The school holidays are here – and for many parents, that means finding ways to keep the little ones entertained without breaking the bank.
But finding things to do is no easy task. In fact, a recent study by Officeology found that parental burnout is rife during the school holidays, with 72% of parents saying they feel overwhelmed during the school holidays.
And with an average of around 91 days of school holidays every year – it’s definitely a problem worth solving.
Luckily, a number of startups have popped up to help parents tackle this problem head-on. From arts and crafts to cooking and adventure, these companies are designed to help kids enjoy their school holidays – and help parents survive it.
Pressed for ideas around keeping the kids busy? Let’s take a look at some options…
For Arts and Crafts
ToucanBox
toucan box is a subscription arts and craft box that is perfect for children aged 3 – 8. Every month, a new kit arrives through the letter box, full of curated projects and activities for their age.
Not just for crafts, but built with education in mind, this arts and crafts box is perfect for keeping kids busy. And if you manage to save up the boxes throughout term time, there will be plenty for them to do as soon as the holidays hit!
We Craft Box
Another curated arts and crafts box, but this time perfect for sharing between 2 kids!
Each month, families get a themed craft kit with all supplies included for 2-5 crafts, inspiring creativity, learning, and family fun.
These boxes are great for households with multiple kids, keeping them entertained all holiday long.
Conscious Craft
For eco-conscious parents, Conscious Craft picks eco-friendly art materials and sustainable toys that inspire creativity, learning, and fun.
The crafts are regularly designed to reflect the seasons, helping kids create crafts based on the nature around them.
Whether it’s natural paint or open ended toys, Conscious Craft is a small company making a big difference.
For Developing A Love Of Cooking
Little Cooks Co
Little Cooks Co is a cooking kit subscription company designed to engage kids.
With a mix of cooking and baking kits, Little Cooks helps children learn about cooking real food from scratch, and entertaining them in the process.
So, if you’re a parent struggling to think about what meals to make – why not combine it with cooking as a 2 in 1?
Foodini Club
The foodini club is a cook and craft subscription club for kids aged 5-12.
By combining seasonal meals, activities and learning, the subscription plan helps kids discover exciting recipes, learn more about food and create delicious food in the process.
For Local Activities
Hoop
Hoop is a startup that makes it easy to find local events for kids between the ages of 0-18.
With over 400 types of activities on the platform and 100,000+ to choose from, parents can find tons of things to do – and read reviews about them before committing.
Covering everything from music to sports and learning to theatre, Hoop makes it easier for parents to keep their kids busy over the holidays.
Club Hub
Club hub is an app that makes it easy to find activities for kids from 0-18. Parents just need to put in their local postcode, their child’s age and what type of activity they want – and the app spits out a whole range of options.
The platform has everything parents could want, from antenatal classes, baby groups, toddler activities and family days out, to kids clubs, holiday camps, party entertainers and teen activities.