How much of the School Summer Holiday do you spend at home with DC doing not very much at all?

[GiantTurtle]

It's our second day of staying indoors and doing nothing. We are all still in PJ's and so far the day's activities have included breakfast, CBeebies and Lego.

I'm in my 3rd trimester and have 5 year old twins and a 2 year old at home. I'm wondering how I will get through the next few weeks, feeling very tired already. We don't have a garden so staying at home means they are pretty cooped up. Our nearest parks are a drive away and honestly right now I can't even muster the energy to get them all dressed and washed! DH is out of the house for 13 hour days and home after bedtime, and no family nearby. We have only just moved so also no local friends yet!

I am feeling very guilty about doing so little with them and we're only at the beginning of the holidays. How do you while away the days during the school holidays?

[MagratsHair]

We are on our second day of doing bugger all as well, they have been on the DS, making loom bands & playing inside since they got up. They need a few days of doing nothing to recuperate in my opinion & I don't feel bad.

We have yet to do: measuring feet at the school shop, go on holiday for a week, opticians, dentists, go into town to spend their pocket money & that's all I have planned.

Be kind to yourself, it wasn't very many years ago that us mothers would have been too busy to play with them at all, what with planting the garden, doing the washing by hand, cleaning etc playing with your 3+ kids is still quite a modern idea I think.

Perhaps try your local church or playgroup to see if they are running any summer schools for the twins to go to for a few hours a day?

[kilmuir]

Quite a lot. Children should not have every minute of their day organised for them

[GiantTurtle]

Problem is when we do stay at home all day, it ends up being predominantly a TV day. I do feel guilty about them sitting in front of a screen for hours, but feeling so tired ATM I am just letting them.

I think it's particularly bad for the 2 year old, the older two never had more than half an hour of CBeebies a day :(

[GiantTurtle]

Thanks, yes I will see if there's a local playgroup. We have a church nearby.

[ilovepowerhoop]

it's when you see everyone else on facebook going places and doing things together and then that makes me feel like a crap parent. We are into the 4th week of holidays (Scotland) and were away on holiday for 2 weeks at the start and havent done anything much since. DH is back at work so it is just me and the kids (age 7 and 10). All they want to do is sit on the computer or play nintendos or their tablets all day.

[NynaevesSister]

Normally our first week is spent doing sod all. However this year we have house guests from overseas.

One thing I have done in previous years is put them to bed in shorts & t-shirt. In the morning we get up and go straight to the park. I have a blanket plus a comfy camp chair. Or you may want to take whatever cushions you have if that's more comfy. If driving go to a park/playground where you can park near the entrance. Not difficult at 6am.

Then relax all day as the kids have breakfast/lunch and play while you sit in the shade. A small playground where you can see 2 year old without having to follow would be ideal. Even better is one with water play where they can get soaked as that then also counts as their bath :)

[MidniteScribbler]

DS is not at school yet, but I'm a teacher. We go to my holiday house and will inevitably hibernate for the first few days, if we make it out of pjs then that is a pretty impressive feet (unless it is to put a swimsuit on to go for a swim). I don't really care, holidays mean you can do whatever you want, I want a break, so I'll have one, and it's no one else's business what DS and I do.

[GiantTurtle]

That's brilliant! Love the putting them to bed in shirts and t-shirts, also the camp chair idea. I could really do with one of those, sitting on the grass with nothing to lean against is so uncomfortable with my bump.

Going off to google Camping chairs!

[PersonalClown]

It will be most of the time. He breaks up in about an hour.

Anti social, ASD, 12 year old boy!

He'll probably only leave the house if there is food or trains involved!

[whatsagoodusername]

We are still in our pajamas here.

We need to go to the shop because we will run out of milk by the end of the day and have no bread for tomorrow. Might go to the park. Or I will tell DH to get milk and bread on his way home and stay in pajamas all day.

[Staryyeyedsurprise]

Our last week or summer holidays will be exactly like this as I know we'll be skint!

Things they can do indoors which will keep them occupied for hours while you relax:

2yr old
gloop for the (honestly mine would have played with it for hours and it's NOTHING!).
Chunky duplo stuff
trainset type stuff

twins
spirograph
LOOM BANDS!!!
Puzzle books

[Heels99]

None at all. I work 3 days a week so want to do things the other days. We never have pjs in front of tv all day.

[Joysmum]

I only have the one child do it was very different for me.

I don't like being at home doing nothing. We'd go out every day to get out the house. That's when our love of geocaching developed.

[LittleprincessinGOLDrocks]

We are on day 2 of doing very little.
The kids are on the computer doing "Education City" (on line education site the school signed them up to) right now, which I guess counts as homework in a way so is important... yeah ok they are just doing the games on there but still.
We have only 3 days planned (going away for a short break) and that is in 3 weeks time. So we will be doing a lot of lounging for the next few weeks (whilst I do some relaxing knitting) mixed with booting them in to the garden for a few hours to get some sun light and get rid of some energy.
So most of the 6 weeks we will be pottering about at home.

[GiantTurtle]

We did get out a lot more when I only had the two of them. But with pregnancy and a 2 year old to run after I will only take them out once or twice a week as it takes so much energy!

[Hurr1cane]

None. We have to be out and active every second of the day, in activities which aren't too crowded or sociable. (ASC)

I'd love a tv day < jealous

[Hurr1cane]

Honestly though I think as long as you are interacting with them (so talking to them about the TV and not just sitting ignoring them) then whatever you do is fine. Even if it seems very little

[Openup41]

I plan to break up the week. One day at home, the next day we go out.

I do not think children need to go out every day. We have a garden. I will be checking the weather and planning our outdoor activities around it.

A lot of our activities are free or cheap. We will take packed lunches too.

Hopefully we can squeeze in a trip to the theme park.

[Heels99]

How do so many people have the full 6 weeks off!?

[GiantTurtle]

I'm at home with them FT until this one starts nursery in 2 years, then back to work.

[edwardcullensotherwoman]

If they're happy at home, don't stress about it. DS (6) broke up on Friday, we spent the weekend lazing around the house/garden. I worked yesterday so today we are just in the house, DS has a friend over (whose mum is happy for him to have a lazy indoor day too). I also have DD (2) and I'm 24 weeks pregnant.

We're going away on Sunday, have a few playgroup sessions planned, and a couple of nights with friends at their caravan, but other than that we'll just see how we feel on the day.

Throw open the curtains and windows and enjoy films/lego/picnics in the lounge

[InSummer]

We're on our second week.

Had 1 day out to theme park with my folks and did some shopping last week.

This week we're just pottering about. I don't feel bad and plan on spending a lot of afternoons at home and just playing in the garden etc. DD is just happy to be having a break.

[edwardcullensotherwoman]

Probably SAHMs Heels

[edwardcullensotherwoman]

Oops posted too soon! Was going to say people would be very lucky to get 6 weeks' leave, unless they work part-time, part-year (civil service/local government)