Most people can’t wait for the summer holidays. Children look forward to the end of the school year - and receiving gifts at Christmas if their family celebrate this holiday. Adults look forward to a break from work and having some time just to relax.
For adults, though, the holidays can still be a source of stress. There are always things to be done, like cooking, preparing for festive days, groceries, gift shopping and a host of household chores that are overlooked during the year.
A holiday trip might seem inviting because it guarantees that you can completely get away from work and home. But staying at home during the holidays has many advantages, too – if you plan in advance.
Staying at home makes your holiday a more private and personal experience. Doing things together over a long period will strengthen family ties, creating family traditions that will leave fond memories for years to come.
If you have an annual holiday budget, spend some of it on your holiday at home. Allocate a certain amount daily for activities, snacks, shopping and food – you may not want to cook too much during your holiday. That way, you will know what funds you have available and remember to add a bit for emergencies.
Activities
A holiday at home doesn’t mean it has to be boring. First of all, you need a plan – but you need to be flexible. Most major centres in South Africa have facilities like theme parks, aquariums, theatres and museums, where the whole family can happily spend time together. It’s all too easy to forget what is right on your doorstep, so do some research to see what your town or city has to offer.
If the weather is bad and the planned mountain hike is cancelled, don’t stress, have a few rainy-day activities lined up. Movies are good rainy-day activities or, if you have small children, somewhere with an indoor play zone. Puzzles, quizzes, board games and colouring books for adults and children have become popular during the Covid-19 lockdown. There are also plenty of online quizzes and treasure hunt games to keep the whole family amused indoors.
Summer is a great time for outdoor picnics. If you don’t have any notable picnic spots in your area, a nearby park – or your garden - can be just as much fun. Pack a cooler bag and a blanket and spend some quality time together. Make some treats to take along, like sausage rolls, cakes or cheese straws. Spend some time looking for small animals and insects in the natural environment. Take along a small magnifying glass and photograph your discoveries so that you can identify them later.
Garden camp out. Most children enjoy camping - even in the garden. If you don’t own a tent, you could borrow one or buy an inexpensive one online to put up in your garden. Get everyone to help pitch the tent and cook supper on the portable braai, then take turns telling stories till it’s time for bed. Even very young children can join in this activity with a bit of prompting.
Family bake day. If there are budding bakers in your family, get your aprons on and make some simple treats - or be more adventurous, depending on your skill levels. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and you don’t even have to bake. You could also make some tasty treats for a movie afternoon or an indoor picnic. So get the whole family involved – and not just with the washing up.
Create a holiday scrapbook. You don’t need all the professional scrapbook materials to start with. Give each family member a page or two to fill and see what you come up with. Find some old photos from previous holidays or look online for photos of places you have been to or would like to visit on future holidays. Your nature photos would also fit in well here.
Special time
Staying at home may not seem as exciting as going away on holiday, but it offers you and your family more opportunities to do things together. This is a special time to be spent as a family, enjoying each other’s company, during a time that you will never get back.
With the right mindset from the start, normal activities like cooking and doing the washing don’t have to ruin your stay-at-home holiday. Order takeaways, have a holiday type of breakfast every morning, get your shopping delivered, and find a local company that will deliver an afternoon tea or a party pack to your home every now and then.
Writer : Sarah-Jane Meyer
