How can I relax in a house full of craziness?
August 23, 2023
Comrades, we’re chest deep into the school holidays – not that anyone is counting, right? Parents everywhere are eyeing the drinks cabinet by lunchtime, while toddlers refuse naps in favour of shenanigans with their school aged siblings. Will the tide of endless activities and snackathons drive us to the brink or can we ride the wave to the finish line? Is there any way to relax in a houseful of craziness?
It’s important to recognise that parents who are trying to work during the school holidays genuinely are in a stressful situation. The brain uses more energy than any other organ – even in a resting state it uses 20% of the body’s energy. Juggling both work demands and the needs of a busy family are bound to heighten cortisol levels, derailing concentration, digestion and sleep.
So, how can we find a little tranquility in the middle of school holiday mayhem?
Team Cwtchie work at home during the holidays – here are some of our top tips to help you limp to the holiday finish line:
• Get into nature
At the risk of sounding a little woo-woo, why not try the Japanese art of Shinrin- yoku? Forest bathing is said to lower blood pressure, relax the mind and bring a sense of peace and well being. The natural vitamin D boost helps support the immune system and gentle exercise helps eliminate sleep debt with a great night’s rest. It works for children too – just as long as we keep them out of nettle patches and bramble bushes!
For excellent tips and instructions on forest bathing for adults and children, try the Forestry England Website.
https://www.forestryengland.uk/blog/forest-bathing
Remember to wrap up warm if it’s chilly out – we can help with a Cwtchie hoodie blanket!
• Start a treasure hunt
Who doesn’t love a prize? There’s nothing more fun than the thrill of working out a puzzle then enjoying a well deserved award!
Treasure hunts can last an age – especially if some of the clues can be found in videos and books that need to be watched or read.And while the hunt is on, you can enjoy some unapologetic me time – even if it’s an uninterrupted visit to the loo.
For a host of brilliant treasure hunt ideas try these 35 brilliant scavenger hunt ideas from Good Housekeeping
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/parenting/g32050844/scavenger-hunt-ideas-for-kids/
• Festival at Home
Not everyone is brave enough to take their brood to a muddy field in Reading and strut their stuff with thousands of intoxicated teenagers. For some of us, it’s probably more restful to set up camp at home, enjoying concerts on our wide screens with picnics and laissez-faire dinner eaten from napkins and paper plates. What could be simpler than hotdogs in the garden, dressed as you please with a Cwtchie hoodie, wellies or flip flops? Let the kids chill with music and games while you stroll down memory lane with hits from the noughties.
For amazing tips on festivals and fun at home, follow Cwtchie fan https://instagram.com/cookiecrumblesuk?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Do something new at home
It’s been a seriously soggy summer. The iPads are hammered, you’ve had your money’s worth from Disney plus and they’ve read everything, including the cereal packets, twice. Everyone is fed up of crispy cakes plus the end of an expensive month is upon us. What can we try that will give us a guilt free quiet twenty minutes without breaking the bank?
We applaud the parents on Instagram who have been employing entertaining misdirection tactics. One hilarious parent had challenged her 3 boisterous offspring to draw her laying down. She snuck in a glorious rest while supervising them closely and everyone got a prize. We also admired the exhausted mum who cracked out the face paints and lay on the floor while the kids painted her ( face, arms and legs) and then each other to look like clowns.
Our personal favourite is the large cardboard box and felt tip/ paint method. We let the kids decide on the theme ( space rocket/ shop/ jungle) and let them create the environment whilst sitting inside the cardboard carton – the mess stays in the box and their imaginations get an outing.
With several children, creating a theme so the boxes become a village or space station can provide hours of fun ( also read peace and quiet).
For lots of fun, cheap ideas of things the brood can do over the next few weeks, try:
• Home cinema in a den
If memory serves us right, one of the greatest sources of joy as a kid was a den. There was nothing more satisfying than creating a structure (that actually stayed up), then spending a rainy afternoon making it cosy with cushions, soft blankets and snacks. Sometimes important meetings ( meaning screen time for the kids) can’t be helped. A ‘movie- den’ is perfect for a meeting length ‘window’ with minimal clearing up and maximum peace to get some work or chores ticked off the list.
For a huge choice of free films, see:
https://movies.guide/movies/filter/free
Parents ( and teachers!) are counting down the days until we’re all back at school. Enjoy the last of the summer freedom, we wish you well and some lovely pockets of peace and quiet.
Love
Team Cwtchie
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