<!–[endif]–>

If you’re wondering where your kids are during school break then fear not. Like most children they will be sitting in front of the TV or the games console whiling away the hours till they go back to school.

We all know it is far healthier for them to be outside but getting them off that couch is near impossible! So why not make a day of it for them. Tell them that you’re all going out for a picnic. Get the picnic basket out and let them make their own lunch to take. And while they’re at it they can stick a game/toy of their choice in there as well (try to encourage balls or tennis rackets). Having the responsibility of making their own lunch and lunch for everyone else will make them feel empowered and far more likely to move them from that couch!

For sitting while out on your day trip try the picnic table with chairs. It’s sturdy enough to hold the weight of 4 adults yet it’s a folding picnic table so it’s small enough once folded down to keep in the trunk of your car. It’s so small you could keep it in there permanently. You never know when you might need it.

So if your little darlings are glued to the TV why not take them out this summer and really make it a family day? They will get fresh air, exercise, quality family bonding time and best of all you won’t have to spend your summer playing second best to a TV!

I am very fortunate to have a job which allows me to spend almost all weekends with my family. I didn’t have to give up the once in a lifetime chance of seeing my children grow up and witnessing the many firsts in their lives. Parents are parents because they have children. Rightfully so, every child would want to share the most important moments in their lives with their parents. Time together is a premium in my busy generation. With this in mind, my husband and I set about planning a special summer weekend for our kids. The summer, of course, called for largely outdoor activities, preferably near the water. A day trip to the lake seemed ideal. Thus, we set about packing our picnic table with chairs along with the food, drinks and blankets. The picnic table is one of the most essential things to bring during a picnic. It was our main strategy to keep away the ants and other creepy crawlies along the lakeshore away from our food. Folding picnic tables are not only space savers but are more handy as well. The wooden ones are specifically more sturdy, just what we needed to handle the volume of food we usually bring on family outings. I personally prepared three kinds of sandwiches, a Caesar salad, potato salad, lasagna, pesto pasta, fried chicken, beef stew, fried rice, apple and cinnamon pudding and chocolate cake. My husband, on the other hand, packed wine, soft drinks, bottled water and various fruit juices. With the nice venue and impressive food spread, it was undoubtedly a resounding success. The children are already eager to go on the next one!