Image source, Nilly Dahlia
Image caption,Nilly Dahlia says she wants her kids to enjoy a "nostalgic summer"
ByEmily Holt
The six-week summer holidays have officially begun and, for many parents, finding exciting but affordable activities for children can be tough.
For most families in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the break is already under way. In Scotland, children have enjoyed some time off already, but will return to school earlier than those elsewhere in the UK.
Here are five tips to help children get the most out of the next few weeks of summer.
1. Not every holiday has to be abroad
A family's first instinct when summer is approaching may be to look at booking a trip abroad, but rising costs and travel expenses mean a holiday isn't feasible for everyone.
Mags Rivett, director at Family Holiday Charity, which supports families with UK trips, says there are many benefits to arranging time away with children that don't require expensive travel.
She says the social aspect of a holiday can help children develop their communication skills.
"Lots of kids have never really had the opportunity to meet people outside of their own community," Rivett says. "But if you go somewhere that's got social facilities, it's a really important opportunity."
She says getting recommendations from friends and family is a good place to start.
Rivett gives the example of Skegness, a coastal holiday destination in Lincolnshire, accessible by train or coach, which her charity has supported families to visit.
A family-of-four's accommodation in a holiday park there this August starts at around £750 for a week, while an off-peak return train from Manchester would cost around £280 for four.
By contrast, a last-minute trip to Majorca for a family-of-four at that time starts from around £2,000. Better deals can usually be found booking further in advance.
2. Prioritise the moments, not the cost
Samantha Thomas, creator of Budget Mum UK, says she focuses on the time she can give her children, rather than the money she could spend on a day out.
Thomas suggests focusing on your budget first to understand what you can comfortably spend, and then build your activities around that, to help remove any "stress or guilt" during the holidays.
"Children don't need a six-week programme of expensive activities," Thomas says. "Some of the memories that they'll treasure most will come from simple things, like baking together or a picnic in the park, or building a den in the living room."
Ingredients to bake fairy cakes with buttercream icing usually cost between £10 and £15 - depending on what you already have in the cupboard.
For a picnic - or picky bits - prices can vary. But it can easily be done on a budget of around £5.
Image source, Samantha Thomas
Image caption,Samantha Thomas says treasured family memories can be created on a budget
Tasneem Abdur-Rashid, an author and single mum of two, echoes Thomas' opinion and wants to relieve the pressure she puts on herself to do something different with her children every day.
She says it's important to take time out, put work away, and spend one-on-one time with your children. This could be going to play in the park, or going swimming.
Trips to local pools or lidos can cost around £6 for adults, and £3.50 for children.
Abdur-Rashid says every night during the holidays she will play board games with her children, which blends quality time and fun. These can be picked up at local charity shops for very reasonable prices.
"You don't even have to leave the house for that," she says, "and they love it."
3. Use what's available in your area
Nilly Dahlia, a content creator and mum of three, says she prints out a six-week calendar with a range of activities for her kids during the holidays.
As part of their "summer bucket list", they are planning to check out all the parks in the local area and she is prioritising low-cost activities throughout the summer.
"I feel like there's this intense pressure to have Instagram-worthy holidays now," she says.
"What's wrong with just staying in the UK, staying out till sunset, riding your bike, just going to the river, like I did? I really want the kids to experience a nostalgic summer."
Dahlia stresses there are many things on offer during the holidays that won't break the bank, such as free kids' meals in cafes and discounts on local travel.
And there are often offers at bowling venues and cinemas, she says, while her family enjoys a movie night at home every Friday.
"They each have a bowl of popcorn and treats and we move the sofas into two rows so it's like a cinema."
James Gray, communications and advocacy manager at Libraries Connected, says the summer holidays are also where libraries "come alive".
He says libraries across the UK will hold the Summer Reading Challenge, encouraging kids to read more in a fun format, and many will be hosting events such as arts and crafts, performances and creative workshops, all for free.
4. Balance rest with some learning
Dahlia says she picks up books for her children to get them ready for the next school year.
Her youngest will receive some chapter books to help them transition into Year 3, while her eldest is moving to secondary school, and Dahlia has prepped suitable books to bridge that gap from primary.
She preps "summer baskets" which include puzzle books, reading books and snacks to curb any boredom.
"It's so important because by reading, they're still engaging their brain so they can go back to school in September, already having vocabulary in them."
As a busy parent, Abdur-Rashid says she doesn't always have the time to do everything she'd like with her children, but structures their days to make sure they are always doing an activity.
She allocates an hour a day for gaming which her boys enjoy, and then fills the rest of the time with playing, reading or writing.
She also wants to foster a passion for reading in her kids, and allows them to not finish books they don't enjoy so reading doesn't become a "punishment".
Image source, Tasneem Abdur-Rashid
Image caption,Author Tasneem Abdur-Rashid suggests parks and picnics for low-cost quality time with your children
Gavin Morgan, an education psychologist at University College London, says it's important to let children be "bored" during the holidays.
"It's really important that they have opportunities to switch off from school and from that structure in order to experience and explore new things and get bored, because for some kids, that can really spark that creativity."
For those entering exam years, Morgan says parents should have a conversation with their child about what they need to do and what suits them best.
"The worst thing for parents to do is put their child under any kind of pressure, because they'll end up being switched off from learning," he says.
He says parents should encourage their children to take a break from their education, so they return to school in September "feeling really confident and refreshed".
5. Get ahead for the next holidays
Thomas says she starts planning her summer budget well in advance. She does this by contributing a little bit of money every month into a "sinking fund" - a pot of money set aside for a specific purpose.
This summer her budget is £500, and she sits down with her children to discuss how much they have budgeted and to brainstorm activities they can do together.
"You've got that open dialogue, so they understand there's only a finite amount of money, and we've got a plan on how to do that best," she says.
Thomas also uses cashback websites to get money back on things she has bought, which she says is "brilliant for hotels or travel".
If you are planning a holiday, whether abroad or in the UK, Thomas stresses to plan and book in advance to get better deals. She also recommends looking at attractions within your local area before travelling further afield.
Additional reporting by Hayley Clarke
