What fun stuff can we get delivered for the family?

[Rae36]

School holidays here next week, a whole week of nothingness stretching ahead of us. Can't see our family, can't do anything except go for walks.
There's me, Dh who will probably be working, and 3 kids age 9 to 14.

I fancy getting stuff delivered a few times during the week to cheer us up but I need some inspiration.

I've ordered an afternoon tea to come one day, they'll like that. Cakes and stuff.
I thought about an escape room kit.

Has anyone got any other great ideas? I wondered about some kind of craft kit that we could do together but I'm not sure where to look for such a thing. I fancy making some massive art for the wall or something but I'm not very imaginative. I need someone to tell us what to make.

Can anyone recommend any good cooking or baking kits?

We're all so sick of each other that if I suggest cooking together they'll roll their eyes and complain, but if something fun arrives in the post and it's not seen as my idea they will be more inclined to do it I think.

Any ideas welcome, thanks. I know there have been dozens of threads like this recently but I am so frazzled I can't face looking back at them all.

Waffle maker has been a hit in our house, we had fun making the batter and then doing different toppings.
Could do homemade pizzas, I know some restaurants local to me are doing pizza kits to make at home.
Family movie night with posh treats I can recommend Joe & Seph’s gourmet popcorn.
On a clear night you could make a fire & do s’mores and perhaps star gazing here is some info a star count to get a picture of the effects of light pollution.

I've just seen on Facebook that someone brought an "Owl pellet detective" kit. Basically you pay for owl poop, then dissect it to see what they've eaten not really sure how i feel about that, its a bit not envy

*bought

Family movie night with posh treats

I think we've watched every single family movie ever made since March. I wish someone would release a new big family movie and we could have that as a special thing. But I honestly can't think of a single film we would all be interested in and we've not already seen. You know lockdown's dragged on too long when you can't even think of a film to watch together.

@Rae36 tbh we no longer watch movies as a family because the kids can’t agree on one to watch. So we usually watch individually or one on one with each dc. Now if they decided to release Peter Rabbit 2 we would pay for that (was supposed to see it last Mother’s Day).

Oh lord we aren’t a family who can watch a film all together! I don’t watch films full stop but the rest of them like different things. 3 of them will watch something but I think films and luxury snacks has been overdone in this house and no longer holds much of an appeal sadly.

The DIY donut decorating kits from Doughnut Time!

Remember pancake day, Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year are all coming up in the next couple of weeks, all of which lend themselves quite well to treats, cooking and crafts. We are going to decorate the house with love hearts and the dcs want to make a Chinese dragon. Baker Ross which someone else mentioned have some good crafts for Valentines Day.

How about some online volunteering? It's not necessarily boring - tagging animals for London Zoo
instantwild.zsl.org/intro
Transcribing Foundling records
www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/history-and-heritage/london-metropolitan-archives/about-lma/coram-volunteering
Adding features from satellite photos to maps of areas where there are humanitarian crises
www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2020/volunteer-at-home-make-digital-maps.html

Perhaps a project based on your street that supports a local food bank - eg they find out what is needed and put leaflets through doors asking for donations and a time they will call to collect in a socially distanced way?

Perhaps the 14 yo could co-ordinate them all cooking dinner for you one night?

You could play come dine with me for a few nights, younger ones could team up with an adult, have to plan menu, dress code, entertainment, set table etc score each night. Maybe give them a budget to cover ingredients and table decs.

A few more ideas;

Krispy Kreme Doughnut Decorating

fudge making kit

Pizza Express Pizza kit

Pottery kit

metal embossing kit

Plus pricey but might be a big hit
laser tag hire

@Rae36
One kid is vegetarian so marshmallows may be tricky

Marks and Spencers Plant Kitchen range have some amazing vegan marshmallows!
I like them better than the regular ones, they're lovely!

(Also shamelessly placemarking as I love this idea, I started a similar thread a while back asking for ideas of treat things to be delivered )

Heelys for the children? And for you if poss

Hire some circus skills equipment, unicycles, stilts, (low) tight rope, juggling clubs, diabalo’s

Just ordered a bath disco ball from Oliver bonas.

Wow I'm going to look more at those volunteering things, they sound interesting.

And I need a disco bath ball for sure!

We all sat at the table last Saturday and had a crafty afternoon, we made bath jellies, soap and to finish it off we all got a blob of modelling clay and made each other out of the clay. It was such a fun afternoon it wasn’t very taxing as I bought pre-made sets for the bath jellies and soap.

My friend hired a hot tub recently, OP, and she loved it! Said she couldn't recommend it enough. Very easy to run, came with gazebo type covering, and she said her DC - similar ages to yours - spent loads of time in it, and that it meant everyone was on screens less, great family time etc.

No idea what it cost though.

Chocolate fountains £35 and popcorn maker £20 in Argos at the moment. Probably a better deal than trying to hire one.

We bought these Nerf laser guns they work brilliantly -
Nerf E2281 Laser Ops 2 pack Combat Blaster amazon.co.uk/dp/B076JGYZYC/ref=cm_sw_r_em_apa_fabc_R4TTAX2Y23ACYQKEDJTH]]
The woodland trust has a good schools website with activity sheets to spot wildlife and identify trees.
www.treetoolsforschools.org.uk/categorymenu/?cat=animals&name=Animals&col=942B91

@Learningtobehappier I’ve just ordered some owl pellets after seeing your post! We were just talking about them the other day, reminiscing about dissecting them as children. They’re regurgitated, not poo, but I’m not sure if that makes it less for you

Nothing to add but thanks for this thread - some really great ideas !
I’m the same that we’ve done movie night to death and I’ve exhausted all our home craft supplies.
For younger DC Poundland usually has some craft bits to while away some time - my youngest DC spent a happy afternoon with their mask kit this week- but older DC are a bit trickier so I’m liking these suggestions!

Virtual sleepover. Indoor picnic. Make your own newspaper.

In lockdown 1 I did a whole day of Batman themed home schooling. I no longer have the energy!

This adventure box is great, you have an activity every day for 7 days to solve the mystery. It's aimed at 7-11 year olds so may be a bit young for your eldest though

charlotte-holmes.thelbt.org/product/buy/