My parents took me out of school for family holidays – we couldn't have afforded it otherwise

“Our decision [to take the kids out of school] was purely motivated by price. We started out with the best intentions looking for holidays over the summer break, but the cost was a joke. The same villa was £331 per night in May (£2,317 for a week), but went up to £552 per night in July and August (£3,864 for a week). That’s a difference of £1,547 per family. Then, the flights were an extra £50 per person, so each family saves nearly £2,000 by taking their children out of school.”

That said, Lou admits she’ll have to “bite the bullet” when her children go to secondary school. “I get how important it is for children not to miss school, and as mine get older, I probably won’t be doing this – our children are in primary school, so taking them out for a few days doesn’t feel so critical to their development and education.”

When it comes to the advantages travel has on children, counsellor Georgina Sturmer says: “The early years of our childhood are crucial from a developmental perspective. We might not have specific memories of family holidays and experiences, but they all form part of our subconscious and our understanding of who we are in relation to the people around us.

“Travel offers children a chance to see different cultures and landscapes, at an age when they are open and accepting of new experiences. When we take a break from our everyday routines, it helps us to feel grounded and gain perspective on our every day worries. This can be just as helpful for children as it can be for adults.”

Family therapist Sophie Cress also reiterates the positive impacts travel can have on children. She believes exposure to different cultures and languages helps create more tolerance in them and that new experiences help children become more resilient. “Through interacting with others from varied origins, kids can extend their viewpoints, cultivate tolerance and recognise the abundance of human diversity,” she says.

“Furthermore, travel offers chances for experiential learning that are not possible in a traditional classroom. Children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning can be piqued by visiting historical locations, museums and natural features; this makes education more interesting and relevant.”