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The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Mums share easy ways to ‘survive' the stressful summer holidays for those dreading the six-week stretch
WITH the school term winding down and the six-week holidays looming, panic is setting in for mums across the country. How on earth are mums supposed to entertain the kids for 42 solid days without losing our minds, our patience or half our bank balance? 2 Surviving the summer holidays can be a difficult job for parents 2 A mum took to Tiktok to gather the best summer holiday tips Credit: Tiktok/ Ohcaroline That's exactly what one frazzled mum asked on TikTok, and boy, did other parents come through. In a now-viral video, And the TikTok tribe didn't disappoint. Mums from all over shared their best hacks, tips and tricks, from free days out to clever routines that keep things ticking over and stop everyone climbing the walls. Read more on summer holidays We've pulled together the top ideas to help you actually enjoy the holidays this year. Free activities Don't assume you have to spend big to keep them happy. Loads of mums raved about the sheer amount of free activities available if you know where to look. One genius suggestion was to apply for a Most read in Fabulous Earning one is a fun project in itself, and once they've got it, kids get free entry to hundreds of UK attractions including zoos, theme parks and museums. It's also worth checking your local council or community centre , where there are often free summer schemes, drop-in sessions or local events for families. Three new family-friendly summer events that kids will love from Disney hunt to walking tour And if you want a ready-made list of freebies, check out the Sun Club's ultimate UK guide to everything you can do for free with the kids this summer. Wednesday's off One mum swears by getting dad, or any extra adult, to take a regular day off midweek. She explained: 'We got my partner to take every Wednesday off for a family day. It doesn't have to be fancy, just a park trip, pond-dipping, or a picnic. "It broke the week up and made a huge difference.' It doesn't have to be dad - grandparents, aunties, or another mum friend could do the trick. And teaming up with another family means the kids get playmates and you get backup. Everyone wins! Big spend day Another mum's golden rule was to only have one 'big spend' day a week. That means just one outing to a paid attraction like a zoo or soft play. The rest of the time it's walks, baking, movie days, maybe a cheeky coffee shop trip or a playdate if you're feeling social. Sdhe added: 'My kids are used to it and honestly they're really chilled. We've always done it this way.' Simple, low-cost days keep expectations, and budgets, in check and make that one treat day even more exciting. Movie marathon If screen time's a worry, turn it into a full-blown themed movie marathon. One mum shared how they started at Snow White and worked their way through every Disney film in order of release, with themed dinners and snacks to match. For Alice in Wonderland, they threw a tea party. For Princess and the Frog, they made jambalaya. And the best bit is the kids rated each film afterwards, turning it into a fun activity the whole family looked forward to. She planned the meals, so it wasn't pricey, just creative. She said: 'We did about three films a week and it lasted months." Themed days A few mums use themed days to give the week some structure and help avoid the dreaded 'what are we doing today?' chaos. Think Walking Wednesdays where you explore a new park or trail, Arty Fridays for crafts and painting, or Simple Sundays where you all crash out with a film or build a den in the living room. It gives the week rhythm without becoming rigid, and gives kids something to look forward to. Invite friends over Sometimes, the best entertainment is old school. 'My four love just having friends over to play or even just playing outside on the road,' said one mum. She keeps it manageable by only having a couple of friends over at a time, but says it makes a huge difference. And in summer, when there's no homework or packed lunches to stress over, it's the perfect time to let them socialise. Tips for keeping organised during the summer holidays IF you aren't sure how to keep organised during the summer holidays, then you've come to the right place. Senior Fabulous Writer, Sarah Bull, has shared her top tips... FOOD: One thing I find difficult is keeping on top of my kids' constant requests for snacks. Despite the fact they have one break time at school and then lunch, their demands for food during school holidays seem to be 24/7. To make things easier, I've decided to bring in snack baskets for them. They each have a certain amount of food (the same so that there's no arguments) and once it's gone, it's gone. Not only does it make my life easier, it teaches them that they have to spread things out - and to maybe see if the 'hunger signals' are actually ones of hunger or thirst. ACTIVITIES: It can be hard to keep your kids entertained - and six weeks can feel like an awfully long time. One thing to take advantage of is having an outside space. If you have a garden, you can put bikes or scooters in there, or even a trampoline. It keeps them entertained and also makes sure they're doing some kind of physical activity every day. If you don't have the space for a climbing frame or added activities, why not give the kids a bucket of chalk and get them to draw on the paving slabs? Or another one I did was to give the kids a 'magic solution' I needed painted on the wall (it was just water and washing up liquid) to protect it. They spent a good hour doing that! CLOTHES: One thing I've used from when my daughter, now six, started school is to use clothing drawers for her and my son, who's 10. On a Sunday, I put all of their clothes, underwear, socks etc in the corresponding drawer for the week. Usually it's uniform, but I still use the drawers during the holiday too. It just makes things easier, more organised and less stressful - for all of us. Rainy days Every good survival guide needs a Plan B for rainy days. Mums recommend prepping a few go-to indoor activities. Think baking, The key is to plan ahead. Having a few ideas ready means less panic when the heavens open and less temptation to fork out £30 for a soft play session out of desperation. Ultimately, the mums of TikTok agree, the summer holidays don't need to be perfect or packed with entertainment. With a little planning, some cheap or free ideas, and realistic expectations, you can survive the six weeks and maybe even enjoy them.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beyond Bourbon Street: A Whirlwind Week in New Orleans
New Orleans is one of the most culturally significant cities in the United States, and it's been on my must-visit list for years, inspired by some of my favorite films (Interview With the Vampire; A Streetcar Named Desire, Princess and the Frog) and L.A. friends who fell in love with it and moved there. Many visit for the revelry of Mardi Gras in February —but the beads, booze and tourists can overshadow some of the city's warmth and are other events to plan trips around, Jazz Fest which just wrapped up, for example, but I chose to go during the French Quarter Festival, which focuses on local music and food. With virtually every major restaurant in the area participating and serving the region's signature dishes — from crawfish and po-boys (Acme Oyster House) to alligator nuggets, beignets (Café Du Monde) and jambalaya — popping in and out of this particular event makes for a multifaceted immersion and sampling of NOLA's cultural mojo, and a week I'll never forget. Whimsical architecture blends French, Spanish and Caribbean styles, from colorful Creole townhouses to charmingly narrow 'shotgun' homes with Victorian touches. Airbnb might be your first thought for a stay, but the hospitality-driven services at area hotels make a getaway feel a bit more special. There are plenty of Vegas-y accommodations here as gambling is legal, Caesars and Boomtown being the most popular. For my trip, the One11 Hotel is a perfect choice. Just outside the French Quarter, the small boutique destination is housed in a century-old former sugar refinery and features exposed brick walls, wood beams and large steel structural bones. Melding its industrial past with its trendy present, it's got a great bar — including happy hour — and continental breakfast in the morning, plus an 8th-floor deck with scenic views of the Mississippi River. New Orleans has always conjured exotic images and alluring activities that piqued my imagination. Voodoo, ghosts, cemeteries, swamps, the bayou, art, music, bars … all are on my to-do list. I start with historic graveyard environments — the Metairie Cemetery, where Vampire author Anne Rice is entombed inside a beautiful stained glass-adorned mausoleum, and the Greenwood Cemetery, featuring an array of historic Civil War monuments. Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau is interred in St. Louis Cemetery No. 1, the city's oldest, which many consider NOLA's most haunted grounds. Speaking of spooky stuff, voodoo dolls make cute souvenirs, and I snatch some great ones at the Voodoo Museum and Voodoo Authentica, which also sell other mystical merch. In the French Quarter, on Magazine Street and in the Garden District, a host of unique mom-and-pop shops and fascinating exteriors beckon from every corner. A jaunt to the Hotel Saint Vincent reveals a classic Southern Gothic environment and two thematic cocktail spaces, one red-hued and sexy, the other green, bright and friendly. Considered the birthplace of jazz, NOLA might have more musicians per capita than anywhere in the world. For an authentic immersion into its instrumental soul, visit Preservation Hall, where local legends go to jam. In general, though, NOLA residents steer clear of Bourbon Street and go to bars on Frenchman Street. Also in the Garden District, there's Tipitina's famous for Cajun and Zydeco music as well as fais do-do dancing; and the , not far from Tulane University, which also draws a college crowd. There are also street players everywhere, including the French Market, a farmers market for locals and tourists alike with food, art and activities.A visit to the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) reflects the city's spirit as well, with an impressive showcase of international and local works, including, through Aug. 10, 'New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations,' a collection that feels very Mardi Gras-adjacent in terms of costuming and pageantry. I also recommended the on the museum grounds for a lovely and eye-grabbing statue-specked art stroll. When the Super Bowl was at Caesars Superdome (home of the New Orleans Saints) in February, NOLA got a lot of attention, especially for its dining scene. Fanciful French eaterie Lilette is where Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift had a hot date night, so my partner and I follow suit, enjoying the white-tablecloth hotspot's succulent steaks and inviting atmosphere. The next night, the old-school scene at Brennan's in the Quarter is even more my speed. The pink-and-green-schemed restaurant is where the iconic Bananas Foster dessert was invented, and the tableside demo/history lesson is fiery fun. My favorite dining discovery, the Vampire Apothecary, makes for a fanciful lunch, delicious sandwiches and soothing tea drinks amid seductive decor like dried flowers and witchy natural furnishings. NOLA staples like spicy beet-pickled eggs are served with Vampire brand tea to wash it down. Also deserving of note, though I couldn't fit them in this time: Deanie's Seafood in the Quarter for crawfish; , which nurtured chefs Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Lagasse and is renowned for its weekend Jazz Brunch and 25-cent martinis on certain weekdays; Antoine's, founded in 1840, the oldest restaurant in the city; and Algiers Central Market, home of the muffaletta, an Italian sandwich made with round sesame seed bread, cured meats, provolone and mozzarella and a tangy olive salad Orleans allows drinking in public, and you'll see a lot of it on Bourbon Street via plastic drinking vessels, often from Pat O'Brien's, which created the notorious Hurricane. (Cannabis, though, is still illegal.) But beyond touristy takeout sippers, a bar tour is a must, whether you're looking for dive vibes or award-winning mixology. Jewel of the South, which won the James Beard Foundation's award for best bar program, is aptly named, while Latitude 29, makes the tastiest tiki drinks in town, as created by the king of tropical cocktails — Beachbum Berry. For down-and-dirty atmosphere, locals love , a dark hovel with a heavy metal soundtrack, with live music and campy themes nightly, and , a gritty and gregarious hangout with a free jukebox that rocks, which is where I end the whirlwind all goes by far too fast, and I still feel like I'm under the city's spell, which is likely to pull me back sooner than later. In the meantime, here are a few more Big Easy bullet points to note for your next trip, below. - Get an up-close and personal look at the local swamps and gators! - Like San Francisco's cable cars, they're an exciting and organic way to travel around the city. (The St. Charles line is the one featured in A Streetcar Named Desire). - Family fun with botanical gardens, rides and National WWII Museum - Everything you ever wanted to see and learn about World War II in one mind-blowing, multi-building facility. - The creamiest sno-cones you'll ever get a brain freeze from, and where all the locals go. Prepare to wait in a long Daiquiris- There are plenty of walk-up outlets, but for a cold buzz in your car, roll though a drive-thru. A version of this story appeared in the May Travel issue of Los Angeles magazine, on stands now. See the photo gallery below for images of everything mentioned above and much more. (Photos 1-14 by Lina Lecaro; photo 15-37 courtesy Visit New Orleans. View the 37 images of this gallery on the original article
