The summer holidays are coming.
While that sentence might bring cheers and beaming faces of joy for some, for me and many other working parents, it can often bring about mixed feelings. Happiness because no school means a little lie in for everyone and the warmer weather makes everything a little more jolly, but also guilt at having to continue to go to work while the kids are at home. Obviously in an ideal world, I’d love to spend my summers with them but that isn’t always possible with work commitments. My usual option is to rope in family members to watch the children, which inevitably leads to them spending all day staring at a screen, this obviously is also not ideal.
After taking the plunge and booking my brood into several locally run summer clubs, I’ve found the perfect solution. Yes, some of these incur a cost, but there are often discounts if you have multiple children and it usually works out cheaper than paying for other methods of childcare, especially when combined with the children spending time with family and friends. For me, I much prefer the idea of my children being active all day rather than hunched over a games console or trying to hack into my iPad while one of my parents dozes in the corner, it not only keeps them occupied, but it gives me peace of mind too.
Activity days during the summer are a great way to help keep the kids fit and active, they’re generally out and about rather than cooped up indoors, so I know they’re getting a good dose of vitamin D and some fresh air at the same time. A lot of the day is also spent letting them learn new skills, such as tennis which was a big hit with my oldest last summer. There were a good mix of things to do, so every child was catered for whether they are sporty, arty or want to have a go at everything. Plus, they get the chance to socialise and make new friends. I know that for some kids living in more rural communities, it can be hard for them to keep in touch with their friends during the holidays, so having the opportunity to spend time with other children is a bonus!
For me, the biggest draw (other than seeing how happy my kids are after they get home from one of these days) is that they are having fun in a completely safe environment. My parents are obviously not that bad at raising children seeing as I’m fine and can’t remember anything too traumatic from my time under their care, but you know what kids are like, you can’t take your eyes off them for a moment, especially not when they’re bored and at home and pushing the limits of what they’re allowed to do because Gran and Grandad are push overs. When they’re at camp or at one of these days, I know they are being watched by fully qualified people with DBS checks in an environment that is often tailored exactly for the activity they’re doing that day. And of course, it isn’t my house they’re making a mess in.
