Ahhh, it’s finally the holidays... time for some fun! Time for us big men to look forward to doing nothing more than lazing about, indulging in day beers, taking afternoon naps or just getting in some serious Netflix binge sessions. The choice is yours. Wait, hold on a second. You have kids. You’re not doing anything of the sort. Your days are more likely going to be full of backyard cricket, footy and trampolining. Forget the day beers, it’s going to be more like juice and cordial for you. And as far as watching what you want on Netflix goes, you’d better be up for some serious Peppa Pig on repeat (although I’m more of a fan of Bluey myself).
When you’re a father you always have little people looking up to you. So it’s going to be important that you find your zen and, in case you’ve forgotten, learn how to be a big kid again these school holidays.
As the playwright George Bernard Shaw once entreated: “We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.”
Read on to discover ways that we big guys can have fun these holidays by playing like a big kid.
Take the fun outdoors
One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure. – William Feather
Play sports. Set up a fun holiday treasure hunt. Have a water fight. As much as you can, avoid simply turning on the TV. Kids are pretty good at getting up to all sorts of hijinks to keep themselves occupied and this can get a bit full on if you are trying your best to do something else. However, as the old saying goes: they won’t be young forever. And once gone, you can never get back the time when they were young. Show them now how much you enjoy having a good time with them.
Pro tip: Create an outdoors activities box filled with balls, bats, toys, and buckets and spades so that you’re always prepared for a bit of outdoor fun these holidays!
Fun holiday arts and crafts
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou
Perfect for a rainy day or just to fire up little people’s imaginations, holding an arts and crafts session with your kids is sure to keep your creative juices flowing! Stop recycling all that good cardboard. It’s time to put it to use. Build a castle, boat or whatever you can imagine. Don’t forget to decorate it accordingly.
Ok, now it’s time for a painting lesson. Throw down some newspaper or set up a paint station outside. Let your little maestros go for it. Better yet, unleash your inner Picasso. Grabbing some washable paint is a good idea as it means that you won’t have to stress about any mess. You'll be having fun getting all artsy these holidays in no time.
The great thing about all these ideas is that not only are they heaps of fun, they also don’t require an electronic device or an app. Screen time be damned!
Treat the kids these holidays
What’s not to love about taking the kids out to the movies these holidays? You might have answered the cost, or the constant trips to the toilet, or the crowds. However going to a film can be a nice treat for the kids and a bit of a break for you. Read on to discover some great tips for us dads to ensure the whole movie-going experience is enjoyable for both parties:
- Don’t go to a movie on opening day.
- Buy your tickets online to save time
- Bring your own healthy snacks to save money (and sugar crashes)
- Find out the exact movie starting time so you can skip the endless previews and advertisements
- Get dressed up and make it extra fun by taking the kids out for a treat afterwards.
Forever young
Any man can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad
A new study has revealed the secret to remaining young at heart. Acting with spontaneously, not taking yourself too seriously, and avoiding grumpy people (including not turning into one yourself) are all at the top of the list. We big men are well placed not only to be big kids but great fathers also. That’s because we tend not to sweat the small stuff and take life as it comes. We know how to relax and enjoy ourselves. And when it comes to having fun, we can be the life of the party. The only difference now is the only parties we go to are likely to be a child’s birthday party!
So, during these school holidays just remember: don't stop working on having fun with the family.
By Anthony Cheadle
