At this point in the term, I find the only thing keeping me going is dreaming of golden hours of ice cream and idyllic holiday fun. In the sun, everything is just rosy, with plenty to keep us all busy… but… Unless you found a pot of gold at the end of that rainbow, a whole six weeks of high spirits and a summer of entertainment is going to be difficult to achieve — and even if you did have that pot of gold!
The first few days of the jolly's will be just that, jolly. We're full of ideas of what to do, and then just like that, the holidays can become a little less jolly, and we all run out of steam or ideas. Now if you're like me and you have a non-stop kid always on the go, keeping up with her need for momentum is… tough.
With experience in hand, here are some Binky tips to help you into the holidays, come rain or shine, and without the need for a pot of gold!
You don't have to fill every day. 💛
Let's start here because it's the most important one. The pressure to create magical, Instagram-worthy summer days every single day is simply not real, and it's exhausting trying to keep up with it. Some days a trip to the park, a packed lunch and your company is the most perfect day your child will ever have. You are enough. A slow, unplanned day at home, den building, a paddling pool in the garden, baking together, can become the memory they talk about for years. Don't underestimate it.
Kids clubs are brilliant. Use them guilt-free. 🎨
Summer holiday clubs, sports camps, art workshops, library reading challenges- these exist for a reason, and there is absolutely no guilt in using them. Children make new friends, try new things and come home genuinely tired. That is a win for everyone. Check your local council website, library and leisure centre for free or low-cost options, you might be surprised what's on offer right on your doorstep.
Plan your free days first. 🌿
Before you spend a penny, write down every free or low-cost thing near you. Parks, beaches, forests, nature trails, free museum days, library visits, and lido days. The picnic from home always beats the café. The den built from sofa cushions always beats the expensive soft play. Children don't need expensive toys; they need your time, a bit of space and something to spark their imagination.
A simple park visit and a picnic is enough. 🧺
Seriously. It really is. A blanket, some sandwiches, a ball and a good hour outdoors is one of the richest things you can give a child this summer. No screens, no agenda, no schedule. Just space to run, explore and be. The simplest days are so often the ones they remember most.
Stock the activity drawer. 🎁
On the days when the weather turns, enthusiasm wanes, or you simply need ten minutes of calm, a well-stocked activity drawer is your best friend. Craft kits, sticker books, colouring sets, a marble run, and a card game. Things they can pick up on their own and lose themselves in. At Binky, we've handpicked every single one, so you can shop with confidence knowing they'll actually get played with.
Give them a camera. 📷
One of the best things you can do this summer is hand a child a camera and let them document their own holiday. The garden, the park, the beach, the breakfast table, through their eyes, it's all extraordinary. It keeps them engaged, builds creativity and gives you a beautiful record of the summer from their perspective. The Hoppstar camera is our most loved pick for exactly this.
And finally, remember that you are the adventure. 💛
On the days when nothing is planned, the weather is grey, and everyone is a bit grumpy, you are still the best thing in their summer. A story together on the sofa. A silly game in the kitchen. A walk to nowhere in particular. Children don't need the pot of gold. They just need you to show up, and you already are.
Here's to a brilliant summer, whatever it looks like. 🌿☀️
Explore our Summer of Play edit for bits and bobs to keep them entertained.
