We have all had that moment when you look at the calendar and realise that it is somehow the end of the Autumn term – and it’s this week!  Panic sets in as you contemplate extra meals, extra activities and what to do with them when it rains, which it is sure to do.  But there’s no need to panic because there are some great ways to survive half term and here’s a few to get you started.

Plan ahead even if its last minute.

Just because we are in the half term week, doesn’t mean you have to abandon planning and wing it for the week.  Take a little time after the kids have gone to bed to do some research and get an idea about things to do for the week.

Don’t forget to have back up plans to bring into use if something unexpected crops up.  You might want to go for a walk with the kids and the dogs to the local park and let them run off some steam – but what if it rains all week?  Have a list of indoor and outdoor activities and places to go to cover all eventualities.

Local events

Half term is a magnet for children-related events to take place and a quick search of your local area is bound to reveal plenty, especially around Halloween.  There are also lots of free ideas if you are working to a budget – museums with free entry that are having a half-term event are a classic example.  Many of the big museums around the country offer free entry for the whole family or for the kids so for the price of a single adult, you could keep them occupied all day.

Some of the national cinema chains often have promotions on children’s films for half term and often have morning sessions where costs are much lower than normal.

Jet off somewhere and escape the cold. 

The Friday when school breaks up is usually known as the the "great getaway" with many families choosing to escape the wet and windy weather of Great Britain and indulge in some warmer climates but for the children, it has to work too. According to Booking.com, surviving a family holiday has more to do with social media than socialising for this generation.

Today’s teens (12-15 year olds), put the impetus on social media and keeping in touch with friends at home while away. Specifically:

 * The majority (89%) of 12-15 year olds prioritised a strong Wi-Fi connection as essential

* Having the chance to take cool photos for social media was important for nearly half (44%)

* Staying near a pool or a beach and enjoying lots of activities were also ranked in the top five important factors

* Conversely only a quarter (25%) of 12-15 year olds think it’s important to make friends with other children on holiday

By contrast, 5-11 year olds are much more sociable and long for holidays by a cool pool or beach:

 * Staying near a pool/cool water slides (73%) or beach (58%) are deemed the two top priorities for children aged 5-11, followed by activities they can’t do at home (54%)

* Playing with other children is important to nearly half (42%), while over a third would like to have all the ice cream they can eat on holiday (34%) and food that isn’t usually allowed at home (32%) 

Let them stay up late

Staying up late is a big treat in our house, so escaping the daily routine of the school run means that we don't have to be too regimented with half term bedtimes. If you are away over the half term (or even if you are not), letting the children stay up past bedtime "might" mean that you get a chance of a lie in too.

Things to do at home

If you are not able to jet off to sunnier climates, remember that you don’t need to spend the entire week racing madly from one event to another – you can simply have days in the house.  Take time to plot out something to do during those days so the inevitable “I’m bored” doesn’t surface.

Baking is a great activity for parents and kids to do together and you don’t need to be Mary Berry to rustle up some little cakes.  Supermarkets have packets of ready to go cupcakes and other sweet treats that you and the kids can create that have almost guaranteed results.  Or you can be a little more adventurous and grab a recipe from Pinterest – don’t forget that it doesn’t have to be baking.  You and the kids could make a meal for whoever is at work or invite some friends around for a dinner party – this might appeal to older kids.

Finally .....

Don’t forget that you don’t have to fill every minute of half term with activities and places to go.  Let the kids have some time to simply play while you relax.  That way, you are more likely to survive half term and even enjoy the holiday!

Tweet