Why School Holidays are Perfect for Family Wellness

The school holidays are a glorious time; sunny weather (hopefully), plenty of time for family activities and all the opportunities you could ask for to spend time in nature.

It’s a golden opportunity for families to reconnect, take a break from the daily grind of work and school, and rediscover the joys of being in the great outdoors. 

With the hustle and bustle of daily life, it’s all too easy to forget the simple pleasures and the profound impact nature can have on the wellbeing of your entire family.

So, we’re going to take a look at just how good your summer holidays could be this year, and why wellness matters to you and your family. Let’s dive in. 

The Healing Power of Nature

Today, we do a little too much trading of green time for screen time; most of our jobs are largely structured around the digital world, and kids end up watching TV more than they should; it’s also probably fair to say that pretty much all of us are guilty of a little too much doom scrolling as well. 

Nature offers us sanctuary from the devices that have overtaken our lives, providing a space to practice mindfulness, recover from the stress of daily life, and perhaps overcome the burnout that has become a feature of our lives. We can be creative and foster genuine connections with nature and with each other, letting the tension drop from our shoulders. 

During the summer holidays, we have plenty of opportunities to enjoy a walk in the woods, make a campfire and watch the stars, spend the day at the beach or enjoy an adventure with the kids; the world is our oyster. 

Not all of us can make a holiday away, or a week-long affair work for us; instead, just spending the day away from the house, without phones and emails and really enjoying the company of your family can make all the difference. Just be sure to take a moment to be present in the embrace of nature, notice the colour of the leaves, the sound of the wind and birdsong as we feel our worries slip away.

What is Wellness, Anyway?

Wellness isn’t just green juices and downward dogs; it’s a dynamic and ongoing process of making choices that allow for a healthy and fulfilling life. In order to achieve wellness you must care for your physicality, your emotional health, your mental health and things like your social wellbeing too. True wellness has nothing to do with the absence of illness, it’s about thriving in your environment, not just surviving or merely existing. Imagine your life represented on a pie chart, you’ll have sections for things like:

• Sleep

• Nutrition

• Movement

• Connection

• Purpose

• Happiness

If a slice is missing, the whole thing starts to fall apart, and if there are slices that are dominating the chart, you’ll be unbalanced. It’s something that takes years, and may never be fully achieved, but each step towards wellness is a step in the right direction. 

So, What’s Family Wellness?

Family wellness is likely even harder to achieve, after all, nothing is easier when the whole family is involved. It’s about creating an environment where everyone feels safe, seen, heard and appreciated; it’s the art of weaving wellbeing into daily family life through communication, shared routines, time outdoors, and emotional check-ins. It’s not about perfection, and it’s certainly not all about the kids or the adults individually; everyone plays a part in family wellness. 

For parents, it can be easy to forget that being a kid is probably quite hard; no one understands you, you can’t do what you want, and you’re never quite grown up enough! Whether it’s hikes in the woods on a Sunday, cooking together, bedtimes or family holidays, the wellness of the whole family counts. 

A Natural Path to Wellness

We’ve all experienced the moment where you’re deciding whether it’s worth heading out the door or not, and invariably, if you do make that decision to get out there, it’s worth it. This is down to the intrinsic link humankind shares with the natural world; it’s where we were destined to be. There is, in fact, irrefutable evidence that spending time in nature can have transformative effects on our mental wellbeing, particularly for those dealing with high stress.    

Spending even a small amount of time appreciating the natural world can calm us down, and that goes for people of any age; school isn’t exactly a walk in the park, so make sure your kids are joining you in screen-free green time! 

Adventure Awaits

This is where we really start to ramp up the holiday preparation, and what better way to treat the entire family than by taking them on an action packed adventure holiday. Doing activities with the family is a superb way to build confidence, in kids and adults, improve your teamwork, and of course, make lasting memories. 

Activities like hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, skiing and climbing can challenge the body and mind, and teach each member of the family to push themselves in new ways; it’s all about fostering a sense of accomplishment, pride and unity. Adventure holidays for families can be tailored to all ages, ensuring every family member, from toddlers to teens, can join in the fun. 

Making the Most of Summer Holidays

The summer holidays are pretty much the best and only chance we get to enjoy a prolonged period of good weather coupled with the entire family being together; you can venture out into the world, try all the activities you want and not worry about the constraints of school, work or any other commitments. It’s the perfect time to plan longer trips if you can, or simply pack the period with multiple short breaks, or even day trips.  

Try new hobbies together as a family, eat together, cook together and chill together. It doesn’t matter if it’s a staycation exploring local trails and activities, or a seaside getaway where you can enjoy the water 24/7, the key is to prioritise togetherness and shared experience.

Summer Activities For The Family to Enjoy From Home

If you’re looking for inspiration for the perfect summer activity, but you can’t quite manage a trip away this year, then look no further. 

Sometimes the stars just don’t align and you can’t squeeze in any time away; don’t panic, we’ve got you covered with plenty of summer activities for the family to enjoy from home.  

Nature Scavenger Hunts

Encouraging the kids to get out and explore nature in your local area can be one of the most wholesome and fulfilling experiences for a parent, and it’s pretty fun for the kids too! Get them learning about local flora and fauna, looking for mushrooms (not eating them!) and spotting birds. 

Visit local attractions

You may well have a world class attraction near you and not even know about it. Have a look in your area for museums, activities, national parks and other venues where you might just surprise yourself. Make the most of your locality and further instil a sense of home for your kids. 

Family Gardening 

If you’ve got a garden, then making the most of the sunshine (hopefully it comes!) in your own backyard is a superb way to spend time outside and bond with the kids, and improve your garden while you're at it. 

Garden centres can be great places to take kids, and they can pick out their own additions to your backyard paradise. 

Picnics in the Park

There is something special about the local park, but maybe you could venture out to a National Trust site this summer; you may be pleasantly surprised how close you are to a local gem where you can enjoy deer parks, duck ponds and gorgeous British scenery whilst snacking on some homely treats.   

You don’t have to visit the coast, stay in a fancy hotel or drive for miles to experience a great British summer holiday; a family holiday is all about the vibe, not the location, so just enjoy where you are, not where you want to be.

Embrace the Wilderness

The school holidays are more than just a break, they’re an invitation to step outside together, breathe deeply and reconnect with what truly matters. It does not matter if you’re by the sea, in the mountains, or down the road from home, family holidays are all about vibe.

Try to enjoy being; don’t worry about going back to work or checking in on your emails. Be with the kids, experience nature first hand and try to learn something new as a unit.

Family health and wellness stems from time spent together, making memories, laying the groundwork for strong family ties and heading towards a healthier, happier future.