The "Sunday Night Prep": 20 Minutes That Will Save Your Whole Week

Half term starts tomorrow. Here's the checklist that turns chaos into calm—and it takes less time than an episode of Bluey.

There are two versions of half term.

Version A: You wake up on Monday with a vague idea that you should probably do something today. The kids are already asking "what are we doing?" and you're scrolling through sold-out attractions on your phone while pretending to drink coffee. By Wednesday, everyone's fractious. By Friday, you've spent too much money on panic soft play and you're counting the hours until school starts again.

Version B: You wake up on Monday knowing exactly what's happening. The bag is already packed. The snacks are ready. There's a backup plan if it rains. The kids know what to expect. You feel, briefly, like a competent human being.

The difference between Version A and Version B isn't personality type or parenting skill. It's whether you spent 20 minutes on Sunday night doing some basic prep.

This is that 20 minutes.

The Checklist

Print this. Screenshot this. Tape it to your fridge. Do it every time a school holiday approaches.

Part 1: The Plan (5 minutes)

□ Write down each day of the holiday

Literally write it out. Monday. Tuesday. Wednesday. Thursday. Friday. (Saturday and Sunday too, if you're planning those.)

□ Assign a "main activity" to each day

Not detailed. Just a category:

Monday: Park day
Tuesday: Museum trip
Wednesday: Home day
Thursday: Farm visit
Friday: Friend's house

□ Add one "backup activity" for outdoor days

If Tuesday's museum trip is weather-dependent (it probably isn't), what's the backup? Just write it down.

□ Identify the "easy days"

At least one or two days should require minimal effort. A home day. A playdate where you're not hosting. A grandparent visit. Don't fill every slot with Big Days Out—that's how you burn out by Wednesday.

□ Check if anything needs booking

Go through your list. Does anything require advance tickets? Restaurant reservations? Timed entry slots?

If yes, book it now. Right now. Before you move on.

Popular attractions book up during half term. The swimming pool's family sessions fill. That pizza place you like needs a reservation.

Five minutes of booking on Sunday prevents "sorry, fully booked" on Wednesday.

Part 2: The Bag (5 minutes)

Pack the day bag tonight. Tomorrow morning is chaos. Tonight, you're calm and functioning.

The Essential Day Bag:

□ Snacks

More than you think you need
A mix of healthy (fruit, breadsticks) and morale-boosting (biscuits, chocolate)
At least one thing for each child that they definitely like

□ Drinks

Water bottles, filled
Squash or juice if that's what your kids prefer
A coffee for you in a travel mug (optional but recommended)

□ Spare clothes

At least one full change per child
Extra socks (they always need extra socks)
Pants if you have a younger one

□ Wet weather gear

Even if the forecast says sunshine
A packable rain jacket per child
Wellies in the car if there's any outdoor element

□ Sun protection (if relevant)

Suncream
Hats
Sunglasses if they'll wear them

□ Tissues / wet wipes

Self-explanatory

□ First aid basics

Plasters
Antiseptic wipes
Any medications your child needs

□ Entertainment backup

A couple of small toys or books
Colouring and crayons
A downloaded episode or two on a device for emergencies

□ Nappy bag (if applicable)

Nappies
Wipes
Change mat
Bags

The Mum/Dad Survival Items:

□ Phone charger (portable battery)
You'll be taking photos, checking maps, and googling "is there a café nearby." Your phone will die.

□ Cash
Some places are still cash-only. Ice cream vans, car park machines, small attractions. Have a £20 note tucked away.

□ Headache tablets
For you. Soft play is loud.

□ Your own snacks
You're a person too. Pack something you actually like eating.

Part 3: The Kitchen (5 minutes)

□ Check breakfast supplies

Is there cereal? Bread? Eggs? Whatever you need for tomorrow morning?

Holiday mornings are slower, which is lovely, unless you realise at 8am that there's no milk.

□ Plan tomorrow's lunch

Are you packing a picnic? Check you have the ingredients
Are you eating out? Know where (and check it doesn't need booking)
Is it a home day? What's for lunch?

□ Prep what you can

Slice fruit and put it in a container
Make sandwiches if they won't go soggy overnight
Put things in the bag that you'd otherwise forget

□ Check for easy dinner options

At 5:30pm after a full day out, you will not want to cook. Make sure there's something simple:

Pasta and a jar of sauce
Freezer pizza
Something from the slow cooker (prep Sunday, eat Monday)
A delivery app, if budget allows

□ Do a quick dishwasher/washing up

Start the holiday with a clear kitchen. It's a small thing, but it sets the tone.

Part 4: The Clothes (3 minutes)

□ Lay out clothes for tomorrow

All of them. For every child. For yourself.

Include:

Weather-appropriate layers
Comfortable shoes
Something you don't mind getting dirty

□ Check the weather properly

Not just "sunny" or "rainy"—check the hourly forecast. Is it cold in the morning but warm by noon? Will the rain stop by 11am?

Dress accordingly. Pack layers.

□ Find the items you always lose

Where are the wellies?
Where are the sunglasses?
Where's that one specific toy they'll definitely ask for?

Locate them now. Put them by the door.

Part 5: The Communication (2 minutes)

□ Tell the children what's happening tomorrow

Not the whole week—just tomorrow. Simple, clear:

"Tomorrow we're going to the park in the morning, having a picnic, and then coming home. On Tuesday we're going to the science museum."

This prevents the 7am "what are we doing today?" chorus and sets expectations.

□ Message anyone who needs to know

Playdates: confirmed?
Grandparents: expecting you when?
Friends: still on for coffee?

Quick messages now prevent confusion later.

□ Add anything to your phone calendar

Timed entry slots, restaurant bookings, that thing you'll definitely forget. Put it in the calendar with a reminder.

The Enhanced Version (If You Have 10 More Minutes)

If you want to go beyond the basics, here's the extra credit:

Prep the Car

□ Check petrol/charge level
Don't start Monday with a fuel stop.

□ Clear the rubbish
Start fresh.

□ Load the buggy/scooters/bikes if you'll need them
Tomorrow morning has enough going on.

□ Put wellies and spare shoes in the boot
They live there for the whole week now.

Prep the Freezer

□ Freeze some snacks

Grapes (frozen = still cold by lunchtime)
Tubes of yoghurt (act as ice packs, defrost into snacks)
Ice packs, obviously

□ Batch-cook something for later in the week

Bolognese sauce
Soup
A tray of muffins

Future-you will be grateful.

Prep the Activity Box

□ Gather rainy day supplies

Craft materials
A new puzzle or game
Colouring books
Playdough or clay

□ Put them somewhere accessible but out of sight
You're saving these for when you need them.

Prep Yourself

□ Charge all devices overnight
Phone, tablet, camera, portable charger.

□ Set out your own stuff
Sunglasses, wallet, keys, a book if you're optimistic.

□ Go to bed at a reasonable time
Half term doesn't have to start with exhaustion.

The Quick Reference Card

Cut this out. Stick it on the fridge. Use it every holiday.

SUNDAY NIGHT PREP

□ Plan: Main activity for each day?
□ Plan: Backup for outdoor days?
□ Book: Anything need tickets/reservations?
□ Bag: Snacks packed?
□ Bag: Drinks filled?
□ Bag: Spare clothes?
□ Bag: Weather gear?
□ Kitchen: Breakfast supplies?
□ Kitchen: Lunch sorted?
□ Kitchen: Easy dinners available?
□ Clothes: Tomorrow laid out?
□ Weather: Actually checked?
□ Kids: Know what's happening?
□ Calendar: Bookings added?

Why 20 Minutes Matters

Here's the thing about half term: the stress isn't usually from the activities. It's from the decisions.

Standing in the kitchen at 8:30am thinking "what should we do today?" while two children ask you fifteen questions—that's the stressful part.

Having a plan written down, a bag packed, and snacks ready—that removes the decisions. You just execute.

The 20 minutes you spend on Sunday night is time you get back all week. You're not packing bags in a rush. You're not googling "things to do with kids" at 9am. You're not realising you forgot snacks when you're already at the park.

You're just... ready.

And being ready feels surprisingly good.

Let Us Handle the Planning Part

The hardest part of Sunday night prep is knowing what to put on each day. What's open? What's affordable? What suits your kids' ages? What's the backup if it rains?

That's exactly what the School Holiday Planner does.

Give us your location, your kids' ages, your budget, and your dates. We'll give you:

A main activity for every single day
A backup activity in case of weather
An at-home idea for wind-down time
A running budget so you know what you'll spend

Then your Sunday night prep is just: pack the bag, check the bookings, lay out the clothes.

Create your half-term plan in 60 seconds

The Printable Checklist

Want a version you can actually print and use?

We've made a free PDF of this checklist—clean, simple, fridge-ready. Download it, print it, use it every holiday.

Download the free Sunday Night Prep checklist

What's on your pre-holiday checklist that we've missed? Let us know your essential prep steps—we're always looking to improve this.