July is here and the big school holidays are approaching. So, what is the secret to a happy, healthy holiday time? How can you ensure you really enjoy the time spent with your children whilst retaining your sanity? My secret sauce for simple summer success is planning! If you take a little time now, you can create a harmonious holiday that your kids will thank you for and make it one to remember.

Begin by listing out all the things you want to do while you can, then list the things you’d love to do but don’t think you can (because of time, money or distance). Seriously, this is a top tip – you never know what might happen, so be prepared!

Include basic daily activities to create a routine – lunch, chores, walk the dog, visit granny, etc. and you have an outline. Before filling your diary, check your budget and when payday is so you can plan more spending for times when you feel flush. Budgeting is vital for a pain free summer, and including the kids by allowing them to plan around an amount of money can be a fun and educational way to spend a rainy afternoon. For example, how many ways can you think of to enjoy £10?

Mix free events with paid ones, so there is always something on the calendar to look forward to. You can use these events to keep the kids focused during other times, such as bedtime and chores time.

Below are just some of the many ways you could spend time with your kids this summer – hopefully you’ll find some inspiration!

Monday
Picnic in the park. This will include food prep, outdoor play, meeting friends and travel to and from your chosen destination.

Tuesday
Climbing wall, soft play, go-karting, etc. with their best friend. Joint ventures mean double the fun and better memories. Look for offers from certain outlets to get cheaper tickets, or partner offers from your mobile phone supplier.

Wednesday
Making and baking. Make the kitchen the event and enjoy creating unusual play dough creatures, decorating biscuits, baking cupcakes – whatever floats your boat. YouTube has tons of great videos to inspire you.

Thursday
Have a library day where you read and write stories, draw and colour in pictures, and enjoy some quiet time with lots of cuddles and sharing of new discoveries. Scrap booking and ‘making a newspaper’ of events throughout the holidays can provide a great keepsake for the future.

Friday
Swimming – utilise your local pool and look out for 2-4-1 vouchers in your local press for other events too!

Saturday/Sunday
Geocaching and camping. A great way to get out in the countryside and discover buried treasure – literally. Check out geocaching.com for more information. You can find local campsites for a night under the stars and you will only need the basics to make a most memorable adventure.

There is always supermarket shopping to do, and getting the kids involved in sourcing great deals is great fun and they learn useful lessons. Remember as a parent you are never off duty and your kids never stop learning, so make sure they have a range of things to do and opportunities to stretch themselves from time to time.