So what does everyone DO with their dc in the holidays?!

[Misty9]

Especially when it's raining?! Dc are 7 and nearly 10, eldest is asd and doesn't cope well with routine change. What is everyone doing with their dc at the moment? We generally mooch about the house doing our own thing (screens) interspersed with the odd walk. Oh, and feeding the blighters every two hours! But my dad is visiting and I feel like we should be doing more exciting things - but I can't think what!

I've booked them in at least 1 day a week at holiday club. Then when I'm back at work next week they will spend 3 days with my Mum. On my days off we will do half a days activity (there's loads on if you google your local area, local garden centres do a lot of stuff) and half a day at home.

Similar to others, we do a few big days out, then we list the other days,different parks, bike rides, softplay farm, playgrounds, cinema, library.
We also list indoor activities, lego, baking, cook dinner- my dc kids love this challenge. Party day.
Were also away for 10 days and 2 days booked at summer clubs so I can work.

I work out of the home, so he is in childcare 5 days a week. I only get weekends off so no different to term time really. I've been off this week so we went on holiday.

[quote Misty9]@JulesCobb oh believe me, I've tried every which way with screentime for ds but no matter what, he won't engage with anything else as a family and day trips as a lone adult are draining. I've said 8-10 is free time to both, so that's screens for him...[/quote]
You might be better swapping those times around.

Up, dressed, breakfast, out for the morning / day.
In the afternoon free time before dinner.

I find up and out is FAR more manageable with children and then a quiet late afternoon, and has been since they were toddlers, than allowing them to have a lazy morning then expecting action.

Mine are older now but I used to try and plan to get out with them every day whether that was walk the dog, but something better than just around the road. Swing park, beach and take a picnic. Then once a week there was some paid for activity. Swimming, cinema type thing. Then maybe a couple of more expensive days out (thanks to my birthday money). I found the trick was to get the jobs done and then spend some time with them where they had my more or less undivided attention. I changed my work when they were about 10 to part time work and that meant a drop in income. They were very good about that. They liked having me around more. They wanted to do all sorts of expensive stuff which we couldn't afford and having explained that to them when they were arguing about outings I told them to go off and decide between them what they wanted to do as we couldn't do everything they wanted and they were ever so good and did exactly that and the unreasonable demands ceased. They'd talk about it first then come and ask nicely. Also taking your own food wherever you go saves a fortune and then you can treat them to an ice cream or something.

When mine were that kind of age we used to try and get out of the house most days, even if just to the park, but on rainy days it would be baking, art, Lego, films, board games and yes probably a bit too much screen. Also 'let's tidy your room' always unearthed stuff that they forgot they owned!
I had friends who could put their Dcs off the screen until the afternoon after they'd done something else but it never really worked for us - I'd generally let them fill their boots in the morning whilst I got jobs done then do something else in the afternoon. Ds12 still works on the same principle - he's happy to do other things if he feels like he's had his quota of PS4!

Mine are up and out early every morning. Afternoons are for lazing around/music practice.

We do day trips once a week during summer holidays. Beach. Museums. Lots of local walks.

Had days playing badminton, tennis, with a football etc. Nothing expensive. A few trips to local ice cream parlour.

Had relatives visit us.

I don't believe in children just dossing around the whole day - they have to earn it by being active.

We have done a family swimming trip too. Something we don't normally do.

Swimming
Having friends over - ideally family friends with 2 kids so there is an even number
Local inflatable park thing
Picnics
The odd 1 day summer camp
Mooching

We do do a lot of the things listed, it's just there are a lot of hours to fill in a day! For example, today we have had screentime followed by a walk round a local nature reserve, then a few errands, back for lunch and played a few board games (not ds) and now dd is drawing and ds is having a tantrum about wanting more screens... activities don't last long it seems and then there's dead time again.

How do children under 10 earn dossing time then @HarrisMcCoo

We have merlin passes and live near London so far we gone to four of the London attractions and Chessington. We also went to the natural history museum and Hyde park. We go to different parks in our area and spend a morning each week at the library to do the summer reading challenge. Our borough also holds free sports clubs so ds1 will be at football club next week mom-thurs 10-3. We have a free family day at our local community centre on the Friday. Ds1 is also signed up to do a basketball camp and athletics.

Since we do go out a lot, I don’t stress it if they have the tv on or play the Nintendo on indoor days. Today we have been mostly in apart from the opticians and library this morning, and they have had screens but have also done some drawing, some homework they got and some reading and then back to the tv. They are currently happily watching The Little Vampire.

HarrisMcCoo

I don't believe in children just dossing around the whole day - they have to earn it by being active.

I’m exactly the same, always told mine as long as they do something physical in the morning, I won’t nag them to get off screens in the afternoon.

DS3 turned 11 last week so he can now come to the gym with me. Costs £12 for junior membership (no contract so can stop it at any time) including unlimited gym time/swimming/racket sports so we’ll be doing some squash/badminton as well. I’m so relieved as he’s turned into a lazy lump over the last year, and screen use is causing me a lot of stress! He’s loving it so far and has got his playlist to listen to. I intend to have him able to run again before he starts secondary in September!

Other than that we’ll be doing a paintballing day out and a Go Ape day. He’s got summer school for two weeks as well.

Sorry ~ Costs £12 a month for junior membership (no contract so can stop it at any time) including unlimited gym time/swimming/racket sports so we’ll be doing some squash/badminton as well.

It’s an absolute bargain seeing as it’s almost a fiver just for one swimming session.

my dc are a bit older (teens and pre-teen) we do:

• cooking, dc cook dinner twice a week (including planning and shopping, they have a budget for this)
• I train with the teens twice a week for a 5k run in the autumn
• one long walk or cycle ride a day, or we go to the beach for kites or surfing (I'm stricktly watching the bags!)
• each dc has a holiday project. one does an art project with a large canvas & mixed materials, one does textile dyes, one a graphic (short) novel on the computer. again, each has a budget and has to get their own materials.

Currently minecrafting with DD on a make shift bed in the living room 🤷🏻 😂

Not much usually as I'm working.

@Misty9

We do do a lot of the things listed, it's just there are a lot of hours to fill in a day! For example, today we have had screentime followed by a walk round a local nature reserve, then a few errands, back for lunch and played a few board games (not ds) and now dd is drawing and ds is having a tantrum about wanting more screens... activities don't last long it seems and then there's dead time again.

How do children under 10 earn dossing time then @HarrisMcCoo

Sorry, I have to cater to various ages (14, 11, 5 and 3). Only the older two like to chill out watching a film or lying around in bed reading. Ideally they'd lie in til 12 noon if they could!

I should have been clearer in my first post🤦🏻

@JustCallMeBubblesDahling

HarrisMcCoo

I don't believe in children just dossing around the whole day - they have to earn it by being active.

I’m exactly the same, always told mine as long as they do something physical in the morning, I won’t nag them to get off screens in the afternoon.

DS3 turned 11 last week so he can now come to the gym with me. Costs £12 for junior membership (no contract so can stop it at any time) including unlimited gym time/swimming/racket sports so we’ll be doing some squash/badminton as well. I’m so relieved as he’s turned into a lazy lump over the last year, and screen use is causing me a lot of stress! He’s loving it so far and has got his playlist to listen to. I intend to have him able to run again before he starts secondary in September!

Other than that we’ll be doing a paintballing day out and a Go Ape day. He’s got summer school for two weeks as well.

I feel it does parents good as well to lead by example. I am no super slim Jim so I need to push myself. I do this daily because it's the lesser of two evils. Sitting indoors with four DC would be hell, I need everyone outdoors so it's bearable!!!😂

That's a great idea about the gym membership for kids. Lots of activity choice too by sounds of it. I often sprint with my 11yo at our local football pitch.

activities don't last long it seems and then there's dead time again.

Yes, I agree and I've thought the same. I have a pre-schooler in the mix so don't really want to do long days out except perhaps an occasional trip to the seaside (we don't live near the coast so perhaps only once or twice during the summer break).

Interesting about the junior gym membership. I'm thinking similar for my teen. Does anyone know how much this would cost (roughly as I know gyms may differ).

When they were younger, spent most of what I earned on holiday clubs that they were bored at. Now that they're older, I just go to work and then shout at them when I come back because the place is a fucking pigsty when they're in it all day. Used to try to have at least a week away somewhere but obviously difficult this year and tbh was difficult previously due to the cost of holiday clubs.

Fucking hate summer holidays.