Cash-strapped Bristol parents admit they’re dreading cost of summer holidays
New research suggests as many as 66 percent of Bristolians are planning savvier ways of keeping their kids engaged this summer, with 72 percent admitting they’re dreading the cost of holidays more this year than ever before.
And it seems Bristol parents plan to embrace traditional fun, as 66 percent will be taking their little ones on picnics, while 45 percent plan to bake cupcakes, in a bid to keep costs down.
Playing board games (53 percent), going on bike rides (45 percent), gardening (44 percent), looking for shells on the beach (49 percent) and reading books (43 percent), also featured in the top 20 savvy ideas for keeping kids entertained.
Other free and fun activities, according to parents, include wild swimming (15 percent), making daisy chains (15 percent) and climbing trees (21 percent) also made the list.
Overall, 84 percent of the 1,000 parents polled by Boundless, said entertaining children is hugely stressful, with 81 percent saying the summer holidays are one of the most trying times of the year.
Among the list of treats cash-strapped Bristol parents are planning to forgo this summer were eating in restaurants (60 percent), days out at theme parks (51 percent), trips to the cinema (38 percent) and visiting zoos or safari parks (28 percent).
62 percent say they are apprehensive about the summer holidays with the financial cost the biggest worry (59 percent), while 41 percent said trying to juggle childcare and work was difficult.
Darren Milton from public sector and civil service membership club, Boundless, who commissioned the survey, said: “The research shows that Bristol parents are having to scale back some of their summer holiday activities this year, embracing old fashioned past times such as berry picking and tree climbing.
“Parents working in, or retired from, public sector or civil service roles can access our membership benefits which include deals and discounts across the country to make the most of their free time, enjoy new experiences, entertain the whole family and save money along the way. For example, membership includes free access to Kids Pass, which offers great savings on a wide range of days out – from zoos and aquariums to all the major theme parks, with ‘kids eat free’ offers too.
“Our members can also enjoy unlimited complimentary access to Kew Gardens in London, Wakehurst in West Sussex, as well as the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) ten UK sites – including WWT Slimbridge. We’ve also recently announced free access to tastecard including Coffee Club – the UK’s biggest dining club, which provides discounts every day of the week.”
Nearly a quarter (23 percent) say their kids always complain about being bored.
It takes the average Bristol parent just 16 days into the six-to-eight-week break for them to run out of ideas about how to keep their youngsters entertained.
On average kids in Bristol will complain of being bored a staggering 19 times over the holidays.
20 SAVVY ACTIVITIES TO KEEP KIDS ENTERTAINED THIS SUMMER – ACCORDING TO BRISTOL PARENTS
- Going on picnics – 66%
- Playing board games – 53%
- Looking for shells on the beach – 49%
- Baking cupcakes – 45%
- Going on bike rides – 45%
- Reading books – 43%
- Do some gardening – 40%
- Camping in the garden – 34%
- Playing cards – 32%
- Berry picking – 30%
- Having a move marathon – 28%
- Paddling in streams – 28%
- Making dens – 26%
- Climbing trees – 21%
- Playing dominos – 19%
- Five a side football – 15%
- Wild swimming – 15%
- Making daisy chains _ 15%
- Making DIY nail salons – 15%
- Organising a treasure hunt – 13%
For more information, please visit www.boundless.co.uk.
