After School in winter

[PollyPocketLucyLocket]

Once the DC return to school next week, I'd really like to change our after school activities.
We all love relaxing at home, and I know the DC will happily do it. However, I want to get them out of the house once during the week.

In the summer, I usually meet them with a packed tea, and we will go and sit in the park for a couple of hours.
The winter is a different story and I want to change that.

Any ideas?
I've looked at bowling deals, trampoline parks, soft play etc, all with meal deals attached term time. Quite a lot to shell out though, with 2 little ones.

I'd stick to the park if it's a dry day even if it's cold.

You could get a thermos and make up a batch of hot chocolate to take with you instead of a picnic and just let them run around.

Coats, gloves and hat, wellies if needed and you'll be fine.

Swimming?

Library (free and educational)
Walks and parks are still an option in winter, if you're all wrapped up warmly.
Cafe. Several cafes near me do painting pots/decoupage/arty things for kids.
Visit a charity shop and buy a toy, a book or some clothes.
Go to a bookshop (you don't need to buy loads every time, and even a couple of books each time is still cheaper than softplay)
Give them £5 each to spend in a pound shop. They will choose outrageous tat, but they'll spend ages choosing which tat.

Library, as others have said. Local cafe after if you want a meal out, but otherwise just a snack walking to library.

I agree library or free museums.

I'd go for somewhere where you can walk quite a distance to get there as that time is activity. Then read, look around and have a picnic snack outside etc.

The other option to cut that feeling of always being home in dark everyday is rather than 1 evening of activity make your walk home everyday longer by taking different routes. You can always do scavenger hunts etc.

Loving this thread. Following for ideas

Try your local pets at home, ours does a feed the animals session certain days at 4pm

beavers, after school activity club and a sport lesson is what mine do at the moment. I like the thermos of hot chocolate at the play park instead of a picnic idea. depends what you have local to you really. swimming, bowling, ice skating, library, museum etc. go to the shop on the way home to get ingredients for dinner then they help cook it? What about things you could do at home like super movers/unicorn noodles on the tv.

Thanks so much for all the lovely ideas

Really like the hot chocolate idea, could any recommend a decent flask / thermos please?

Library seems a good choice. Sadly not a decent museum where we are though.