We all know how stressful the summer holidays can be for mums. In fact, 4 in 10 mums dread them and almost one third of parents say that their main worry is the pressure to come up with new and exciting things to do with their kids.  That’s why Frankie & Benny’s have put together some top tips to help lift those worries and provide some ideas on keeping the kids entertained:

1) Meltdown Avoidance!
Make a wall planner to keep things organised. Having something small written in each day is enough to keep things exciting - don’t put the pressure on yourself to entertain from dawn till dusk!

2) Pick a Flick

Why not wile away an afternoon and head to the cinema or see a matinee theatre production? To stop the kids filling up on sweets and popcorn, why not pop to Frankie & Benny’s beforehand for a spot of lunch. You can get one course for £5.95, two courses £8.25 or three courses for £9.25 - including unlimited refills of Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Schweppes Lemonade or Fanta when you buy a regular drink for an additional £2.45!

3) Family Pow Wows

Children can be creative little creatures and have their own ideas about what THEY’D like to do during the holidays. Why not sit the family down at the start of the holiday and see if they have any exciting ideas for things they’d like to do this summer.

 4) Keep the Routine Rolling

Letting your household routine unravel during the summer holidays will only make you feel more overwhelmed by it all. Keep on top of the usual chores and hey! why not use having the kids at home to your advantage - put some music on and get them to help out!

5) Don’t Forget the Grub!
A hungry child is an irritable child and that is something we want to avoid at all costs this summer! The great news is that at Frankie & Benny’s, children can eat breakfast for free when an adult breakfast is purchased. Plus every child gets a fun activity pack with games and puzzles to keep them busy and stop that dreaded table time fidgeting.

 6) Get Outside Between Downpours

If the rain does decide to hold off at any point before September then take full advantage! Whether it’s camping in the garden, walks round the park or turning you patio into a chalk hop scotch, the fresh air will do everyone some good and give you a chance to breathe

7) What’s Cheap and Local?

While you are searching the net trying to plan something special, the likelihood is that great stuff will be happening right on your doorstep. Check local libraries for summer reading challenges, see what’s going on at your local museum and scout out any summer festivals. There are sure to be loads of free workshops and sessions taking place!

8) Take to the Stage

With this summer being all about sport, why not get your kids to join in and unlock their star potential. Whether it’s showcasing their sporting talents, coming up with a play or making musical instruments out of all that recycling, your living room could be transformed into THE stage of 2012. Plus you get a chance to take a load off your feet and watch them.

9) Scrapbook your Summer

A great way of keeping the kids occupied, as well as remembering everything you have got up to together, is to keep a holiday scrapbook. Stick in tickets, leaflets and photos along with drawings and little descriptions to create something that not only takes up time, but will be nice to look back on in years to come!

10) Allocate time for yourself

In the hustle and bustle of pleasing the kids, don’t forget to take time out for you. If it’s possible, arrange for the grandparents or a friend to look after the kids’ for an afternoon so you can grab a few hours of ‘me’ time. Whether you treat yourself to a bubble bath, a nap or a spot of shopping, a few hours to yourself is just the ticket to feel refreshed again!

We love Frankie & Bennys on the Lilypad and with FREE breakfasts for children, with a paying adult this summer, I think we might just love them a little bit more!

Disclosure: This is a guest post for which compensation was received.