Currently viewing the tag: "holidays"
Get ready to take time off to relax!
November is a strange time of the year.
School is coming to an end. For little kids, that means absolute exhaustion, tough going in the mornings and the start of concert season! For tweens and teenagers, add in assignments, exams, formals, an ever increasing number of social events, sport and general all round fever-pitch activity.
Which can make for a crazy stressful time of the year for everyone.
So I thought it was a timely to share some tips and tricks for making your end of year memorable for all the right reasons!
Be prepared early!
Take stock this month and try and write down all of the social gatherings and events in one place. Whatever you chose – old school paper calendar, App, or Outlook/calendar on your phone, just decide on the ‘one source of truth’ and get everyone in the family onto it. As new invitations come in, take note and decide as a family if you will go. Which brings me to the next one…
Say no!
There is so much going on, it’s easy to fall into the trap of saying yes to invitations or requests without checking what else you have going on. Take a breath and check if you have time (and the patience and energy) before saying yes or no. Remember you don’t have to justify your decision, ‘no’ is a complete sentence.
Get organized!
Once you have your one source of truth (your event calendar), get cracking on getting organized. Work out with your family if anyone wants to give out cards/presents and buy in bulk if you can. Start thinking about gifts (if that’s part of your tradition) and then try and plan early. That way you can save your hard earned cash and avoid the Christmas rush!
Get creative!
Think outside the box when it comes to gifts and cards. Perhaps set up a Secret Santa with your family? Agree with your family that instead of gifts you will all get together for a picnic and then take some great family pics of the day which everyone can share. Create photo books as presents. There are some great options including the gorgeous Momento, Milk and Papier – who all offer high quality reasonably priced photo books . Get crafty and create your own cards – check out the fab Frankie magazine, the talented Dawn Tan , Beci Orpin and Pip at Meet Me at Mikes for inspiration.
Hopefully that will set you off on a calmer path to the Christmas break! With everything sorted you’ll be able to sit back, relax and have fun with all of your friends and family.
Enjoy xx
Heading up the track to the farm
One of the fabulous benefits of having children or spending time with kids is that you get a reminder of how much joy they get from the world.
Discovering new ideas.
Exploring the world.
Playing.
Laughing at silly things.
Living in the moment.
Kids are masters are stopping to smell the roses. Slowing down and moving at their own pace. Adults are always searching for ways to relax, meditate, calm down.
Most kids have got that in the bag. Watch a small child playing with Lego, matchbox cars, playing a game of make-believe, and you can see they are fully immersed in the moment.
My kids are staying at my family’s farm this week. I know already that they will spending their time, exploring, digging in the sandpit, catching frogs and generally having a grand old time. There will be no structured plan, no to-do list.
Just fun, sunshine and spending time together.
Hope you are enjoying the sunshine, taking time to relax, and most importantly finding the time to have fun.
Enjoy xx
One of my poppets sketching to create her own masterpiece
In my part of the world it is school holidays, and for us that means less homework, less worrying about uniforms, hats and socks and more time for all members of our family to do the things they would really like to do.
It can also mean hearing the words ‘I’m bored’ a lot more.
Every day.
On repeat.
So I thought it was a great time to share some ideas that I have tried/ tested/ blatantly pinched from fab vacation care we have used/ borrowed from friends/read on a couple of great blogs:
- Write up a list along with your kids of a list of easy activities/ ideas, then laminate it and stick it up in the kitchen/another high traffic area. Some ideas to think about including: play heads up, build a Lego city, play with the kinetic sand, play a board game (guess who, monopoly), play a card game, paint your nails, plan and put on a puppet show, go to the reading nook and read a good book, make icy poles for later, bake cookies, set up the lounge for a movie (popcorn, tickets, etc). When one of the kids says ‘I’m bored’ simply point to the list.
- Try planning each week together, then write it up and pop it on the fridge. Schedule in lunch, morning snacks, play in the park, free time. The kids can then run the show! Kikki K has some great planners, and you can also get some printable ones here online.
- Keep ‘go bags’ packed and ready to go. We have a tub for helmets and hats, a spot for scooter and bike parking, and a bag for beach/ pool. After we get home, we clean out and repack- the bag. No more last-minute scrabble for goggles, towels and thongs…
- Ask around! Whether you ask on Facebook, at the park, friends or family, ask and you will get new ideas, hot tips and even playdates. Better yet offer to have some of the kids friends over and give your friends/ family a break and give your own kids someone new to play with. I am always amazed how adding an extra child or two to my bunch is less work rather than more.
- Visit your local library, art gallery, museum, cultural centre, and then give the kids a sketchbook or notebook. Encourage them to document the day, copy the paintings, draw what they see.
Happy holidays!
As always, enjoy xx
