We all know that holidays can prove expensive, but it’s important to make sure your child is getting the most out of their time off even when you’re trying to save money. While taking a break from their academic studies, you want your child to grow, develop and learn new skills so that they go back to school with a new sense of accomplishment. This can include activities where you teach your child to ride a bike or show them how to cook. So, with this in mind, how can you provide your kids with valuable experiences without spending money on extravagant holidays or costly extracurricular activities?
Here are a few money-saving tips to get you started:
Go away for less
Everyone knows that the most expensive time to go away is during the school holidays. The key is to do your research and book in advance. Going on holiday doesn’t have to mean staying in a five-star resort somewhere, and you don’t even need to go that far afield for your child to experience other cultures. Read through some travel articles to get an idea of the sort of destinations you would like to travel to. For example, you might decide to go for a city break in Scotland or a camping trip to Wales. It’s also a good idea to set a budget so that you have an idea of how much you want to spend on travel, accommodation, food and activities. You can then use comparison websites to look up the best deals and see if you can take advantage of any package deals.
Outdoor activities
The holidays are a great opportunity for your child to get outdoors, get some fresh air and also learn new skills. One example is learning to ride a bike – if you don’t already have a children’s bicycle, they’re not very expensive, or you could even see if there’s a family friend or relative you can borrow one from. Everyone remembers learning to ride a bike, and so here’s how you can give that experience to your child during the holidays:
- Choose a dry day and pick an open space away from large groups of people, cars and other distractions.
- Get your child to mount the bike, making sure the seat is at the correct height and that they are comfortable sitting on it.
- Once they have got used to sitting on the bike, show them how to use their feet on the pedals, hold the handlebars and how to use the brakes.
- Once they’ve mastered this, it’s time to let them have a go at cycling. Make sure you hold them on the bike on their first try, and give plenty of reassurance that it’s safe.
- After a few times of supporting them, you can gradually let go and allow them to ride by themselves.
And that’s how it’s done! This is just one activity that’s free or cheap, and it’s sure to create some lasting memories.
Cooking
Cooking is another important skill that your child can learn during the holidays and is a cost-effective way to keep them entertained. Getting them to bake cakes, cook simple dishes and prepare food will allow them to develop skills such as following instructions and quantifying ingredients. It will also educate them about where their food comes from and what goes into it. You can even get them to unleash their creative skills by creating their own recipes – a fun and inexpensive activity, especially for a rainy day.
These are just some of the activities you can do with your child during the holidays that don’t necessarily cost a lot. It’s important to remember that when you do small things like teach your child to ride a bike, you are creating valuable experiences and equipping your child with important skills for the future.
