can’t we?!

Thanks for joining me, love Mackenzie xx

For more fun blogs try Sticky tape monster, it’s getting crazy lately, or shaken, not stirred.

 image by mackenzie glanville