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What are you doing during the summer holidays?

21 replies

Rolypolying · 20/07/2019 14:16

I know it's just started but my DC are already complaining of being bored and I don't have a lot for them to do (and everything I suggest is boring apparently) My oldest who's 10 often goes out to play with friends but my younger two are 7 and 5 so too young to be doing that really. We have plans for a few weeks time but nothing inbetween them. So on days where you're at home what do you do?

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ohtheholidays · 20/07/2019 14:24

We usually have 1 day at home and then 1 day out on the days at home we'll watch tv,maybe order a movie,play games,play cards,our DC(we have 5 but two are older now and working)will play on they're computers.

Days out will be
Cinema
Bowling
Going out for nice meals
Going to London
We'll go swimming a few times
Go to theme parks
Go and visit different national trust places
Go to some different parks
Were having a few days away to the seaside as well

That's all I've come up with so far and we have merlin passes and national trust places so the bigger dows out don't end up costing us a fortune thankfully.

ImogenTubbs · 20/07/2019 14:34

I read a great article about getting your kids to sit down and write a list of all the things they might want to do - some can be big like days out, some can be small, like making something or learning something or reading. Then you can plan the big activities together and when they are meant to be entertaining themselves you can tell them to go and choose something from their list. It's important they come up with the list themselves otherwise they will, as you say, accuse you of being boring, but if they are their own ideas they are more receptive to them.

Worth a try anyway! I'll see if I can find the article.
For us (DD is 5 so a bit young for that approach but we are kind of doing it):
Swimming
Reading practice
Playing with toys
Walking the dog
Riding lessons
Learning how to ride a bike
Days out to Monkey World and a hawk conservancy place, and probably the wildlife park
Crafts - we made fishes the other day, cutting scales out of different colored paper and sticking them on top of each other, today she stuck lots of sticky letters together - because why not?
Play dates with friends
Going to get ice cream
Watching TV (rationed)
Piano practice (optimistic)
Playing school teachers
Baking together
Looking for insects in the garden
Playing giant ten pin bowling
Learning how to use her box of magic tricks

We also have a two week holiday within the UK which will be much of the same thing but in a different location!

Tessalectus · 21/07/2019 06:35

I have a toddler and a teen.

Teen is an avid reader (and toddler is beginning to be, too), so lots of trips to the library and lots of reading time.

Both are helping with renovation- and home-improvement work; while the toddler is learning how to use a screwdriver and hammer a few nails into place (all fully risk-assessed and supervised, of course), the teen is helping paint walls.

Both are involved in keeping our garden in shape, from pulling weeds and watering to planting a few more bits, re-proofing furniture and taking care of what little wildlife there is.

We go on walks and have picnics (which both children help me prepare).

The toddler may learn to use a bike this summer, or continue with the balancing bike for a while.

Both will be doing some arts and crafts, from painting to (in the teen's case) using old (and stained, so not fit for charity shops) clothing to practise sewing.

We will bake, sort out everyone's rooms, recycle old school stuff, which is no longer needed.

The toddler enjoys helping me with laundry.

Both will join relatives at the seaside for a while, so will also go swimming, paddling, crabbing.

Regular visits to the park while the teen is off to see friends.

We will also go on holiday for a bit at some point, for which both will practise the basics in language - just saying hello, please, thank you, numbers and maybe a few food items.

One has their birthday during the holidays, so we have a day out planned then.

But, for the most part, we won't be spending much money. Children don't need constant expensive entertainment; there is always plenty to do.

MinnieMountain · 21/07/2019 06:43

We're away for 3 weeks.
The Space Centre in Leicester as our day trip.
Lido
Local park
Cycle to further away park
Turning garden slide into a water slide
Playing (DS is 5)
Cooking
Woodwork
Summer reading challenge at the library
Trip to a stately home we have a season ticket for

avocadochocolate · 21/07/2019 06:44

I usually book my DCs into a few sports classes in my local leisure centre. We also go swimming.

We might have one trip to London, usually to the museums in South Ken. We take a pic nic.

We might do one 'big' day out with a nice restaurant lunch.

We sometimes walk to local park and get an ice cream.

They meet up with friends.

While at home, I make sure they are more involved in chores, like washing up. They also like baking and cooking and sometimes make me lunch. Inevitably, a lot of time is spent on YouTube, watching TV and playing computer games.

Sleephead1 · 21/07/2019 06:45

we have done a list I have booked a few things but mostly will be different parks/ country parks / beaches ECT with picnics. This is what we have so far, lots of different play parks in the area, country parks, local wildlife areas, visit all the beaches, couple of free museums, the council does free family fun days we will go to those, they also do events in the summer at the parks so going to those , I've booked a few things at the libary and we are doing the reading challenge, We are going on a couple of bigger days out on train. Away for a few days glamping, a few days at national trust places , a theatre trip and meeting friends, few birthday parties , play in garden at home ect

Pippapotomus · 21/07/2019 07:25

We make a list of activities, free events and interesting places to walk the dog. I also spring clean the house and garden and plan a large project at home for them to get involved in.

Last year we cleared a spare room, in a dozen trips to the dump, and turned it into DS bedroom, in a dozen trips to IKEA.

This year we're clearing a part of our garden and building what is looking like the biggest rabbit enclosure known to man.

YeOldeTrout · 21/07/2019 07:32

We do a lot of countryside walks. Beach. Forests. cheap & busy. I bring a book if not walking most the time.

Pineapplefish · 21/07/2019 07:37

We have a couple of days out planned - theme park, theatre. I'm trying to encourage them to read. Swimming. Also they're having a friend over to play some days, that helps stop them complaining about boredom!

EsmeeMerlin · 21/07/2019 07:47

My boys (5 and 1) drive me mad by 3 o’clock when we stay in for the day. They make a huge mess and ds1 moans about being bored and wanting the tv by the afternoon so we go out a lot.

We have days out planned, play dates with friends, visiting relatives, park visits, library visits etc. I also book ds1 into any free events so he is doing some sports in the borough, a pets at home workshop and hobby craft event. Ds1 is also going camping for a few days with my mil and my mum is taking him out for 2 days in the summer as well. I can handle time at home but I find it’s easier if we go out at least for the morning.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 21/07/2019 07:58

Trying new recipes (DD just getting into cooking)
Strawberry and raspberry picking
Making strawberry ice cream with her new ice cream maker.
Day out in London
14 nights in caravan
She'll have days out with her Gran, bus trip to town, mooch around Primark, McDonalds for lunch.
Piano practice
Tv
DVDs (got a couple of new ones for her birthday)
Roblox on iPad
Lego building
Playing with Sylvanians
Reading
Tidying her room
Opticians and dentist appointment (I know how to give my DD summer treats!)
Couple of sets of family friends over for a big brunch

isitwhatitis · 21/07/2019 08:15

We have no money for days out so will be at home, probably messing around online, watching tv and the Xbox.

putthetellyon · 21/07/2019 20:39

Watching with interest!

crazycurry · 23/07/2019 05:42

Chilling at home and playing sports, we don't have the cash for any of the days out mentioned.

WhenZogateSuperworm · 23/07/2019 05:51

I’ve just dropped to statutory mat pay so no money for big days out. 2.9 DS and 4 month old DD and we will spend a lot of time at the park, a local theme park that we have annual passes to, play dates with friends, stay and play sessions at the surestart centre.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 23/07/2019 06:23

This week they are at Dance/cheerleading camp.
Next week DD2 has a couple of days if football, and Grandparents are also staying.
Week 3 they are off to grandparents while DH and I pack up the house.
Week4 we join them at Grandparents, then move to other Grandparents.
Then the plan is fluid as DH employer has slightly messed up our move and they don't have a UK house for us to move into yet as they have changed his new job a few times.

hidinginthenightgarden · 23/07/2019 07:12

We have some passes to utilise for local attractions, lots of parks to go to, cinema, trampoline park (use cheap deals).
Home things will be baking, cooking, den making, homemade cinema, reading, science experiments and A-Z of the toys we have in the house.

GhostBustersFavouriteMum · 23/07/2019 07:38

I have something to contribute! I'm so happy.
Ahem, ok.
I have a table in my Google docs, 7 columns, 6 rows. Every day of the holiday has a little box.
I aim for a day out every other day, however I am properly miserly so all days out have to be free at the point of delivery. This is where the Art Pass 3 month trial comes in. It's £15 per person and gives you free entry to LOADS. We had our first day out yesterday and the entry cost would have been more than the £60 we paid for the 4 passes, so everything else all summer is freeeeeeee!
I also use our local tourism websites. There are loads of foods festivals, craft events, hands on activities local to us again all free.
Window shopping and lunch out. Trying on, prancing about in stupid heels all free. (NO CARDS! take enough cash for lunch/parking etc only) Meerkat meals has saved us a fortune, plus we got a good deal on insurance. Before we had that we had a tastecard which is much the same. Take with you one of those concentrated squash things. Order a jug of tap water for drinks, add your squash and boom free drinks.
Finally I would recommend ordering a copy of Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer by Jane Brockett from your local library, it will absolutely change your picnic game for all time.

Ohhh a p.s. We'll do an overnight if we're going somewhere more than 2 hours away. We use Wowcher/Groupon etc if we can get a good deal. (Less than £50 a night for a family room inc. breakfast) Alternatively we'll use a chain hotel and what I do is search for the cheapest dates and areas, usually £30ish for a family room book the room then plan the visits around that.

BotBotticelli · 23/07/2019 08:19

I have 2 boys age 4 and 6. Both DH and I work full time.

We are going to Mallorca for 10 days holiday and my parents are taking us away for 3 nights in the UK over the bank holiday.

Aside from that we are doing:

boys doing 6 whole days in a holiday sports camp they love whilst we work
boys doing 3 days with grandparents whilst we work
the rest of the time DH and I are taking it in turns to take annual leave.

On these days we will try to do something outdoors and cheap/free every day. Luckily we live in south London so there’s loads of nice parks, some with splash parks and/or giant sandpits where we can take a football and a picnic and make a day of it.

I’d like to take them swimming once a week. And apparently the local odeon is doing £2.50 kids tickets to all films during the hols so might catch a couple of films too.

I also have lofty ambitions of “teaching the boys to play in the garden together without someone getting hurt and All The Screaming Happening” at some point in August 🤦🏼‍♀️

ElstreeViaduct · 23/07/2019 08:37

We sit them down and get them to write a list. It's amazing what little things are important to them - going to the library, eating pizza, going to a particular park, a walk in the wood. Anything becomes more of a treat when it's on their wishlist and we can cross it off after. Making sushi always features and it fills up a morning nicely.

AbbyNormal · 23/07/2019 08:54

I need to get DS to make a list. He asked to cook or bake together so that's something we can do. Finding it tricky to come up with ideas because he's 8 and DD is 10 months so I can't take him to the cinema or a theme park. So far I've come up with a trip to the library, the park, meeting up with friends for lunch, and playing out in the garden.

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