Summer Holidays

Summer Holiday Survival Guide

Summer Holiday Survival Guide
 

Godstone Farm’s CEO, Nicola Henderson, shares her top tips for parents and children to get the most out of those six long weeks of summer!

The countdown has begun for many parents, as the summer holidays loom. This can mean weeks of planning, entertaining and coordinating to make extra special memories for our little ones, but it can also be a stressful time for parents, juggling annual leave with tightening purse strings. As a result, Godstone Farm has created not only a hefty programme of events this summer, but also a number of top tips for parents (and kids), to help us all, not just survive the summer holidays, but to thrive!

Godstone Farm has forty years of experience planning exciting summer holiday events, but this year, CEO, Nicola Henderson says that they have been working extra hard to ensure it is fun, and a good value destination for families wanting to embrace a day out in the Surrey Hills. Nicola comments: “Over the past two years families have had to contend with lots of cancelled plans and now a real squeeze on household budgets, so we want to make this a summer to remember at Godstone Farm. We have launched a Summer Sizzler pass to offer extra value and we will have a daily, programme of activities as part of our Storybook Summer event, and we’ve brought back our hugely popular Big Farm Sleepover experience, where families can literally pitch-up and stay as our guests at the farm!”

 
Nicola's Top Tips for The Summer Holidays
 

Make a day of it: think about planning a few days out which offer a range of activities and work for various ages and interests, to create a full day of fun. This not only saves on multiple travel and entry costs to different places, but it also means that those quieter days at home feel like well-earned respite for all involved!

Get lots and lots of fresh air: yes, even if it’s raining, getting out in the fresh air is a ‘must’ each day to refresh little lungs, and replenish vitamin D, helping to regulate our body clocks and happiness hormones.

Provide opportunities to get up-close with wildlife: it’s a well-known fact that giving children a chance to spend time with animals builds confidence and empathy. Learning that our furry friends need lots of love, care and attention is great way to build those all-importance social and emotional skills.

Get physical: climbing, jumping, sliding, crawling…at almost any age, soft play can be great way to shake off any pent-up energy in those arms and legs (and offers parents the chance to grab a warm cuppa), or an adventure playground offering zip wires, and climbing walls will get those fast-twitch muscles exercised!

A healthy balance of treats and fresh food: if you’re eating out for the day, this can be a chance to talk to children about where our food comes from. “Was it produced locally, how did it grow, who grew it, how long did it take to get your table?” These are wonderful conversation starters which touch on a range of subjects to get brains whirring. Or perhaps it’s a day to pack a picnic? Get little ones thinking about their choice of food and give them the responsibility to make some mealtime choices.

Try something completely new: summer holidays are a fantastic way to break away from the routine or to even step out of the comfort zone, allowing children to experience “measured risks”. This could mean visiting our reptile enclosure, or maybe even camping under the stars – these experiences give children a chance to face a fear and come out of it beaming with pride from their new-found accomplishments!

Escape reality: accept that some of the daily routine is likely to go out of the window, this is a prime time for children to embrace their imagination and have some fun! Perhaps it’s time to dress-up, and let your children pretend to be their favourite storybook character…just see where the next adventure takes them!

Nicola comments: “As parents, we’re often told that these summer holidays are times to cherish; they are fleeting moments to grab hold of before our children grow-up and get on with their own lives. But this can also feel like a lot of pressure, on top of keeping them safe and not breaking the bank. So, we wanted to come up with some tips on how to survive the summer holidays, for parents who want to give their youngsters the chance to discover, explore and play whilst having lots of fun this summer.”

To be the first to find out about Godstone Farm’s summer programme of events, including Storybook Summer and The Big Farm Sleepover visit: www.godstonefarm.co.uk

 

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