New research suggests as many as 82 percent of Brits have been thinking of savvier ways to keep their kids engaged this summer.
And it seems parents plan to embrace traditional fun, as 56 percent will be taking their little ones on picnics, while 44 percent plan to bake cupcakes, in a bid to keep costs down.
Bike rides, movie marathons, camping in the garden and paddling in streams also featured in the top 20 savvy ideas for keeping kids entertained.
Other free and fun activities, according to parents, include wild swimming, making daisy chains and playing Pooh sticks.
Overall, 84 percent of the 1,000 parents polled by Boundless, said entertaining children is hugely stressful, with 71 percent saying the summer holidays are one of the most trying times of the year.
Among the list of treats cash-strapped Brits are planning to forgo this summer were eating in restaurants, days out at theme parks, trips to the cinema and visiting zoos or safari parks.
Almost a third (30 percent) say they are apprehensive about the summer holidays with the financial cost the biggest worry (63 percent), while 36 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 British 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.”
One in five (20 percent) say their kids always complain about being bored.
It takes the average parent just 13 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 will complain of being bored a staggering 21 times over the holidays.
20 SAVVY ACTIVITIES TO KEEP KIDS ENTERTAINED THIS SUMMER – ACCORDING TO PARENTS
- Going on picnics – 56 percent
- Playing board games – 45 percent
- Baking cupcakes – 44 percent
- Going on bike rides – 42 percent
- Gardening – 39 percent
- Making a book club – 36 percent
- Looking for shells on the beach – 35 percent
- Having a movie marathon – 34 percent
- Playing cards -31 percent
- Camping in the garden – 27 percent
- Making dens – 23 percent
- Paddling in streams – 22 percent
- Berry picking – 19 percent
- Climbing trees – 18 percent
- Five-a-side football in the park – 17 percent
- Swimming in lakes – 16 percent
- Making daisy chains – 14 percent
- Doing jigsaws – 14 percent
- Playing pooh sticks – 11 percent
- Making perfume out of petals – 8 percent
