It’s nearly holiday time – are you ready?

4th June 2017

Can you believe its nearly the summer holidays? I feel like it was two seconds ago it was Christmas! Well they do say time flies when you are having fun. Its been a crazy first year for Bambeenies and we have just about recovered from our Big Birthday Bash. We have had so much fun this year with the very first Baby and Children Show, the addition of brand new classes and an expansion out to Brae where we begin classes next week, our big birthday and now preparation to do it all again!!

So, SUMMER HOLIDAYS!! Thats what we are gearing up for next. Before I started Bambeenies I used to dread the holidays, the chaos that ensued with childcare, trying to keep three children amused and keeping myself sane. Don’t get me wrong I loved having my little monkeys around but it was a juggling act. But isn’t that just parenthood really!!

Bambeenies stops running our usual blocks of classes and offers you a more flexible booking system where you can book one off classes all summer giving you the freedom to book just one classes or all of them. We offer our usual Bambeenies, Teenie Beenies and Big Beenies but we add in 45 minute drop off classes for 3-5 years so you can pop to the supermarket or pub if you feel the need lol! We also offer 2 hour workshops for 4-9 years to give you a little break to catch up on the house work or take some well needed me time. We are also planning some big family events this summer so we will keep you posted with those too.

So, I wish you all luck with your holiday planning and offer you a few tips to keep your sanity and assist you through your darkest hours out into the  summer holiday sunshine(please bring sunshine Mr weatherman):

1. Get out – Get out of the house EVERY DAY, this is not only for your sanity but to get those endorphins going and wear out your little cherubs. Even if it raining get on those wellies and get splashing and puddle jumping, yes you too! It’s a great stress reliever.
2. Have some good OLD FASHIONED fun! In this age of technology don’t forget that the good old games and activities of old can often be the most fun of all. We have spent days climbing trees and swinging through the jungle (small wood) like Tarzan, building stone houses on the beach and going on a treasure walk. Now the treasure walk sounds exciting, but to you and I, it means writing them a list of rubbish you know you will find along the way just to entice them to keep walking, but ssshhhh!! They love it, so let’s not burst their bubble!! Just don’t forget to empty their pockets before you throw the days clothes in the machine, otherwise stones, sheep pirrels and feathers do not look great after a wash – talking from experience here!
3. Make the most of what’s on offer – check out what’s on in your local area. There is always museums, yes I know the thought of keeping them quite in a museum – aaaahhh stress ahead – but don’t fear most museums are now very child friendly with lots of interactive fun to keep them busy, local leisure centres, country shows, gardens, beaches. Now don’t forget your girl scout training and be prepared for all eventualities and you can have a fun day out!
4. Forget routine and planning – just resign yourself to the fact that your perfectly timed routine will not happen throughout the holidays. Now this is Miss OCD talking and it has taken me years to suss this one out but once you let it go – cue cheesy song being sung in your heads (sorry) – you can achieve a strange calmness ha ha who am I kidding!! Ok maybe not calmness but it makes life a little easier.
5. Messy Play – Oh my favourite of all my tips and believe me I am not just saying this because it’s my job!! Now I won’t lie, messy play used to scare the heck out of me when I first had kiddies but honestly you have nothing to fear. There are many ways of creating messy play, shameless plug coming – come along to one of our exciting  classes at Bambeenies  and we can do it all for you. Sorry ha ha!! Anyway seriously it can be great fun and doesn’t need to end up looking like a scene from a horror film. Try some dry materials first that can be swept or vacuumed up or get it outside in the garden. Lentils, couscous, sand are all great with the cars and diggers. Make some fairy rice (rice, glitter and colouring) for the girls to play with their barbies in. Although warning, last time I made rice I was finding it everywhere for days later, even in my underwear! For more messy play ideas check out our sensory ideas page on the website.
6. Get together with friends – make a play date, meet at a neutral location or take turns going to each other houses. This gives the kiddies a chance to burn off some steam, get some social interaction and play with someone else because, let’s face it, by now they are probably getting fed up of playing with you. It also gives you a chance to exchange ideas on survival, have a good moan and come away feeling like your stress levels have been reduced momentarily.
7. Sense of humour – strange tip I here you say! Well this is what you will need on those days that it all goes wrong and of course at some stage it will! For these such days I recommend a ready supply of wine/chocolate/gin or whatever floats your boat because, let’s face it, when you close the last bedroom door and slump on the sofa, life will be righted again by a good chunk of chocolate or a small or perhaps large wine.

So all that is left for me to say is go forth super mummies, take hold of the summer holidays with two hands and show the world what you are made of! We are all united and will support each other as we continue along the path of parenthood.

Jenny x