Spring has sprung and with the seasonal change, a range of new ways to enjoy time with family these upcoming (Government) school holidays. With all of the busyness that takes place during the course of the year, holidays should be about rest, recuperation and quality time with those most dear to us. Affordability is key too, so having fun during the holidays shouldn’t break the bank. Here are six affordable ways to spoil yourself and your children during these school holidays.
Into nature
With the arrival of Spring, there is much fun in the sun to be enjoyed. South Africa has 19 national parks scattered across the country. In Spring, the parks blossom with an array of beautiful, brightly coloured vegetation. The indigenous fauna and flora are preserved and cared for in these conservation sites, making for the most spectacular visual experience. With the warmer weather, waterfalls scattered across our national parks can be fully enjoyed by you and your little ones. For those keen to soak up some sun and head into nature, SANParks offers greatly discounted rates for South African and African citizens and even greater discounts for kids.
Soulful eating
We all remember our first hotel buffet, where mom or dad taught us how to order eggs sunny side up or scrambled and our eyes immediately ate more than our stomachs could. Enjoying a little bit of time away from home and its responsibilities means that parents have the time to reconnect and focus on soulful centering. “When choosing a hotel these upcoming holidays, look for an establishment that has a dedicated space for children to play under the careful eye of trained staff, giving parents the chance to enjoy a worry-free afternoon,” advises Radisson Blu Hotel Waterfront Head Concierge, Yusuf Jinoo. Having fun with the kids and building a good relationship with them might have to include letting someone else take care of them while you take care of yourself a bit.
A spirit of adventure
South Africa is an adventure lover’s paradise if you know where to look. The entire country is scattered with both man-built and nature-based adventure parks. MiniTown in Durban is a coastal South African city built to the scale of 1:24 of the actual size of city buildings. For little kids who love playing house, travelling across this small town makes for the biggest adventure. Entrance for kids and adults is under R40. For kids who love the outdoors, visit adventure parks like the Toboggan family park in Cape Town with its 1.25m long slide. Ziplines are also incredibly popular with little thrill seekers and can be enjoyed by kids as young as six years old. These can be found all across the country, so be sure to look into it.
Educational fun
If you’re going to get the kids learning these holidays, make sure it is filled with fun. There are close to 100 museums around the country, of which Gauteng has the majority. They’re fascinating places to learn about many different topics, with the added visual stimulation of objects on display. Transport, art, national history, and indigenous culture are just some of the themes our museums represent. Iziko Museums in Cape Town often conducts holiday programmes for the little ones. Also look at what your local library is offering. Many of South Africa’s libraries have free holiday programmes that include art days, movie afternoons, and more.
Get cooking
Move along peanut butter on toast, these kids know how to cook. Cooking together is such a fun activity for families staying at home during the holidays. Start off with simple recipes like scrambled eggs, basic yeast-free bread dough or a simple cupcake batter. Remember to place newspaper on all surfaces before you start for easy cleaning up and let them lick the spoon however many times they ask.
Get some fresh air
Even if it’s just for an hour or two, try to get the kids out of the house, off devices and breathing in some fresh air these holidays. Marius Earle, General Manager of Radisson Blu Hotel, Durban Umhlanga recommends: “Take a walk through your local botanical gardens. For us it’s the Durban Botanic Garden. Fresh air is actually a very powerful anti-stress tool. The extra oxygen helps your white blood cells (which support your immune system) to function more efficiently. And spending time in the sun helps your body to generate more vitamin D, which supports mental health, bone health, and strengthens the body to fight disease.”
Enjoy your own backyard
If you have outdoor space in the form of a backyard, you can make the most of these school holidays. Get the children to make bird feeders and top these up when they get low. This not only gets children outside, but also excited about doing their part for nature.
If your garden isn’t child-friendly and is in need of some TLC and a clean-up, you can enlist the help of SweepSouth’s outdoor services. By using the gardening services booked through their app you can have your yard ready for child-like adventures in no time. Alen Ribic, co-founder of SweepSouth and dad of three, notes that even if your yard is small, you can make it a fun and enjoyable space for the whole family if you have the right type of help.
You could give your child vegetables and plants to start an outdoor garden and teach them how to tend to it over the holidays as Spring is the perfect time for growing many of the fruits, vegetables and herbs we love.
