23 August 2022 06:00
The last two weeks of August are challenging for anyone who has preschool and school age children. As parents, we don’t get a lot of time off, so even though it’s great to have more time to spend with the children, it’s not logistically easy if we still have to work. Throw the hot weather into the pot and you get an opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime – but doing this requires us to make an effort.
Activities with the children:
- Cooking together
Cooking together is not just a way to pass the time or to get the children to help out. It’s an activity that teaches them an important life skill, and you can also take the opportunity to talk to them about things such as where food comes from, the ingredients, and healthy eating habits. Try to go for simple recipes that do not have to be exact.
- A trip with added value
Every summer holiday, we struggle to find where to take the children on a trip. There are so many beautiful places, but why not add value to the trip? For example, you can take them to animal shelters instead of to the zoo, to one of the many museums scattered around the country, to volunteer to pack donation baskets for the needy, or on a tour of nature with educational explanations for them – and you.
- Shared and active viewing/reading
Let’s face it, sometimes there’s nothing better than just putting the kids in front of a screen. In fact, even us adults sometimes like to switch off our minds, curl up on the couch, and watch a good movie. So why not combine the two activities? We all have our favorite movies, series or books from childhood that have a special meaning for us. The next time you are all at home in the evening, choose something cultural that you like and that is suitable for children, and watch or read it together, and then tell them why it’s so special to you.
Activities without the children:
- Go for a walk
We’ve already given you some ideas that don’t require a babysitter, so if you have a partner, ask them nicely if you can go for a walk outside by yourself. Listen to a podcast or a favorite album, and use this time to clear your head a bit. Physical activity, even if as light as a moderate walk, will renew your energy.
- Invest in your skincare routine
A skincare routine really doesn’t have to be a 30-step ritual; it can be simple and quick, but even cleaning your face properly and applying serum and cream for five minutes before going to bed can make you feel like you’ve done something for yourself. And if you take care of yourself – you’ll be the best version of yourself for your children.
- Read a book
The world is divided into two types – people who read every day before going to sleep and people who always want to read but feel they don’t have time. So first of all, you should know that reading a book before bed, especially if it is instead of staring at the screen of an electronic device, such as a phone, can improve your night’s sleep. In addition, even if you are particularly busy parents, try to find the time to read even for 20 minutes, whether it is a fiction book that will help you get lost in an imaginary world for a while or a nonfiction book that challenges you to think.
- Meditate
For someone who has never tried to meditate, doing it can seem like an impossible task. But the truth is that nowadays, it’s very easy to start meditating since there are countless apps and YouTube videos on guided meditation, which is a great way to dip your toes into this intriguing practice. Meditating regularly has many benefits – it reduces stress, develops the imagination, and gives you tools for self-awareness and dealing with everyday situations.
- Make a to-do list for the next day
It may sound like just another task, but the truth is that the rare free time we have in the evening without the kids is the perfect opportunity to reduce future stress. Most of us tend to go to sleep with our minds alive with we have to do the next day. Making this list will not only make you more efficient, it will also shift tasks from your mind onto a page, and so free and soothe your mind.
