The summer holidays are looming and the thought of preparing for those children-orientated days can feel like a mammoth task. That’s why we’ve put together a list of things to help you prep!

1. Find out what the kids want to do then look at whether these places are open and when you can go. Make a list of all activities and days out that you can or want to fit in and that work around you and your spending! This way you can manage the kid’s expectations about what they can and can’t do.

Dave Hoefler

2. Charge your camera! Download any photos you need to, clear the memory card and charge the camera – then you’ll be ready to get those gorgeous summer snaps!

3. Do you have a kid who loves reading? Buying lots of books can start to add up, so grab a library card! Not only is it money saving – it’s also an eco-friendly alternative to book buying! And it will act as another day out for the little ones – bonus!

4. Always good to check supplies! Have you got everything you need? This is England and we can only assume there’ll be a few rainy days to fill. Some items that we find use to have are pens, paper, games and indoor activities aplenty…just in case. You can stock up on eatsleepdoodle world map and pond life activity paper here– perfect for rainy days and a good screen-free activity. Don’t forget the pens! You can stock up with our artist set of 20 wash-out pens here.

5. One idea we love is to fill a jar with activities on small pieces of paper – on days when the kids are feeling a bit bored, they can pick an activity out the jar! This can make a fun treat and creates a buzz of excitement about the activity. You could add things like; finger painting, showing off skills on the trampoline, reading or baking!

6. We always find it helps to check that everything works or fits! Are the bike tyres flat? Have they grown out of their swimming costume? Is the paddling pool clean? Checking all of this before the summer holidays helps means you can avoid those frantic ‘oh my gosh, the bike won’t go!’ ‘what do you mean your swimming costume is too small?!’ kind of days. A smooth sailing summer is what we’re all aiming for!

Raphael Biscaldi

7. In the run up to the summer holidays, we always like to keep to one side old egg boxes, cereal boxes and empty jars ready for craft projects – which can be a great fun, hands on activity for kids. Try using eatsleepdoodle ceramic pens on an clear jar to create a cool tealight holder!

8. Check the local timetables – buses, cinemas, trains, even tides! This is all about being prepared…

9. Speaking of cinemas – get tickets! Now cinemas are open again, it could make movie night more exciting. Check the times, see if there are any deals for cheap seats, grab the popcorn and go!

10. Get picnic ready - blankets and baskets and bottles! Picnics are a wonderful way to fill a day with the kids – gorgeous summer sun beating down as you snack on delicious treats, but we all know it can be stressful to make it happen. We always like to make sure we everything we need for easy-going picnic outings. Did you know eatsleepdoodle tablecloths make great picnic blankets? Grab yours now!

Hopefully, we’ve inspired you with a few tips and tricks to make the summer holidays go smoothly this year and we hope you have a great time! Keep an eye out for our summer holiday activities blog coming soon – with lots of fun days out and activities to soak up the summer sun (and some for the rainy days too…).