How to Survive School Holidays with Teenagers and Toddlers

Here's a few tips I use for surviving school holidays to keep everyone happy without breaking the bank or yourself

• Remember the children are on holiday too, they don't want to be tired out from too many activities.
• Make a plan. Kids like structure, if they know that a day of cleaning will mean being rewarded by day out later in week, then you will meet less resistance and nagging. The same is true if you plan games, films, and other activities.

• For each holiday I generally plan a tidy up day, an outing, a day for friends, an activity day, a shopping day and a chill out day
• Tidy up at start of week gives a fresh start which frees up time later in week to spend together. Cleaning out wardrobes can mean a fun shopping trip, or sorting toys to donate can be rewarded by new toy later in week.
• Activity days are not just for young children, its amazing how older children will join in with designing bags, tie die and especially cooking
• Allow a day for older children to go out with friends while younger children have a play date

• Games, movies and TV nights are a great way of bonding and making children feel you have made time for them. These activities seem to work best on an evening, we start with ones suitable for younger child which everyone takes part in and then once youngest go to bed continue activity theme with older children
• Box sets are great during holidays, watch a film or episode each night, it keeps a routine and something to be anticipated everyday
• Respect that each child will want time on their own too. Younger children have been at nursery or school, they have toys they don't get chance to play with on normal working weeks. Teenagers want to relax playing on computer, read etc, so use this time to relax yourself or do chores.

Many establishments offer weekday or off peak discounts school holidays are great for taking advantage of these;

• Cinema-Many cinemas also offer discounts on set weekdays or if you visit before 5pm
• Off Peak Travel- many operators offer discounts on transport for travelling after 9:30am, if you plan your outing then travel especially on trains can be prebooked weeks in advance for biggest discounts. Always ask about family tickets when using public transport, there are some very good deals
• Restaurants- Many offer discounts for early bird eating, one of our favourites is Pizza hut buffet, but it always worth checking on website
• Discount sites- check out sites such as Groupon, Wowcher and Vouchercloud can offer discounts on days out and restaurants. It is worth checking these out a few weeks before holidays to help plan outings and spread cost
• Always do an internet search for discounts where you want to go, there usually advance tickets, offers to print or discount codes
• Linked tickets- many travel operators have deals to offer discounts to visitors using public transport, many of these vouchers need to be printed at home first, but you canend uo saving a lot more than what the travel ticket costs

Loves ya Becky x