Mums share easy ways to ‘survive' the stressful summer holidays for those dreading the six-week stretch

The Sun

4 days ago

WITH the school term winding down and the six-week holidays looming, panic is setting in for mums across the country.
How on earth are mums supposed to entertain the kids for 42 solid days without losing our minds, our patience or half our bank balance?
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That's exactly what one frazzled mum asked on TikTok, and boy, did other parents come through.
In a now-viral video, @_ohcaroline put out a heartfelt plea: 'Mums, what do you do to survive the six-week school holiday? I want tried and tested, genius ideas.'
And the TikTok tribe didn't disappoint.
Mums from all over shared their best hacks, tips and tricks, from free days out to clever routines that keep things ticking over and stop everyone climbing the walls.
We've pulled together the top ideas to help you actually enjoy the holidays this year.
Free activities
Don't assume you have to spend big to keep them happy.
Loads of mums raved about the sheer amount of free activities available if you know where to look.
One genius suggestion was to apply for a Blue Peter badge.
Earning one is a fun project in itself, and once they've got it, kids get free entry to hundreds of UK attractions including zoos, theme parks and museums.
It's also worth checking your local council or community centre, where there are often free summer schemes, drop-in sessions or local events for families.
Three new family-friendly summer events that kids will love from Disney hunt to walking tour
And if you want a ready-made list of freebies, check out the Sun Club's ultimate UK guide to everything you can do for free with the kids this summer.
Wednesday's off
One mum swears by getting dad, or any extra adult, to take a regular day off midweek.
She explained: 'We got my partner to take every Wednesday off for a family day. It doesn't have to be fancy, just a park trip, pond-dipping, or a picnic.
"It broke the week up and made a huge difference.'
It doesn't have to be dad - grandparents, aunties, or another mum friend could do the trick.
And teaming up with another family means the kids get playmates and you get backup. Everyone wins!
Big spend day
Another mum's golden rule was to only have one 'big spend' day a week. That means just one outing to a paid attraction like a zoo or soft play.
The rest of the time it's walks, baking, movie days, maybe a cheeky coffee shop trip or a playdate if you're feeling social.
Sdhe added: 'My kids are used to it and honestly they're really chilled. We've always done it this way.'
Simple, low-cost days keep expectations, and budgets, in check and make that one treat day even more exciting.
Movie marathon
If screen time's a worry, turn it into a full-blown themed movie marathon.
One mum shared how they started at Snow White and worked their way through every Disney film in order of release, with themed dinners and snacks to match.
For Alice in Wonderland, they threw a tea party.
For Princess and the Frog, they made jambalaya.
And the best bit is the kids rated each film afterwards, turning it into a fun activity the whole family looked forward to.
She planned the meals, so it wasn't pricey, just creative. She said: 'We did about three films a week and it lasted months."
Themed days
A few mums use themed days to give the week some structure and help avoid the dreaded 'what are we doing today?' chaos.
Think Walking Wednesdays where you explore a new park or trail, Arty Fridays for crafts and painting, or Simple Sundays where you all crash out with a film or build a den in the living room.
It gives the week rhythm without becoming rigid, and gives kids something to look forward to.
Invite friends over
Sometimes, the best entertainment is old school.
'My four love just having friends over to play or even just playing outside on the road,' said one mum.
She keeps it manageable by only having a couple of friends over at a time, but says it makes a huge difference.
And in summer, when there's no homework or packed lunches to stress over, it's the perfect time to let them socialise.
Tips for keeping organised during the summer holidays
IF you aren't sure how to keep organised during the summer holidays, then you've come to the right place.
Senior Fabulous Writer, Sarah Bull, has shared her top tips...
FOOD: One thing I find difficult is keeping on top of my kids' constant requests for snacks.
Despite the fact they have one break time at school and then lunch, their demands for food during school holidays seem to be 24/7.
To make things easier, I've decided to bring in snack baskets for them.
They each have a certain amount of food (the same so that there's no arguments) and once it's gone, it's gone.
Not only does it make my life easier, it teaches them that they have to spread things out - and to maybe see if the 'hunger signals' are actually ones of hunger or thirst.
ACTIVITIES: It can be hard to keep your kids entertained - and six weeks can feel like an awfully long time.
One thing to take advantage of is having an outside space. If you have a garden, you can put bikes or scooters in there, or even a trampoline.
It keeps them entertained and also makes sure they're doing some kind of physical activity every day.
If you don't have the space for a climbing frame or added activities, why not give the kids a bucket of chalk and get them to draw on the paving slabs?
Or another one I did was to give the kids a 'magic solution' I needed painted on the wall (it was just water and washing up liquid) to protect it. They spent a good hour doing that!
CLOTHES: One thing I've used from when my daughter, now six, started school is to use clothing drawers for her and my son, who's 10.
On a Sunday, I put all of their clothes, underwear, socks etc in the corresponding drawer for the week.
Usually it's uniform, but I still use the drawers during the holiday too.
It just makes things easier, more organised and less stressful - for all of us.
Rainy days
Every good survival guide needs a Plan B for rainy days. Mums recommend prepping a few go-to indoor activities.
Think baking, LEGO builds, movie afternoons, crafts, museum trips or indoor play centres.
The key is to plan ahead. Having a few ideas ready means less panic when the heavens open and less temptation to fork out £30 for a soft play session out of desperation.
Ultimately, the mums of TikTok agree, the summer holidays don't need to be perfect or packed with entertainment.
With a little planning, some cheap or free ideas, and realistic expectations, you can survive the six weeks and maybe even enjoy them.