Summer holiday fun doesn’t have to break the bank.
New research from Specsavers reveals that parents in the West Midlands could spend an average of £410 per child on sightseeing during the holidays, with parents feeling the pressure to deliver exciting experiences.
The survey found that 75 per cent of parents in the West Midlands with children aged four to eight feel the need to take their children out to see amazing sights during their six weeks off.
Despite the pressure, many parents say their children find just as much joy in simple, everyday sights.
The research found that 82 per cent of parents believe their children experience the same sense of wonder on a walk through the woods as they do on more costly excursions.
Teaming up with wildlife enthusiast and TV presenter, 11-year-old Aneeshwar Kunchala, Specsavers has curated a crowdsourced map from parents of the top free sights around the UK, available on Tightseeing.com.
Featuring a “Quite Tall Pointy Rock” in Bristol, “A Very Mossy Wall” in Yorkshire and “Five Big Ole Logs” in North London, parents can keep their kids entertained and won’t even need to exit through an expensive gift shop.
However, vision problems could be preventing some children from enjoying these moments.
Around one in five children under 10 has a sight condition that could affect their ability to fully experience the world around them.
Jill Campbell, optometrist at Specsavers, said: “We know parents are feeling financially stretched so we want to remind them that children’s eye tests and glasses are free.
“You’ll be doing the best thing for their vision and eye health by helping them better spot everyday wonders around them, while also saving hundreds of pounds on often expensive sightseeing days out.
“It’s not always easy to spot vision problems in children – a lack of interest in the everyday things they usually find fascinating can be a good clue.
“That’s why we recommend regular eye tests for children, even if nothing seems wrong.”
