The top 10 things kids would do on holiday if they were in charge - and number one is no surprise!
If kids were in charge on holiday they'd eat dessert before mains, go treasure hunting - and have a giant water fight.
A poll of 1,000 children aged 6-12 revealed their ideal getaway, which would include eating three ice creams a day, using bikes or scooters as their go-to form of transport and playing board games every night.
While 20 per cent would play hide and seek with their family, 14 per cent would indulge in a pyjama day and 40 per cent would spend all day in the pool.
When it comes to locations, 93 per cent of youngsters want to stay at a holiday park, with 72 per cent of them saying they are fun places with lots of activities to keep them entertained.
The research was commissioned by Sykes Holiday Cottages, which has launched a competition to recruit two children to be its resident Directors of Fun, designed to put kids at the heart of holiday planning.
The playful job ad specifies entrants must be spontaneous, have a big imagination and bring enthusiasm to every day, and applicants can share their perfect holiday itineraries until 30th April 2026 to win the chance to make them come true.
Kids’ dream holiday
James Shaw, spokesperson for the staycation specialist said: “It’s always interesting to see what kids would do if they were in charge of the whole holiday – and it turns out it would be pretty fun for everyone else too.
“While there’s plenty of excitement around things like unlimited ice cream and activities, what really stands out is how much they value simply spending time together.
“That’s why we wanted to bring children back into the heart of holiday planning with this competition, recognising that their ideas of a great break are often less about packed schedules and more about being with the people around them.”
More than half (51 per cent) of the children polled said their favourite part of being on holiday was spending time with family and for more than a third (35 per cent) it’s meeting other young people their age.
And 79 per cent admitted they’d like to take charge of a family holiday, with taking the lead in order to do the activities they want (63 per cent), telling their relatives what to do (41 per cent) and feeling like a grown-up (40 per cent) the top three reasons.
The research via OnePoll.com also found 19 per cent feel like holiday parks are a home from home, with the popular sources of entertainment such as swimming, adventure playgrounds and arcade games making it ideal accommodation.
James Shaw added: “Holidays should give families the chance to properly switch off, reconnect and enjoy shared experiences all in one place.
“What’s striking is how much children value the freedom to shape their own days – whether that’s choosing activities, exploring, or just having unstructured time to play.
“That’s where settings like holiday parks come into their own, offering a mix of flexibility and variety that lets every family member make the most of their time away.”
The top 10 things kids would do on holiday if there were in charge:
- Eat ice cream everyday
- Spend all day in the pool
- Have a giant water fight
- Ride bikes or scooters everywhere
- Play hide and seek with my family
- Go on a treasure hunt
- Have a midnight feast
- Eat dessert before dinner
- Stay up late playing board games every night
- Have a pyjama day