I have a cunning plan....

...to survive the upcoming school holidays!

I always dread the school holidays, I know it's awful of me, but I like school. It keeps Laila occupied, active and stimulated, she needs all of this all the time. On days at home, it's nice to relax and chill and just play with what we have, but you have to be one step ahead. She'll suddenly decide she wants to bake something very specific or make something really complicated she saw once on Mister Maker or the French equivalent Artzooka! I often struggle to come up with ideas of something to make on the spot and so try to get her to do something else, like colouring, and then feel guilty for surpressing her creativity.
Then there's Max's naptime which is hard for Laila, she has to try to keep quiet while he sleeps for 2-3 hours, and we can't go anywhere during this time if it's just me. During a normal week she's only home on Wednesdays when there's no school, but in the holidays there will be 10 naptimes to contend with. On the weekend, Daddy comes to the rescue and takes Laila out during naptime and does a fab job of keeping her entertained. However, this also causes me problems, as she's used to being entertained by school or by daddy. So of course she gets cross when I can't devote 100% of my attention and time to her needs and desires!

Back to my plan....

I am going to plan ahead....yup, that's it! Maybe it's the newly trained teacher in me, but planning lots of activities in case you run out of something to do in class is something I have learned invaluable lately!

So these are some lists I will be making tomorrow:

List 1 - Craft ideas 
I have the following books which I will pick a few ideas out of and make sure I get hold of the necessary materials in time.
 50-Things-Make-Usborne-Activities
Toddlers-Busy-Book

Colouring sheets (ok not a list)
My kids love colouring in and drawing. I need to print a load of colouring sheets of their favourite characters ready for when they demand it. If I don't have them ready, I risk having 2 whiny toddlers fighting over who gets to yank it out of the (suprisingly robust) printer first! there are tons available on blogs, and the TV websites. The Disney one is very good and what my kids are into right now.

List 2 - TV guide
Actually the post above just reminded me, quite often during the school holidays the kids channels like to completely change their scheduling and take off ALL my kids favourite programs and replace them with crap like Phineas and Ferb. I must have a look at what WONT be on, so we don't get a 7.30am tantrum for Mickey Mouse Clubhouse!


List 3 - Places to go
I'm rubbish at thinking on the spot, especially if it's one of those child meltdown-mummy tearing her hair out-let's get out of the house quick-moments. So I need to write down all those places that are good to take them, and where it's safe to take them on my own. Such as the beaches (check the tides too), the park and the aquarium. Eeek, see I can't think of anywhere else, I can't even take them to the library or the swimming pool on my own yet. One (namely Max) always runs off in the opposite direction to the other one!

List 4 - Baking
This is an easy one, and I've got very good at keeping a stock of most baking ingredients, but there's some new recipes I've been wanting to try, so maybe we'll give them a go in the holidays. Need to buy in all the ingredients.

List 5 - Friends to see
Our termtime calendar is so busy there are lots of people we haven't seen in a long time, so I plan to email them and arrange to meet up if possible. Fingers crossed they're not going away skiing like the rest of France!

List 6 - Meal planning
On a good week, I do my best to plan the weeks meals and make the shopping list to go with it. During the holidays I want to try and get some good healthy meals cooked while I have time, try some new ones (that they can turn their noses up at), and get some portions frozen for when Max is back at the childminders. Also the school just informed me that Laila eats none of her school lunches, so we need to address the new foods thing.

List 7 - Lesson plans
I need to make a list of lesson plans that I want to achieve by the end of the holidays. I really need to get ahead of myself on these so that I'm not always planning the night before!


List 8 - to do list
I always have a to do list, but I need a "holiday to do list". As if all of the above wasn't enough to keep me busy!

p.s. I have looked at the holiday activities which you can sign your kids up for, even just one hour baby gym or half a day at holiday club, but Laila isn't ready for this kind of thing. She would LOVE the activity, but there is NO way I could make her go somewhere new with people she doesn't know. She'll point blank refuse and it's just more stress than it's worth. I am very jealous of those parents that can just drop their kids off at something like that, but at the same time I'm reassured by Laila's skepticism of strangers!