to think that the DC should really learn to entertain themselves sometimes!

[memoo]

My DC are 8 and 10, I have lots of school gate friends who have been telling me all about the countless activities they have booked to keep their DC entertained over the summer. I on the other hand haven't booked anything.

A combination of being 7 months pregnant and not having a great deal of money means that anything we do is going to have to be very cheap or even better free!

The local rugby club is holding a few free sports activity days for local kids which we will be attending, I'm also planning a few trips to the museum, libray, swimming and park. I have saved a few pounds for a couple of treats so we are going to the cinema on one day and a small theme park on another. On the other hand most of my friends have something booked nearly every day

I do really think though that kids shouldn't haven't to have their whole summer filled with organised acivities, what wrong with just playing in the garden with friends, building dens, riding bikes, etc.

Surely learning how to make their own fun can only be a good thing?

Or am i being really unreasonable and a bit of a tight arse??

[hercules1]

We've just had a similar thread to this and I think a lot of people thought it was really up to parents to do what they wanted.

[ChildOfThe70s]

I agree with you - as you can guess from the name, I grew up in the 70s and we never did any organised activities apart from the brownies. We were left to our own devices a lot of the time instead of being ferried about to have "organised" fun.

I am sure my DCs will get bored eventually, but so far they have really enjoyed their first week off, just pottering about, playing with toys they'd forgotten about, going to the park etc.

The more you spend on them, the more treats they expect

[hercules1]

I grew up in the 70s and was bored stiff.

[Takver]

Your approach sounds fair enough to me, memoo.

We're going to be away visiting friends & family for a couple of weeks in total over the holidays (3 separate trips), which will include some trips out.

Apart from that not really any organised activities as such - dd goes to a couple of clubs that continue over the summer (about 2 hours per week in total), I'm sure we'll go to the library most weeks (not hard as its only round the corner), and that's about it.

Having said that so far this week dd has had friends round to visit or been at their houses 3 days out of the 5 - nothing particularly planned in advance, but its worked out that way. And we do live near the beach so we go down there most days to take the dog for a walk if nothing else.

[thedolly]

You can't expect DCs to learn to make their own fun overnight - I've been teaching mine since they were no age .

[MilaMae]

I think you are being unreasonable.

Playing the garden making dens is great if you have a big enough garden.

Riding bikes is great if you live on a safe road or can fit said bikes into car to find a safe area.

Everybody is different and have different circumstances so generally plan their holidays the way it suits them best.

I have 3 kids 5,5 and 4-a tiny house and garden. We all go stir crazy if we spend too much time on top of each other. I have twin boys who need to get out.

MY dc know how to make their own fun but I've filled our 6 weeks with plenty of activities at home and ouitdoors(most of which are free or cheap) so they don't kill each other and I don't go insane.