Summer holidays mean 24 ice creams, 48 cries of ‘I’m bored’ and 24 tantrums

Parents reveal their summer school holiday ingredients and how often the threat to ‘turn the car round’ is uttered

The typical school holiday this summer will include 48 ‘I’m boreds’, seven ‘are we there yets?’ and two threats to ‘turn the car round’, according to British parents.

And there’s more bad news for those wishing away the last few weeks of term – summer hols means just three measly lie-ins for mum and dad and 24 temper tantrums from the little ones. Coincidentally it also means 24 ice-creams – can we say ‘bribery’…?



A new study by Beneden health has found that the long summer holidays cost parents almost £1,400 in trips, travels and days out.

On top of this, parents suffer a seasonal price hike as companies try to reel in the profits.


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The survey found that parents will resort to trusty babysitter DVD a total of 24 times and by just week two of the eight-week break, almost half admit they’re exhausted. In fact, the long hols are so tiring, more than half of the parents polled would like them to be shortened to six weeks.

Though spending time with the kids is treasured, parents will only get five hours each week of quality time with each other and a grand total of just 30 family snaps are taken throughout the break.



It's not all doom and gloom though as six in 10 parents love a break from having to do the school run, while more than half said no washing school uniforms and making packed lunches was a treat.

And obviously spending time with their lovely children of course…

Top 10 most used phrases during the summer hols:

1.    Because I said so
2.    You're pushing your luck
3.    Money doesn't grow on trees
4.    I've told you a thousand times
5.    You and I are going to fall out
6.    I want never gets
7.    What did your last slave die of?
8.    Wait until Dad gets home
9.    I'll turn this car around
10.    Ask your mum

Are you guilty? Tell us your best parent phrases on Twitter.