13 Ways To Survive The Summer Holidays With Kids… From A Working Mum
From breakfast non-negotiables to embracing the chaotic joy of playdates, The Handbook’s Astrid Carter has just survived her first full seven weeks of school holidays as a working mum. With most of the country still deep in the holiday trenches, she shares her tips for keeping the peace, holding your sanity, and actually enjoying the ride.
Start the day right
I’m not a morning person, to say the least – never have been, never will be. Having a child definitely messed with my dedication to the long weekend lie-in, but you find your new groove eventually. Whilst summer holidays tempt me with the prospect of a little longer in bed each morning (even if it is only half an hour), I’ve learned that I’m in a far better mood if I just get up before the rest of the household, have some quiet time, and let myself get a few things sorted – me showered, makeup on, breakfast made – before the five-year-old baby boss wakes up. It’s hard to peel yourself away from the bedsheets when you don’t have work or school runs to get to, but I promise it’s worth it.
Whilst summer holidays tempt me with the prospect of a little longer in bed each morning (even if it is only half an hour), I’ve learned that I’m in a far better mood if I just get up before the rest of the household, have some quiet time, and let myself get a few things sorted
Astrid, Contributing Fashion & Lifestyle Editor
Don’t tell them everything
Obviously this depends on your child’s age and their concept of time, but at five years old, I’ve learned that giving them something to “look forward to” often does more harm than good. If we have a big day planned, I only tell my little one the day before. There are only so many “How long until…” questions my brain can take.
But in reality, no five-year-old knows that two weeks in Ibiza is supposed to be any different from a short, but oh-so-sweet staycation
But make everything exciting
Whether it’s an afternoon of pulling weeds out of the lawn, a competition to brush their teeth, or physically timing how long it takes to get dressed on your phone’s stopwatch, making the most mundane activities fun and child-friendly is the key to getting out of the house and getting stuff done.
Not everything has to be extravagant
It’s easy to compare your summer holidays to others on social media and feel like you’re not doing as great a job. But in reality, no five-year-old knows that two weeks in Ibiza is supposed to be any different from a short, but oh-so-sweet staycation. It wasn’t in the budget to go abroad this year, but we managed to pack in a few short and more local trips that were so special, from a Scottish week away with family to weekends with friends, and even day trips with just me and my boy.
I used to cringe at that phrase about the “only 18 summers” you get to spend with your child, but having just completed his first school summer holiday, I get it.
Accept that some screen time is okay
I did my best to plan and keep my working days to the times I had childcare. In reality, this doesn’t always work, and there are moments when you may have to jump on a call or finish a deadline whilst also parenting. It’s safe to say CBeebies has worked overtime in these situations.
Prepare the boring bits
First of all, I’ve done a big online shop every Sunday night these holidays, with delivery arriving on Monday mornings. I’ve also been far more prepared in what and when we are eating, which has kept stress levels down and costs under control. Of course, there are instances when this goes out the window, and that’s fine too. It also means I’ve had 1,000+ snacks in the cupboard to get through seven weeks of no school, whether that’s healthy options or the odd Freddo here and there (using them as a currency at this point).
I’ve also found sticking to the breakfast routine invaluable. Whilst some mornings are lazy and pyjama-clad for longer than I’d care to admit, we always do breakfast first thing, and I don’t pull out the breakfast big guns like pancakes until the weekend. I’ve also got him involved in some “cooking” (I use the term generously); for example, we loved making those viral healthy peanut-butter-stuffed dates (you can check out my recipe here), and it fills an hour at home.
Nutrition-wise, it’s easy to feel the guilt when you’re on day three of as many ice creams, but I try to think of healthy eating in weeks rather than days. If he’s had loads of great healthy things over the week, a treat here and there feels totally fine, and getting lots of goodness in seems more manageable.
It’s easy to feel the guilt when you’re on day three of as many ice creams.
And finally, I’ve stuck to having a big roast dinner on a Sunday, something we usually always do before school starts again on a Monday. The whole family looks forward to it, and it feels like a wind-down from the weekend and a reset for the week ahead, even in the chaos of the holidays. The excitement to get his hands on the wishbone is worth it alone, and it also means roast chicken sandwiches for lunch on Monday.
Find a hobby for the holidays
Shout out to the official World Cup sticker album for sponsoring summer ’26. Whilst I’ve spent more than I’d have liked to on football stickers, it has provided hours of entertainment, rewarded us with a free geography education (my boy now knows dozens of flags and countries he didn’t know before), and weirdly calmed my nervous system as I stuck hundreds of the damn things into the album (trust me, it’s quite therapeutic!). If you can find a consistent but easy hobby that you can return to throughout the holidays without needing much setup, do it.
If you can find a consistent but easy hobby that you can return to throughout the holidays without needing much setup, do it.
Book the playdate
Sometimes the thought of hosting a playdate fills you with dread… Is the kitchen table a mess? Do I need to hoover again? But actually, and especially when you have an only child, it can be so brilliant. We’ve had a few over the summer, kept it simple with food and activities (the sunshine has helped), and they’ve all been brilliant successes. When you have a child of one, it’s amazing how much they can entertain themselves with another child (although I know there are many more hills to climb when you have siblings!). You’re also likely to be offered a return playdate with their friends, giving you a little respite when you might need it most.
Stick to a (flexible) routine
Children thrive off a familiar routine; it makes them feel safe and gives them a sense of emotional security. When holidays hit, routine can go out the window, and there are parts of that I love (being someone who, for the most part, thrives on variety), but I’ve made a few things non-negotiable.
Simple things like breakfast first thing, trying to keep meal and snack times consistent, and getting out of the house for fresh air as early as possible, even if it’s just to the local park. Leaving the house plays such a vital part in all of our moods, and whilst it’s tempting to have days at home to tick off the to-do list, everyone is so much happier when we get out and about. I also love it when my little boy says things like, “I’m ready to go home now,” at the end of the day, as he sees it as somewhere safe and comforting to return to. I’d be lying if I said I’ve kept bedtime at term-time accuracy, though some battles you have to let lie.
Have backup toys and activities
I’ve started squirrelling away a few things from birthdays and Christmas to bring out when you really need something to curb those “I’m bored…” laments. You can also rotate toys or arts and crafts bits, so not everything feels so familiar all the time.
Invest in a calendar wall chart
This is more for me than anyone else, but it’s kept me organised amidst the chaos of summer holidays: from logging the days he’s in summer camp and meetings I have, to trips away and the boring stuff like bin day. Good Tuesday has a great range of colourful, cute ones that actually look good on the wall.
Embrace the low-cost activities
I’ve kept my eye on local events all summer, and some of them (even free ones) have been some of the most memorable days of the holidays, from an old cinema that was putting on a free family day complete with face painting and bouncy castles (a surefire win for a five-year-old) to a family sports day put on for the Commonwealth Games (also completely free).
I also truly believe that when the weather is on your side, the best days are those out in nature with no screens, no loud, colourful toys, just fresh air, a picnic, and a heap of curiosity.
I’ve kept my eye on local events all summer, and some of them (even free ones) have been some of the most memorable days of the holidays
Ask for help when you need it
The school holidays are a wild ride, and I fully appreciate that I’m coming at this with just one child to wrangle and the flexibility of being self-employed, meaning I can essentially write our own script. I know that’s not the reality for everyone. But as a single mum, I’ve definitely had to lean on my friends and family to make it work.
There is zero shame in admitting you’re struggling for cover on a random Tuesday, or holding up your hands to say you just really need to attend an event for yourself. Lean into your village, whatever form that takes, and accept the help without the guilt. You’ll find a way to pay it back down the line.
Keep your expectations low, be gentle on yourself, and you’ll enjoy it
I used to cringe at that phrase about the “only 18 summers” you get to spend with your child, but having just completed his first school summer holiday, I get it. In fact, it makes me a little teary-eyed. Whilst some days have been a test (the ones where I’ve not made childcare plans or things have fallen through), the rest have been some of my happiest days of motherhood yet. Be gentle with yourself, and I promise you’ll enjoy it – for the most part!
Whilst some days have been a test… the rest have been some of my happiest days of motherhood yet.
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