Parents have said the last 10 days have been a challenge because of the lack of planned activities, as well as the sudden increase in temperatures that has made it unbearable for families to venture out.

“I really had problems with my children this week as they were bored without anything to do while I was at work during the day,” said Maha Al-Ghamdi, a 29-year-old mother of three. 

She added that another problem is that the only activities that she could find to entertain her children were inside shopping malls.

She ended up spending an extra SR400 above her budget for the month on these activities.

Najat M, another mother upset with the spring break, said she relied on reversing her children’s daily schedule to allow them to sleep during the day and have fun at night.

“Because of the heat and lack of activities, I allowed my children to sleep during the day and then in the evening would wake them up and take them on picnics and let them play during the cooler nighttime hours,” she said, adding that this was the only alternative to get through the break.

“I relied on letting my children stay indoors and make art, cooking and study projects to get through spring break,” Najat said.

“I would make them special treats and spend time with them watching television and movies, as well as playing games, which turned the break into a family occasion,” she added.

Now that the spring break is over, parents have begun wondering what the summer vacation, which begins in two months, will entail.

“I believe that the best idea is to do as many do: Plan a vacation abroad,” said Enaz, a Saudi mother of five. “If spring break is any indication of what summer vacation will be I think it is best to go somewhere where there are plenty of activities.”

Some parents have called for companies, charity groups, institutions and other organizations to create more activities for Jeddah’s youth.

“We need more well-known companies and organizations to come out and develop their corporate social responsibility by not only thinking of profits but also thinking of profits for the city’s youths from a social perspective,” said Sabaa Madani, a mother of two. 

“Once we have that, the city will be a better place for the children and the parents who have to raise them.”