Vacations are no doubt a lovely break no matter how big or small they are. Children are always excited about travelling, be it a visit to their families back home, new destinations or trips around their own city and it holds immense benefits for them in the long run.

Dina Dimitriou, the founder of Calm Little Minds and a psychologist with over 12 years of experience working with families and children highlights the importance of switching off and making the most of summer break with one's family.

Even though people are often busy all year long, they are usually a little bit less stressed during the summer compared to other times of the year. For example, children do not have to go to school during the summer, and adults who must go to work do not need to work as many hours during the summer as they do during the rest of the year. This usually means everyone is in a good mood to hang out together and talk about things that both you and your family are interested in. Many people take advantage of these facts to get to know their families more closely and enjoy quality time together. 

Research from the Family Holiday Association has shown that 49% of people researched have created their happiest memories whilst being on holiday with their family.  Furthermore, nearly a quarter (24%) of people surveyed said that they call on these happy memories when times get tough. 

Here are some interesting activities you can try with your 6-9 year olds. 

If you are travelling:

• Ditch your phone for a few hours every day. Remember all the summertime activities you treasured as a kid before cell phones and computers were around? Chances are you have such fond memories of these activities because A) they were fun, and B) spending time with our parents was simple and heart-warming.
• Anytime is a good time to build a habit of reading a book, even during a vacation. Pack a storybook or any book that might interest the kids. And here’s how you can get them to read it. Before they go to bed, read them a page or two. And when things start to get interesting, make some excuse saying you can't read them that night. And give them two options. Either you can read them later or they can read the book themselves. More chances are for the latter. In case they don’t read themselves, you can always read to them the next night. Either way, they will have read a book!
• Write in a journal each day. Allow older children to create a bullet journal if they prefer. Then, at the end of the summer, share selections with each other about the highlights of your summer
• Vacation planning doesn't have to be entirely up to the parents and everyone's input should definitely be considered. It is best if parents and children sit down together and list down their interests and preferences as a family. Ensuring that everyone has a say in the vacation plans will mean that they'll all get to have fun whatever happens, and you'll also get to learn more about each other's wants as you talk about things. 
• Embrace a ‘yes day’ during your holidays and just have fun

If you are not travelling:

• Ditch your phone for a few hours every day. Remember all the summertime activities you treasured as a kid before cell phones and computers were around? Chances are you have such fond memories of these activities because A) they were fun, and B) spending time with our parents was simple and heart-warming.
• Creating family memories during holidays has many emotional benefits. The holidays are a great time to make memories teaching your children about their culture, and where the rest of their happy families come from. Maybe your culture has a certain recipe for this time of year or a type of bread you all crave? Many studies show that spending time as a family cooking together massively benefits children in many ways so why don’t you give it a go?
• Put the sleeping bags on the floor and have a family slumber party.
• Why not make a time capsule? Have each family member write down something they are grateful for and include a special item in the time capsule. Then, store it away until a designated date. You can open it as early as Christmas or as far off as high school graduation.
• Let the kids rearrange the furniture. Give them some graph paper and have them draw out a plan first.
• Set a goal and complete a home project. Whether it is cleaning the garage, or redecorating the spare bedroom, find ways to let the kids help.
• Have a puzzle race. Use 100-piece puzzles and see who finishes first.
• Write and illustrate a comic book. Make it a group effort or let everyone do their own.
• Hold a photoshoot. Plan different outfits and poses and take pictures outside or around town. Older kids and teens can then edit the photos on a computer.
• Put on your dramatic performance by writing a script, making costumes, or just doing a little improv.
• Bake cookies for a neighbor and deliver the cookies with a heartfelt note or picture.
• Stay connected by going on Zoom or Skype with grandparents or other relatives. Talk about your summer plans and adventures.
• Let the kids cook dinner and encourage them to plan the menu and shop for ingredients. Then allow them to cook dinner for the family. Supervise younger kids but allow older kids to go it alone.
• Interview your grandparents and try to write out your family history. 
• Embrace a ‘yes day’ during your holidays/break and just have fun

Here are some fun activities you can try with your 3-5 year olds:

If you are travelling:

• Always take colouring, activity books, and stickers wherever you go.
• Have a new toy / new snack in your bag for really challenging times.
• Don’t be too strict with the rules. Let them enjoy an extra ice cream but make sure to offer lots of opportunities for rest
• If you are travelling with family or to family, let them babysit for a night or two and enjoy some well-deserved rest.

If you are not travelling:

• Grow fresh herbs in containers. Use old coffee cans, milk jugs, mason jars, plastic cups, or anything else you have around the house. Keep your herb garden on a patio or windowsill.
• Break out your movie collection or use Netflix. Have a movie marathon complete with popcorn.
• Build a fort by putting pillows in the living room or cardboard boxes in the yard.
• Build a Lego castle. Clear off a table and make it a family project. Work on it all summer.
• Camp in. Put the sleeping bags on the floor and have a family slumber party.
• Experiment with new hairdos. Let the kids try out non-permanent colours, braids, or spiked, gelled looks.
• Get an origami book and fun paper. Create fun animals and shapes. Give them to friends or family members as gifts.
• Make paper aeroplanes. See who's aeroplane goes the farthest.
• Hold a hula hoop contest and see which family member can hula the longest

Here are some suggestions you can try if you have 0-2  year olds:

Summer holidays can be quite stressful for new parents, but it doesn’t have to be. If you decide to travel this summer:

• Make your life easier by choosing a holiday destination that works for you and your family dynamics
• If you have a one to two-year-old pack their favourite toys, snacks, and comforters. Stickers and playdough are among the favourite activities for travelling toddlers
• Don’t expect too much. That means that there is a good chance you won’t rest the same way you rested on holidays before kids and that’s OK. Instead, try to savour the precious moments you get to enjoy with your new baby and take lots of photos of all of you together!

If you are not travelling here is a few activities to try with your child:

• Water is a must-have for the summer. Grab a bunch of seashells from the beach (or a shop) and make a fun sensory bin by adding water, a few drops of food colouring, and the seashells. The bigger the seashells, the better little learners who are still working on grasping can have an easier time holding the shells.
• Grab a few toy cars, a brush, and some soapy water. It’s best to use baby shampoo to be safe in case they put the soap in their eyes. Baby bath soap creates more bubbles. Add a lot of water to the bin as little learners will love to hide the toys and their own hands under the water.
• Explore the city and enjoy it now that it’s not going to be as busy as usual
• Kids love sensory bottles so the summer holidays are a great opportunity to make one together. Create an ocean-themed sensory bottle by adding a shark made out of foam sheet into a plastic bottle. Add glitter and a 1/4 cup of soap. Try using it before bedtime or when your child is feeling upset. Younger babies enjoy watching this too, you will just need to hold it for them. 

Let us know in the comments below if you have some more tips or if you end up trying any of the above. We would love to hear from you!