School hols - keeping them occupied

[ElstreeViaduct]

Two DC, 10 and 12, one's autistic which limits our days out and makes us very routine driven.

What rules or routines do you implement to stop the hols descending into chaos, arguments, and nothing but screen time?

Our basic rules are no TV until after lunch and (if it's a very lazy day) they need to be dressed by lunchtime. I've seen stuff online like parents not giving out WiFi passwords until jobs are done, or TV is not allowed on until they have done a chore, got some exercise and done something creative, or something. Does anyone actually do this sort of stuff IRL? What are the holiday time rules in your house? Do they have extra treats, later bedtimes? Do you limit their phones/tablets, and do you have different rules for older ones with phones vs with younger ones without? I'd love to know what works in your house.

Bedtimes much more flexible and phones allowed upstairs during holidays (not in term time though).

My son is nearly 16. So I don’t really play a part in what he does as he goes out with his friends and organises his own trips. No idea what time he goes to bed.

When he was younger I used to do a day out and then a day in. Even if that day was just to Tesco ... in the summer I would add in a drink and a cake when we got there to drag it out a bit.

I lived near the seaside so would go down and share a bag of chips later in the day.

One day I set the whole living room up as a movie theatre. Popcorn drinks. A few films. Made it all dark they loved that. I used to make the living room into different things as well. One day I would build it into a fort for when he came down. Other times I would change it into a shop for the day etc. He loves that.

I made my own scavenger hunt around my little neighbour hood. He loves love.

I know some things I have mentioned are too old for yours but other people may use the ideas to hard when they start to hit teenage years. Especially this at the start of it. Too old to do the park. But too young to go off and their own thing

Three kids 13, 11 and 6

No screens before 4pm
One chore a day to help me
One day in, one out
Much more relaxed about bedtime but now they all lie in which is great.

Days out are generally cheap. Picnic and walk, park, museum.
One day a week I organise company for my eldest as he can be a bit anti-social and wind up his younger sisters!

Thank you for the ideas - sorry for taking time to come back.

I like the 4pm cut off but not sure I am brave enough! They are definitely losing enthusiasm for easy cheap stuff they were very happy with when they were younger - playgrounds etc. It's a tricky age.