To be really dreading half term

At the risk of sounding sooo irritating ( even more irritating than whoever suggested going skiing!) one of the things I did that made a difference when mine were little was working very hard at building their relationship. Everything’s easier when they are their own little gang. There’s a book called How Not To Be A Perfect Family, by Libby Purves that talks about this. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Could you get a few art supplies like card and stampers, and get the DC to make birthday cards for family. Then when there is a family birthday send the card they made.

Pick a couple of recipes and do baking another day.

Go to the library to choose books. Some libraries will have stories being read by someone. Find out if your Library has anything going on.

Go for a walk at least 3 days. My DC used to count how many dogs they saw. Look at weather forecast and plan so bake on wettest looking day etc.

Some TV time. Some colouring time. Some playing a game time. Mine used to like snakes and ladders.

Make some popcorn in microwave. Watch a children's movie together.

Visit a friend or family/play date.

Build a Lego model together.

Buy some pastry and let them make jam tarts.

Make a jigsaw puzzle together.

Just accept when kids are on half-term you won't get many jobs done around house.

Why is it harder when you have them together? I find my three easier when we're all together as they entertain each other (ages 7,4&1)

Maybe we could help brainstorm ideas so it's not as hard when they're together? Sounds like you have the activities sorted it's just the relationship that's hard?

Lone parent here, working circa 50 hours next week, excluding commute.

No child care. Begging, borrowing and stealing various play dates where possible.
My 70+ year old parents are doing two days bless them.

All the ferrying to and from (the very gratefully received) locations whilst keeping my commitments is a horribly complex juggle. My work commitments span over a few cities with different site locations.

I am stressed to the limit with work and childcare limitations generally at the moment, infinitely made worse by no school or wrap round next week.

what I would do for a gloomy, boring week hunkered down with the kids at home.

Mine used to love a drive to a motorway service station and a Starbucks coin when she got there while I had a coffee. It used to take up a good bit of time while she was stapped in the car unable to run off and if I timed it right she’d nap on the way home. My friend with older children said she did it regularly. I gave it a shot one day in desperation and never looked back:)

It is the hardest holiday due to the combination of weather and a lot of touristy places still in their winter shut-down season. There is a lot fewer appealing (and low-cost) things to do than in other holidays.

It is needed though. It's not been a long term, but with the lousy weather the kids at school have gone bonkers and everyone is knackered.

I dread holidays when we're just at home. I work in education so I always get them off, so for that reason my husband saves his annual leave. I end up spending a whole week or two trying to entertain my 6 year old alone and she always wants to do mind numbing things like go to soft play centres.

I much prefer it when we book weekends or weeks away. At least it's a change of scenery and we're actually spending time as a family.

Would they potter about in Waterstones/similar? Our local Waterstones has a lovely children’s area with activities, etc - that was another good wet weather activity. And meeting with friends as much as possible to share the load.

I've only got one and I dread half terms too.... the only reason I'm not dreading this one is because we're currently waiting to check in to fly somewhere hot and sunny where I dont have to cook, clean or care about what time he goes to bed or gets up. Thank fuck.

Home cinema afternoon on your worst day, loads of art ‘projects’, bit of baking, see if any relatives can take them for two hours?

I am one of four. My mum hated the holidays! She'd look forward to summer break, but after a week of 4 kids around the house would express how she was looking forward to Sept.

I know plenty of parents who are relieved when their kids go back to school, so you're fairly normal OP!

I get it op - I often felt the same.

Another thing that really helped me out was trying to find play areas that were fully fenced in - some of them were in really obscure areas and our main park was fully open with a river/weir nearby (so stressful). Or teeny, tiny local museums where it is easy to keep track of them.

I do think that there is a real turning point where the holidays go from difficult to easier than term time - for me I think it was probably mid primary years onwards. Those early holidays can be really hard going. Plan in some lower pressure time each day - a film at home with popcorn, a soft play where they can play without you and you can have a coffee, maybe something like a forest school holiday club? It really is ok to have a baseline of everyone safe and fed and anything over that is a bonus.

Reflect on what works and what doesn't.

If you don't like noise go to quieter places. Do things you can manage. Do shorter trips. Don't do the stuff you feel you ought to just because. Do the things that work for the whole family.

(Disabled single parent of autistic children)

(Mine liked eating in the car as a treat, easier than taking a picnic from car to elsewhere and they were strapped in or locked in when older!)

Young kids are hard work. They are still in the multiple questions phase, the need to be watched every moment phase but entertained by cheap/free things.

I hate Feb half term and I’m working so I’ve prepped my DD that this is a nothing holiday. I have her the choice of staying at home while I work or going to holiday club and she chose staying home! I will take her to Primark on the Sat and that’s it. I don’t have enough AL to take time off in all the holidays.

This one is bloody brutal due to the crappy weather and still financially recovering from Christmas costs! That's always how I find the February half term anyway. I've found a few free things to do like an author event at the library (but they often do craft things if your kids are younger/like this like that). I also found a canal trust activity which is free. I try to have something on most days even if it's just an hour. Else we all go a bit doolally. Hope you find some things to keep them occupied - it'll soon be spring 🤞 🌱

I feel like I’ve only just managed to catch up on my workload after all the time off for various school related things I had to take in the run up to Christmas. Finally feel on top of things barely at work and BAM - back to square one with a load of holiday juggling again 😅 I feel frazzled.

Ah yes, all the skint families going skiing this February half term 🙄🤣

Feb half term is brutal. Weather is usually crap. It’s not Halloween or bonfire night coming up like October and it’s not Christmas either.

hated it with my two.
at least by Easter it’s usually a bit warmer.

I didn't get that feeling - but by the time DD2 was in school I worked in education so school holidays were my holidays too. It didn't make every holiday easy, but it was still less stressful spending time with my 2 children instead of 30 children belonging to other people.

The rubbish weather is the reason I don't think a week should be taken from summer holidays and added to October or February. So much easier in the summer when you can make a picnic and go to a park.

As well as the National Trust, it's also worth having a look at libraries and local museums. They sometimes have free activities.

We have half term this week and all our plans are out the window with the sickness bug.