Build a Summer Holiday Routine
It can be refreshing to take a break from normality, but for children in care, a lack of routine can induce anxiety and stress. When school finishes for the year, it can be helpful to create a summer holiday routine so the children in your care continue to feel secure.
Having a summer holiday routine doesn't mean every day will look the same. It means establishing consistent meal times, bedtimes and exercise routines that give children some predictability. Your summer holiday routine could include later wake-up times, a walk in the park and time allocated for independent play. You can then plan fun activities and days out around your summer holiday routine.
During the last week of the summer holidays, you can prepare the children in your care for returning to school by slowly implementing their usual routine.
Make a Plan
Now that you've established a summer holiday routine, the exciting part starts - planning activities, days out and holidays. Making a plan can prevent you from becoming overwhelmed and being stuck for ideas to entertain bored kids on rainy days. It's a good idea to get the children's input so you know they'll enjoy the activities you have planned.
- Create a budget - spend some time assessing how much you can spend on holidays, activities and days out. You could also involve the children in this process to help them build money-management skills.
- Research - whether you ask friends and family for ideas or use blog posts like this one, create a list of possible activities and ask the children to pick their favourite. Be sure to include some wet weather activities!
- Check the weather - although the long-range forecast can quickly change, it is worth using as a guide, so your plans don't become a washout.
- Plan for the unexpected - list any unpredictable situations that could arise and impact your plans, such as a child in your care becoming unwell.
- Create a timetable - use an A3 weekly planner or calendar to timetable activities, no matter how small. For example, you could split the day to include a picnic in the park, crafting, and a film night. If you have picked six days out, split them across the holidays so the family has something to look forward to each week. Don't forget to include planned meetings and contact arrangements in your timetable.
- Display the timetable - stick it to the fridge so the children can see their daily activities, and you can remind yourself what you've planned.
Summer Holiday Activity Ideas
Whether you stay at home, visit the local community or travel further afield, get your notepad and pen ready; here are our top summer holiday activity ideas.
FCA Activities and Events
Already fostering with FCA? From family fun days to trips to theme parks, there are plenty of opportunities for your foster child to make friends with children from similar circumstances. They could also use the summer to practice their poetry and photography skills for our competitions or join the regional choir and compete in The Big Sing Off.
Swimming Crash Courses
Leisure centres and private companies operate swimming crash courses for children over the summer so they can learn how to swim. These courses typically run for half an hour a day over a week, helping children gain confidence in the water and learn different swimming strokes.
Swimming is a fantastic form of exercise and a valuable skill that enhances water safety around rivers, lakes and the sea. Learning to swim also gives children the opportunity to participate in water-based activities such as aqua challenges, kayaking, and paddle boarding.
‘Chef’ for the Day
It’s never too early to help the child in your care build skills that will enable them to live independently. One way you can do this is by allowing them to become 'chef' for the day. It will be the child's responsibility to prepare a meal from start to finish, including choosing a recipe, making a list of ingredients they need, purchasing the ingredients and cooking the meal.
To make the cooking part of the process more enjoyable, they could wear a chef's hat while you act as their sous chef, following directions and helping them. This activity can boost their confidence and provide a sense of accomplishment when the family sits down to enjoy the meal.
Cooling Down
There is nothing like a water fight on a hot summer day or a dunk in a paddling pool. If you have a slope in your back garden, you could make a DIY water slide with plastic sheets and use the washing line as a prop for the hose pipe so there is a continuous stream of water. The whole family can join in, whooshing down the slide. Just ensure that there aren't any hazards that could lead to injury.
Inland Beaches
If you live inland and don't fancy travelling hundreds of miles to visit a beach, you're in luck! Some cities, like Birmingham and Nottingham, create their own beach with deckchairs, funfairs and food vendors so you can enjoy the beach atmosphere without the travel. Some lakes, also have beaches where you can take a picnic, swim and enjoy water sports.
Learn a New Skill
If the weather is less than pleasant, you could encourage the child in your care to start a summer project and learn a new skill. If they are interested in fashion, they could learn how to sew, spending the summer making a garment of their choice. If they are music-obsessed, they could learn how to play an instrument or mix music using apps and software available online. If they enjoy their summer projects, it could become their hobby and may even lead to a life-long passion.
Get to Know Your Area
Sometimes, you can live in an area for so long that you forget about the beauty spots and interesting sites available on your doorstep. If the child in your care has moved to your area from another location, the summer holidays could be an opportunity to help them get to know where they live.
Visit the library or a local tourist centre to learn about your community's history and grab a guide to the local area. Guides usually provide information about significant historic buildings and fun facts. You could turn it into a quest, walking from place to place, ending at a beauty spot for a picnic lunch.
Further Resources for Days Out
You can save money by becoming a National Trust or English Heritage member. With membership, you'll have unlimited access to hundreds of historic sites and places of interest. During the summer holidays, they often host outdoor theatre productions, film screenings and a wide range of activities for the whole family. Days Out With The Kids is another brilliant resource for drumming up ideas for days out; head to the website, type in your postcode, and it'll show you what's available in your area.
For more summer holiday activity ideas, talk to foster families in your area; they should be able to make recommendations and may even join you for a fun day out.
Activities for children with disabilities
If you are fostering a child with disabilities, make sure the activities you have planned are suitable for them. Many organisations will ensure their activities are accessible, and you can use tools such as AccessAble and Euan's Guide to double-check. Some venues will hold autism-friendly events with their sensory needs in mind. For example, cinemas may have an autism-friendly screening with fewer people, lower lighting, and the volume turned down. If you are concerned about an activity, talk to the provider about any adjustments they can make so your foster child is comfortable and safe.
Taking Foster Children on Holiday
Taking your foster children on holiday is possible, given that you have the right permissions and correct arrangements in place. Holidays give you some quality time to focus on getting to know each other and bonding as a family without the stresses of everyday life.
If you go abroad, you could have fun practising another language and experiencing another culture. It may be the first time your foster child has visited a different country, making it an educational and unforgettable experience.
If you stay in the UK, you could immerse yourselves in nature by camping for a few days, which is brilliant for the mental well-being of the whole family. You could go on a beach holiday in Cornwall or climb mountains in the Lake District, whatever you decide, remember to take photos and enjoy every moment of the experience.
Are you considering a fostering career? Get in touch to learn more about our fostering allowances and the activities we host in your area.
