Many of us are in the process of accepting that a staycation is going to be our reality this summer. We might be able to go away to stay somewhere in the UK, but it’s not a foregone conclusion at the moment. And for some of us with pre-school youngsters that’s a grim prospect. What will a one or two week break actually look like other than more lockdown? Is it possible to make it fun?
Well, we reckon the answer to that last question is yes. And as is our way here at Redfish… we have a few ideas!
Nurture the ‘nature lover’ in you
Yes, no doubt the family has been making good use of the exercise time we’ve been permitted; it was, after all, our one excuse to get out of the house. But with restrictions easing off, injecting some new approaches into how you can enjoy being outside will certainly bring smiles to young faces.
What sorts of things are we talking about? Here are a few thoughts:
- Organise a trip to a pick-your-own farm – Fresh fruit and veg picked by your own fair hands becomes twice as tasty.
- Camp in the garden – At least it’s easy to get to the bathroom!
- Pack a picnic and some outdoor games – Go discover a new area, though try to avoid anywhere too popular, and of course make sure you don’t leave any mess or litter.
- Grab their favourite cuddly toy – Make a point of taking photos of your little one’s toy in new places, seeing new sights, probably doing daft things… There are lots of giggles to be had at the time and later on too. You can always make up an album of the holiday on a rainy day. Turn it into a poignant memory of how good things can be even when it’s tough out there.
- Get a bit arty crafty – Perhaps find some summer flowers, take them home and press them. Find a rock on each outing and bring it back and paint it. Build up a gallery/display of your staycation’s creativity.
Have rainy day plans up your sleeve
They whole thing about a holiday is that it’s NOT business as usual. But a staycation, by definition, does mean that your surroundings don’t change overnight, even if you’re out during the day. So make a point of operating a different routine. Have breakfast in bed every morning. Eat different food. Include holiday treats such as ice creams and pizza more than normal. Try not to do any household chores that aren’t absolutely necessary. And if the weather lets you down… do something different, such as:
- Rearrange the furniture in a room
- Plan a camping-in night
- Draw a holiday themed mural on a wall
- Dress up/fancy dress for a themed supper
- Build an indoor obstacle course
- Play balloon tennis
- Why not even play outside in the rain!
One last tip - Share your plans and encourage suggestions
Kids, particularly youngsters, like to know that you’re in control and have a plan. They want to enjoy that plan, of course, but they definitely want to feel you have a grip on things. So share your thoughts and ideas, and then encourage them to come up with suggestions too. It’s likely by now they’ve got a handle on what social distancing is all about etc. but including them in your plan-making helps them to know what to expect when you go out. And, of course, it also helps them to accept the boring bits if/when they occur… because they quickly learn that they can come up with ideas too!