We're not sure when last you checked the calendar, but the school holidays are just around the corner. While this is wonderful news for everyone under the age of 18, it can lean towards a more panicky response for the caregivers of said youngsters - and possible panic at the realisation that school is out!
If you’ve been getting a little nervous about how you will be able to fill those many, many empty hours over the course of the holidays, don’t fear – we’ve got a tips that should smooth the way to a fun, relaxing holiday for the whole family. Here goes!
Explore your backyard
Every South African city and town has a must-see attraction that tourists flock towards. However, if you’re a local it could very well have been years since you hiked up Lion’s Head, enjoyed a picnic at the National Zoological Gardens or made your way to the museum/art gallery/famous landmark in your area. This year, make a point of revisiting these evergreen destinations and rediscover the magic it holds.
SIDE NOTE: You could also explore your literal backyard, of course. Put up a tent and camp under the stars instead of sleeping in the house! Or how about planting a new veggie patch?
Work up a sweat
We can all do with being a little more active, especially over the holidays when it can be tempting to lie in every morning and spend countless hours on the couch binge-watching the latest series. Make a point of getting the whole family outside to blow off some steam every day. Go on a 30-minute walk, take the dog to play frisbee on the rugby field, or go all out and book a day hike somewhere in your vicinity. The options are endless!
Challenge your family to a cook-off
Get creative in the kitchen with the whole family. Bake a bread, make some jam, whip up some homemade sauerkraut, try your hand at making pasta – there are so many options. Make a bit of a mess, put on some tunes and have fun!
Unplug and recharge
Make a point of steering clear of screens and devices for a good portion of every day. Putting off the Wi-Fi tends to help with this. Sure, everyone will kick against it at first, but after a while you will find that your down-time is much better spent enjoying things like a nice lazy afternoon next to the pool with a magazine, colouring mandalas or doing some Sudoku.
Start a new tradition
Start a new holiday little tradition for your tribe. You could, for instance, start reading a book as a family, even just a page or two every evening throughout the holidays, with everyone taking a turn to read aloud. Try classics like Oliver Twist, Harry Potter (fully a classic now!), or the Chronicles of Narnia. Or perhaps you want to go on a guerrilla tree-planting mission and plant a new tree somewhere in your town or city? Choose something that the whole family will enjoy.
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