As parents, we all know that it can sometimes prove difficult to juggle a busy working and home life. When the summer holidays come round, this difficulty is only magnified.

It is however important to spend quality time with our children and as such, planning is key. Of course, it’s impossible to take the entire summer off from work but you can take a few weeks away from your desk. These few weeks may be spent abroad or otherwise at home. If at home, it’s wise to create an activity itinerary and one that is suited to both sunny and rainy days. If you’re planning a holiday away, choose a destination that offers something for all. A holiday resort with a kid’s club is often a good idea, as this will allow you (the parents) with a little quality time together too.

During the summer months, the kid’s bedtimes are often pushed back a little, which means dining together as a family becomes a regular occurrence. With this in mind, it’s important to create a variety of healthy family meals.

The kids will often use a great deal of energy during the day and as such, they require meals that promise to up their energy levels. Suppers that comprise of grains, vegetables and lean proteins are all great options. Try to choose meals that are both flavoursome and nourishing – this will teach your children that it’s not only treats that taste good.

Days can often seem longer when the kids are at home all day. It’s therefore important to look into a number of activities for kids. Filling the days with fun pastimes will allow your children to enjoy their time away from school. Activities such as walks in the park, swimming, a day at the beach, cinema trips and days at the local museums are all good options and cater to both sunny and rainy days.

If you have to work on certain days, it may be wise to enrol the children in a summer camp for a few days each and every week. This will ensure that they are filling their days with fun actions, as opposed to sitting in front of the television at home. On these days however, it’s important that you spend time with them in the evening, which may mean finishing work a little earlier.