If you’re a parent of school-age children, then you might find that your life is divided up into chunks of term-time, separated by brief windows of half-term chaos. With the autumn half-term coming around fast, it’s worth thinking now about how you’ll be keeping the kids occupied (if not entertained). Fortunately, it’s possible to do this without spending too much. Let’s see how.
Create a budget
Overspending is something that happens when we fail to budget. Think about how much money you’d like to spend during the week, and choose your activities accordingly. You can involve your kids in the decision-making process by allowing them to put their pocket money toward whatever activities they’re interested in.
This kind of budget can be used to impart valuable lessons on personal finance, of the kind that might not be available in schools. It’ll also give everyone an appreciation of what everything actually costs!
Plan a day or weekend road trip
There’s nothing quite like a road trip for half-term. You can pick out a place that you’ve always wanted to visit and set out in the car. It’s the stuff from which childhood memories are made. Naturally, you’ll want to make sure that the car is in good shape. Check the tyre pressure and the tread depth. If you need replacement tyres, choose a reputable brand like Avon Tyres.
Getting the most from your road trip usually means setting out early, and having a plan in place for the day. But you’ll also want a little bit of wriggle room, in case you want to do something spontaneously along the way. Don’t overcrowd your schedule, since this will usually mean rushing through everything!
Check your local authority’s site
It might be that your local council is putting on free activities and kid’s clubs during this period. This means that there’s a chance for the kids to do something on days when they would otherwise be stuck indoors. They’ll try new things, meet new people, and generally stay out of trouble – so it’s an easy win.
Stick to a schedule
Children (and, frankly, adults) thrive when they stick to a fairly rigid routine. Half-term isn’t like the longer school holidays when you have time to adjust after a late night or an early morning. Therefore, try to keep things tightly regimented, with bedtimes fixed and non-negotiable. In this way, you’ll avoid problems when the kids go back to school after the week is over.
Good scheduling will promote healthy sleep, minimise behaviour problems, and allow your kids to fully concentrate on whatever they’re doing during the day – whether that’s work or play. Have a sensible wind-down routine for bedtime and stick to it. That usually means banning screen time during the hour before bed!
