A free activity pack created by Shaftesbury will help entice children away from their screens to get creative, explore outside and learn something new.
This is our summer is full of low-cost ideas to keep 4-8-year olds busy at home, contradicting the notion that parents need to spend lots of money to make school holidays memorable and fun.
By registering an email address at www.shaftesburygroup.org/summer26, the pack will be sent direct to your inbox.
Parents feel under pressure to organise expensive days out, but this is not always in the best interest of the children or the parents, according to Sophie, who inadvertently found a voice online and is now a parenting influencer courted by big brands and government.
Better known as @Budgetmumsoph, she is often quoted in the press in relation to the cost of living and has been invited to briefings at No.10 for her insight on social media and budget parenting.
Sophie is a fully qualified primary school teacher, but life took a different course when she became a parent and was later diagnosed as neurodivergent. She is refreshingly candid about her lifestyle and parenting ideals, striking a chord with parents on a tight budget. What started as a personal Instagram account has since attracted 131k followers.
In support of Shaftesbury’s work, Sophie talks here about her unexpected career change and life as a SEN mum in a neurodiverse household.
How did @Budgetmumsoph come about?
I was pregnant with my first child during the Covid pandemic so I started a personal Instagram account, initially just to share updates with friends and family. This quickly became a way to connect with other new mums who could relate to the isolation and challenges of a lockdown pregnancy.
Why do you think your posts went viral?
It was all about timing. I was at home with a new baby so wasn’t earning. The cost of living crisis hit so my tips about parenting on a budget struck resonated with people. None of it was intentional. Posts about bargain finds at a car boot sale and low-cost dinners were really popular and it started to gain momentum.
Why do parents feel pressure to spend money in school holidays?
People only tend to share the best bits about their life – the holidays and the big days out. Inevitably we make the comparison with our own lives. I get messages daily about parents who feel bad they can’t spend more on their children. But when you actually talk to other parents at the school gates, you realise not everyone can afford the meals out or the theme parks. It’s normal to do things at home and often kids prefer that, especially if they are neurodiverse. My son is usually at school all day so for us, being at home is a novelty.
What do you like about Shaftesbury’s summer activity pack?
First off, it’s free! It also offers a good mix of different things to do. Parents can pick and choose according to what the child likes and what sort of mood they’re in. Life can be so busy during term time – it’s often go, go, go. I like the idea of gentle activities children can do at their own pace, like searching for insects in the garden. We go to the park most days in the summer so the scavenger hunt gives this outing a different purpose.
As parents we want our children to be accepting of others so the information about Shaftesbury’s disability support services may initiate helpful conversations. I am very open about having ADHD and autism, but some children may be less aware of disability, whether it’s seen or unseen.
What has given you the confidence to be yourself online?
When people ask what I do for a living, I do cringe about the term influencer as it has connotations of being inauthentic and promoting an unrealistic lifestyle. I got such positive feedback early on, it made me want to share more of what my life is really like. I am not the type to be fake!
Do you buy into the idea that neurodiversity is a superpower?
I certainly wouldn’t change it. But it’s not the neurodiversity that has enabled me, it’s the knowledge and understanding of it. I could only focus and build my career once I understood myself. People talk about not wanting to label someone. For me, it was the labelling that became my superpower.
How has your life changed now you have a child with SEND? (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities)
Before my diagnosis, I would get overwhelmed and spiral. Now I recognise I need to look after myself as well as accommodate everyone else’s needs in our household. Sometimes I need low demand days in order to cope and that’s the same for my son. It’s an example of how Shaftesbury’s activity pack would come in handy – when I need to work or instigate downtime for my son. Parents shouldn’t feel pressured to be out of the house all the time. Big days out can be overwhelming and cause anxiety for children and their parents. Local, low-cost trips like a walk at the park can be far more relaxing.
How did you get diagnosed?
I had anxiety as a teenager and was in and out of therapy. I was put on antidepressants but that didn’t fix it. It was only when a family member was diagnosed that I started to look into ADHD. When I understood how it presents differently in girls, everything started to make sense and it all clicked into place. I was diagnosed with autism and dyspraxia at the age of 22 which surprised people as I don’t have the obvious traits. I’ve come to realise how common it is for people in the same family to present differently with the same diagnosis – I get messages about this all the time.
Is there enough support available for SEND parents?
Absolutely not! There are often long waiting lists for a minimal number of support sessions – not enough to make an impact. As a parent, it can make you feel really lonely at times. There are so many different teams and departments involved, there’s not one central place you can go to for help. It can be particularly hard in the holidays when you don’t have support from school. Lots of SEND children struggle when they’re out of their routine. I’m all for charities like Shaftesbury that provide support services for people with disabilities and for their family members. For some, this can be a lifeline.
Get your free summer activity pack full of creative ideas to keep 4-8 year olds busy this summer. No perfect parenting required! www.shaftesburygroup.org/summer26
(Featured image: Parenting influencer @Budgetmumsoph)