Mumsnet users share ways to keep their children of different ages entertained during half term with PizzaExpress

[EllieMumsnet]

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It’s half term and both you and your DC deserve some family time before the last leg of the summer term begins. If you have children of different ages, you know it can be difficult to find activities that entertain both. PizzaExpress would love find out the ways you bridge the age gap with activities that keep the children entertained, letting them express themselves.

Here’s what PizzaExpress has to say: “We love welcoming families into our restaurants and understand how precious time together is. Our goal is to make the time at PizzaExpress as enjoyable as possible, which includes not only delicious pizza but also fun & creative activities for Piccolos of all ages and the whole family to get involved in. What is it that makes it tick and ensures well-behaved children all round?”

Do you get them in the kitchen helping you create new dishes for the family? Perhaps you take family trips out that cater for all ages or go for a meal out in a family-friendly restaurant? Or maybe you have different variations of the same activity such as a colouring book for your younger DC and free-style painting for your older DC?

Whatever your ways to keep your DC of different ages entertained during the half term, post on the thread below and you will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs Apply

[CommonFishDiseases]

Going swimming is always popular with both DC (3 year age gap).

[Thatjew92]

We used to live by the seaside so it was arcades and donkey rides.

[BristolMum96]

Handy for me to go to attractions that cater for all ages. I often take my 6 month old and my 12 year old cousin to our local aquarium and zoo as there's enough to occupy the baby and plenty of 'grown up' activities for the 12 year old.

[SusanWalker]

The beach. Always good for any age. When mine were little i used to take them down at 2.30ish after their naptime. Picnic tea on the beach and then home for bath and bed. Now they are older we still tend to go down later as it's not so hot.

[Leeds2]

The beach is a good place for mixed age activities.
Or baking/cooking together at home.
Also the paddling pool in the garden if it is warm enough - always fun, even for older children.

[TeenTimesTwo]

Going out and about always worked well for my two (5 year age gap). Sometimes it needed 2 adults so we could be 1-1 for example museums, but castles, zoos, swimming, walks can be enjoyed at any age.
Pizza Express in St Brelade's is a favourite for holidays, (though it could do with some soft furnishings to absorb some of the noise!).

[IndianaMoleWoman]

We’ve got loads of picnic equipment and it’s worth it’s weight in gold. It can be as simple as a walk round the local park or a full on day trip to a castle/zoo/beach etc., but making time to eat together during the activity ensures that everyone is included, even if they’ve been doing separate activities.

[sharond101]

Just being out helps a great deal. Swingpark, beach, farm park. The good wether helps too.

[JellySlice]

Food is always a unifier. My teens rarely reject the opportunity to eat out, so a day trip that involves a favourite restaurant usually works.

[crazymumofthree]

We are off to Cornwall and find swimming, the beach, fishing/bug hunting for the younger one keeps them all entertained! They also love spending all our money in the arcades!

[abitoflight]

Traditional country village fete we have been to very year since babies and now late teens - hog roast, brass band, cider, human fr etc on Monday

[JulesJules]

We do a mixture of things - days out usually combining castles and beaches (Northumberland)with a picnic, trip to the cinema and pizza afterwards, rainy day baking.

[Kraggle]

Picnics and trips to the wildlife park are always a hit with my two, the 5 year old gets to run/let off steam and play and the 1year old generally sleep in the pushchair!

[JanuarySkies]

Picnics are always popular in half term and going to the beach - easy to include activities for different ages with both of these. If we go out for a meal we take a small amount of Lego, colouring etc

[WutheringFrights]

Send them off to Granny’s house...

[PerfectlySymmetricalButtocks]

They'll be going to my aunt's for 3 days, otherwise they entertain themselves. DC don't need to be entertained every minute of every day. We will go to the Sainsbury's café for breakfast today and lunch on Monday.

[NeverTwerkNaked]

We have four from age 4 - 11 but there’s plenty they all enjoy doing together... going on the trampoline, going swimming, scooting to the playground, squabbling.....

Over the long summer they also all enjoy doing a week or two of a holiday club, which means they get some time apart. They like catching up in the evening and chatting about their days

[Goingovertosusanshouse]

Beach, park and bikes/scooters. Find it harder being stuck at home to keep them both happy.

[auntyflonono]

Cinema works well for my teen and preteen, often followed by pizza. It's more difficult when it's raining.

[MadCatLadypuss]

We like to visit local museums and take a picnic to keep costs down.

[Footofthestairs]

2 dc (6 and 9)
Trips to the Zoo or wildlife park, local parks, and the poundshop always go well for both. Swimming is too tricky with one parent as the 9 yr old wants the deep end but the 6 yr old is not that strong a swimmer yet.
At home: Lego, pokemon, activity books, their own made up role playing games and at the moment, world cup football cards!
If desperate, a quick scavenger hunt works well too, so does Netflix!

[whatatod0]

everything is easier with friends round!
Cooking / setting up a restaurant in our home on a rainy day for when dad gets home from work.
Geocaching when out walking the dogs.

[rainbowfudgee]

Theme parks with annual pass, national Trust properties, picnics, swimming and playing with our rabbits in the garden

[MercedesDeMonteChristo]

Film with popcorn at home, otherwise museums are a fave in our house, if large then the older two are allowed to go and explore and meet at a certain point. Also just running around at our local park or football pitch. They are 12, 10 and 7.

[DayKay]

I have 3 kids between 12 and 5. They love day trips out, walks and picnics.
If we go to the park, we ll take a ball and the older dc will have a kick about while younger dc goes to the playground.
At home, they all love a bit of arts and crafts and will do something age appropriate.
Baking is fab - one of the older two will follow the recipe, weigh and measure while the younger mixes. I don’t need to get involved much anymore.