Parents are due to reach breaking point at 7.23am today – just as the summer holidays are getting going.
That’s according to data from more than one million parents using family activity app Hoop, which reveals the number of parents searching for activities increases by two thirds (65%) on Monday morning, compared to average.
This panic is set to last for more than four days, according to the research, and is the hardest period of the entire year for parents.
This is followed by two other ‘holiday humps’ – on 1 August, where searches are 60% above average, and 9 August (49% above average).
[Read More: The Best UK Cities To Visit With Your Kids This Summer, Ranked For Fun, Food And The Weather]
A lack of planning is the main cause, the research found, with most families leaving the organisation of summer fun until the last minute. Of these, more than half do no planning until a week before the summer holidays, and around one in six do no planning at all.
Modern parents also have to deal with the pressure of social media and the appearance of others having a perfect summer holiday. In fact, over two-fifths say that they feel as if other families look like they are having more fun online.
Without the distraction of school, kids are predicted to pester their parents to get behind a screen – phone, tablet or TV – 521 times throughout the summer holidays. That’s an average of 12 times a day.
“Kids are predicted to pester their parents to get behind a screen – phone, tablet or TV – 521 times throughout the summer holidays.”
But don’t worry – we’ve got just what you need to soften the blow of the next six weeks. Check out our summer holiday survival guide, which includes everything from how to keep routine to when you should ask for help.
And – because no one wants to bankrupt themselves during the summer – we’ve also compiled a list of cheap things you can do with kids. Think brilliant museums, house swaps, and free alternatives to big ticket attractions.
Lastly, to make things that bit easier, we asked parents to share their hacks to make the summer holidays run more smoothly. Take talcum powder to the beach, and create a boredom jar – find more top tips here.