Two years ago I broke a bone in my foot the first weekend of summer vacation! The next six weeks with a 5 and 2 year old were interesting to say the least, but they taught me a thing or two about how to keep kids physically and mentally active without the safe option of leaving the house. Not only did we survive most weeks alone at home with me on crutches, we found ways to enjoy it. Summer vacation is quickly approaching again, and while I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there are no trips to the ER before they arrive, I’ll be relying on these quick tips and some super helpful tech to make our summer the best (and most stress-free) ever. Read on to learn how to survive summer vacations with toddlers.
keep them fresh
I can’t stress enough the importance of keeping little ones from overheating. We are talking about children’s pools, homemade ice lollies and, above all, fans with which you can follow them. Laptops do nothing but blow hot air in your face, so this year I’m bringing the big fans. The SharkFlexBreeze High-Speed ​​Hybrid Fan already keeps us cool at night (which also helps everyone get the sleep they need), but it has a cool trick up its sleeve. With the push of a button, this standing fan becomes cordless and portable with all the features of a mains-powered fan. It can keep you cool anywhere in your home and garden.
Easy access to fun
A basket or box with a selection of games and toys. Not only does this give you an outlet for when they’re bored, but it’s also easy to reorder later. In fact, you can give them the task of keeping it organized for a weekly reward.
Save screens for emergencies
And by emergencies I absolutely mean mom needs 10 minutes to enjoy a cup of tea. I firmly believe in using screens as a tool, but not allowing our lives to revolve around them. That doesn’t mean I don’t run out of energy and need my kids to be completely occupied without my attention from time to time.
The solution, a portable speaker. I’ve used my phone in the past, but my kids are obsessed with what’s happening on the screen every time I play something out loud. Even if it’s just a picture, they can’t take their eyes off it. But when I play our entertainment through a speaker, there’s no screen to look at. Instead, we draw, read, or play while listening. Everything very healthy and everything very calm.
Music, e-books or podcasts have this magical power to stop fighting instantly. I can take this JBLGO 4 compact portable speaker anywhere in the house or garden as my magic wand for a quiet and fun day.
Snacks!
I don’t need to tell you this, but snacks are your secret weapon.
If your kids have some self-control, you can set up a snack cart or drawer and ask them to serve themselves. When I broke my foot I had a basket that added an element of surprise to the endless renditions of ‘Mom, can I eat something?’
Don’t forget the snacks!
Stay healthy
As I said, we don’t want any trips to the hospital in the immediate future. I was recently diagnosed with asthma caused by a dust allergy. And even though I have my own systems to ensure my house is clean (check out my blog post on 11 Tricks to Make Spring Cleaning Surprisingly Quick and Easy), I still have allergic reactions from time to time. Add to that pollen, pollution, and pollen coming in through open windows, and controlling asthma becomes much more difficult. I’m now using the Russell Hobbs Compact Dehumidifier and Air Purifier in my bedroom to keep the air clean at night and the difference is clear. I have been waking up less at night and the room smells fresh and clean when we wake up in the morning. Such a wonderful way to start the day.
Wake up with the sun
Talking about starting your day by maintaining a morning routine during summer vacation not only makes it easier to fill your days with fun. It also makes the transition back to school easier when September rolls around. And yes, no one wants to be woken up by a terrible alarm on vacation, but neither does it when the sun rises at 4 in the morning. We have blackout blinds that are a blessing all summer long to block out the late afternoon and early morning sun, but there is nothing more refreshing than waking up naturally to daylight. The Lumie Bodyclock Spark 100 wake-up light gives you the best of both worlds. Set the time you want the sun to rise in your bedroom and the light will mimic the sunrise to gently wake you from your sleep. You can also set the light to dim and enjoy a relaxing break before going to sleep.
Make housework fun
I’m no Mary Poppins, but I have two foolproof ways to get my kids to help around the house. First set a timer. The 10-minute order is common in our house. It helps to run with them, but make it fun and set small goals as you go. Second is the ever-reliable rewards table, but I’m not talking about putting gold stars on a grid. Let’s go big. It could be a jar of pom poms that needs to be filled to the top. Bluetac paper squares on the wall starting from the floor and working up to the ceiling. Maybe play songs from your favorite album and see if you can finish them in a day. Get creative and create your reward charts around the things they love.
Streamline daily tasks
Is there a way to make each task easier? At meal time, make double the amount and freeze. Keep phone chargers in one place so you don’t lose them. Get a long-lasting electric toothbrush for fewer charges. With the Philips Sonicare Series 5300 electric toothbrush you’ll get two weeks of cleaning on a single charge, meaning you can even take it on holiday without worry. It’s all the little things that help you stay on top of the big things!
