Best thing you ever did as a family when children were young

[Lumene]

Looking for ideas for half-term and weekends, what have you all really enjoyed? Primary school age.

I think having a dog and cats has added more to the dc's childhood than any of the activities we do.

But I would say camping has been pretty fab, and so was the new year that we stayed up until midnight playing board games. And there was a particular holiday in Costa Rica that was pretty special.

Camping here too! Interesting to see so many saying that. Kids absolutely love it .... mine are late teens and rarely mention the hols to turkey, Spain, US etc. But the new forest, Cornwall, Devon camping trips hold very special memories, despite the rain!

Camping.
Festivals.
Paddling in streams.
A farm near us makes for a wonderful day out, the DC have a quick look at the animals and spend the rest of the day in all of the fabulous different areas.
They also love all of us sitting down and watching a film as a family with popcorn and drinks and pillows/throws with all the lights turned off.

I am bemused really.
Dh and I would love to be regular campers.
One of my dc really, really hates it. Everything about it, and refuses to go.

he was about 10 the first time, Cornwall, camping, BBQ body boarding on beach. He woudl have done the rest but not the tent part. He is now 18, so doens't need/want to come with us, but we kind of stopped doing it under the relentless protests.

Yep I have one who hates camping. We tried it but he absolutely cries at the thought.

I love the thought, campfires, fresh air. I hate the reality. My god the work!!

Can't believe there are many kids that would pick camping over a Disney trip.

We liked fountains too. Lots of beautiful play fountains in London.

Narrow Boat holidays - kids all now married with kids of their own, but it doesn't take long when they are all together for them to start reminiscing.

Oh these are so lovely, thank you. Looks like I need to get into camping

Crabbing with my three boys in Dartmouth
Visiting Goonhilly satellite station in Cornwall( countless times!)

One May half term my dh and I packed backpacks, a buggy, our 3 and 1 year olds, and took the train to Italy via Paris. We stayed by a lake, visited Venice, had a campsite to ourselves. It was amazing.

Otherwise, caravan holidays with little ones are great fun. Pool, playpark, beach, boat or train ride...

National Trust
Walt Disney world
Haven Holidays
Buffet tea and board games evenings

Dowser what a fabulous idea! I would have loved that.
Or a camper van...

The efteling in Netherlands. I would have been so gutted if our dc had grown up before experiencing it. I can't wait to go next summer.
It's so beautiful, fun, whimsical. (better than dlp by a county mile) although dlp was also fun.

Baking days, two friends each and bake pies, biscuits, cakes.
Carpet picnics when it was too cold to go out.
Walks in the woods, collecting leaves and leaf painting.

Camping for us too, they've never shown any interest in wanting to go to Disneyland. We tend to go to the more basic campsites where you can have campfires.

They have zero interest in going to the beach though, much to DH's annoyance.