Holiday activity plans for the kids

School holidays are just around the corner for us and I've been freaking out as I've got to study (Uni exams in a few weeks and I'm way behind as usual). Generally I have no plan and we have a few playdates but generally it's bedlam & chaos & I get to the end & think "how could I have done that better?" and then forget about it for another couple of months.

This holidays for some reason I've decided to plan ahead. I am a mean mummy in that every morning of the school hols I expect my kids to write a story, with a picture. Mostly this is because I love reading the kids stories, but also because I love to see their progress from term to term and additionally I want to keep them busy.

I've decided that after they've written their daily story, they can choose from one activity from my newly formed "lucky dip bag" of things that we'll do together, so they have something to look forward to & I have something that I need to do with them before I hide back in my corner with my books & tell them to "go play" & "be good" & "stop fighting."

I've attached my ideas to the right there. I've printed each column in a different colour, so on a rainy day someone can choose a red piece of paper & when Dad's home they can choose a blue piece or on special days I can raid the bag first & pull out all the orange pieces except 1 before the kids get to it.

Anyway, the plan is in place. Will it still turn to bedlam & chaos? More than likely, but hopefully it will be better than other times. When it all turns to rubbish and you want a giggle, then check out the crappy pictures blog

Contributed by RosieO

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Top Tips for School Mornings

They’re fun, aren’t they? School mornings are one of the most difficult times of the week. In our house, we allow an hour and ten minutes to our kids ready for primary school each day. I think if the kids had their own choice they’d spend that whole time giggling at the breakfast table or drawing on the bathroom mirror with their toothbrushes. So below are some top tips for that have worked in our house.

1-Write a job list, down to the completely obvious like ‘put your shoes on,’ with words and pictures, if you have pre-readers. Place it in some prominent place where they can see it and it’s out of your way.

2-Encourage your children to self manage using the job list. Hopefully this should lead to them referencing the board rather than you every 2 minutes.

3-Limit eating time. I don’t know about you, but if my kids are at the breakfast table after 30 minutes they’re generally spending little time eating and most of their time talking, annoying each other or driving me nuts. 30 mins is plenty of time to eat your 6 weetbix or 2 bowls of muesli.

4-Keep the long term goals in sight. Sticking up a list is not an instant answer to all your morning problems. If your kids have been asking you for the last 3,5,10 or 15 years what they have to do next they will continue to do so unless you give them another solution.

Lastly, be encouraged – everyone has terrible starts to their mornings sometimes
Contributed by RosieOTweet