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Original poster

How often do you take your kids for big days out?

88 replies

pancakes222 · 13/06/2022 20:56

I know I shouldn't compare (comparison is the thief of joy and all that!) but I often see friends taking their kids out for big days out eg theme parks, London shows, zoo, Lego land etc but when I suggest the same to DH he just says it's a waste of money that we don't really have, that the kids won't remember it, will probably just whinge all the way round etc and that they are just as happy playing at their grandmas or going to the park. DD is age 6 and DS is 2.5.

I feel like I did used to take DD more places like this when she was younger and the only one because I only had to pay for the one child whereas these places do now add up when paying for 2 adults 2 children.

We don't have loads of money but I do love experiences and worry at the back of my mind that we aren't giving those same experiences for second born. I also think on the other hand maybe DH does have a point and maybe it is better just getting by with free local trips at the moment and when they are older they may well enjoy bigger experiences then instead perhaps....

Suppose I'm just looking for a bit of reassurance that I'm not the only one who isn't taking the kids big places and wondering whether people share DHs views? (In which case I should probably stop nagging him! and also to stop comparing!)

OP posts:

Dontlickthetrolley · 14/06/2022 00:00

We will do Alton Towers, Chessington, Legoland and Warwick Castle this year, but I have saved the vouchers with The Sun and have used tesco vouchers for the 3rd ticket. I've got tickets for 2 shows in a town near to us, but I bought the tickets in the priority sale and got the cheapest tickets, but still a good view. I've got a wowcher deal for the local theme park. Search out the deals, they're there to be had!!!

Shellsbelles · 14/06/2022 00:14

We took our 5 year old on holidays and all he wanted to do was play in the playground. Really don't think they need the big expensive days out at that age.

Shellsbelles · 14/06/2022 00:15

Now they are older, it's a couple of times a year for the bigger days out. Would do stuff locally too that isn't too expensive.

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RoseMartha · 14/06/2022 00:23

When they were little we held a couple of memberships to child attractions.

I also joined the NT when my eldest was about 6. Still members now and it gets us out. Luckily they like taking photographs so still happy to go to NT places at 13 and 14. (Long story as to why they do not go out independently. I am sure it will happen eventually).

ILiveInSalemsLot · 14/06/2022 00:29

Never did theme parks really but we'd do a day trip in the school holidays. Places like zoos, castles, aquariums and NT places.
Other day drips were to free or cheap places like nature reserves, country parks,forests, farms and beaches. These would be once a month and in school holidays.
Theatre is usually once or twice a year.
I've taken my dcs to places from when they were very young. I live exploring and experiences and want the same for my dcs.
My dh is more of a homebody so most of the time, we go without him.

trufflequeen · 14/06/2022 00:34

I never take my 3yo out because I tried many times before and he behaves like a maniac as he gets so over excited. I used to feel guilty though feeling I wasn't doing enough as I see so many friends posting days out on social media and now I don't. As soon as he starts listening and behaving, then I will take him out. I just take him out to the park, sometimes and that's sometimes softplay. We go abroad a lot so he gets his beach time and swimming pool time there. He has plenty of time outdoors at nursery as they have a mini wildlife garden and huge garden as well. I walk to his nursery with his pushchair for 30 mins so he gets plenty of fresh air. I think that's more than enough for him to manage. Maybe next year I will think about zoo's and peppa pig world but for now, it's either a holiday or we stick to our local routine.

User2145738790 · 14/06/2022 00:35

DH he just says it's a waste of money that we don't really have, that the kids won't remember it

You'll remember it though. If you want to go to a theme park/zoo/show/castle you should.

trufflequeen · 14/06/2022 00:41

Also for my dc aged 3, he might remember it yes going to legoland but I just think what's the point if he is going to be miserable and crying wanting to get on everything at the same time or crying because he is overstimulated and tired. I'd rather him go at age 4/5 where he will remember it properly and actually enjoy it than remember how much he cried throwing himself onto the floor and mum and dad having to leave early because we couldn't cope. Some kids are naturally good at days out but my little one isn't, so I'd rather wait until he is at least a year older so he can actually enjoy it and remember it as a happy memory.

riotlady · 14/06/2022 00:41

Every couple of months maybe? But I’m counting stuff like the farm and the aquarium as big days out, we’ve never been somewhere like Legoland.

Sammilouwho · 14/06/2022 00:49

We have an annual pass to the zoo so we try and go once a month.
We have quite a lot of decent attractions near us that offer under 5's days during term time weekdays and normally super cheap entry for adults (our local steam railway used to do one which was free under 5's and £5 per adult and the National Coal Mining Museum do a free Wednesday activity for under 5's too) so it's not too expensive.
I've also collected the Sun Super days codes this time and just booked the extra ticket we needed so it's cost 1 ticket for us to go to Alton Towers and there's 4 of us (one under 3) - note, I do not buy the Sun, my parents do.
There's also decent places which do a pay once and get unlimited entry for the year which is brill (The Deep is £15 a ticket or it was when we paid last year!).
We were very poor growing up with no car and limited public transport so I like to treat my children when I can!

Dinoteeth · 14/06/2022 00:57

Op can I just say for many people Legoland / Alton Towers and those sorts of places really means a long weekend away or at least an overnight. So naturally it becomes a once in a blue moon event.

Zoo & Safari Park probably once a year. Lots of family places either don't charge for 2.5yos and many will do a family ticket which really means that the second & third kids get free.

We do a lot of sports stuff and try to swim every weekend.

SouperNoodle · 14/06/2022 01:00

Big days like zoo are probably 5 times a year.
Weekly we do things like go to the farm, picnics in parks, the beach, soft plays etc
They're much cheaper and much less overwhelming for kids and if there are any issues, we're never more than 10 minutes away from home.

Flatandhappy · 14/06/2022 01:00

I always hated the kind of days out where you felt you needed to be there from opening to closing to get value for money. We lived near Drusillas in East Sussex when we were in the UK; they had animals, a great playground and in latter years a soft play area that you didn’t mind being in so for years we had had annual passes. Sometimes we would just go for the soft play on a rainy day, sometimes just the zoo bit, sometimes the whole lot which worked well. In your situation I would try and get tickets for a show to take your 6yo to and not worry about the younger one. I took DD to see Mama Mia for her 6th birthday and she still talks about it many years later.

OnlyTheBravest · 14/06/2022 01:01

Could you take the 6year old with a friend for bigger days out and leave the younger one with your partner? Dragging my temperamental under 3 out for long days was the stuff nightmares are made of! Over excited and overtired. Never a good combination.

Sunnytwobridges · 14/06/2022 01:06

My dd is an adult but we didn’t do too many big days out. She was very happy to play with her friends which was fine by me.

TonightIamgointobe · 14/06/2022 06:38

I try to spend money on holidays instead. I love to discover the UK and Europe, so we have little trips a few times a year. When there, we do outdoors activities and museums and free stuff.
The zoo or a theme park would be once in a childhood really. I've taken the kids to wildlife parks twice ever.
They do cost a lot.

Louise0701 · 14/06/2022 06:43

Most Sundays.
We tend to alternate between day out one week to bike ride / country park or similar the next. I love my children experiencing loads of different places and enjoying different things. They aren’t young for long.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 14/06/2022 06:47

Theatre every couple of months (not London), theme parks and other places with entrance fees once in a blue moon, free walks and beach visits all the time.

Solosunrise · 14/06/2022 06:56

Shellsbelles · 14/06/2022 00:14

We took our 5 year old on holidays and all he wanted to do was play in the playground. Really don't think they need the big expensive days out at that age.

Same here!
My (grown up now) children remember all the big days out because they were few and far between.
This was 90s though and I think things were very different. Money was tight but my friends and I mainly worked part time, so there were other families to hang out with. So making a blanket tent in a friend's garden and having a picnic, or kicking a football about in the park were the norm.
I think in many ways it's much harder now.

AuntieMarys · 14/06/2022 07:06

Mine are in their 20s and they never went to theme parks, Legoland. We could afford it.
My idea of hell. We had NT membership, lived close to London so when they got their Oyster card at 11 they went exploring.
They had weekend activities, lots of trips to local parks and friends round to play.

orangespiral · 14/06/2022 07:06

Once or twice a year.

BluOcty · 14/06/2022 07:07

We do go on days out pretty regularly but they are free or cheap. Got English Heritage membership w Clubcard vouchers and we always take a picnic for example. The cost of travel is not cheap though, to be fair but the kids go free on public transport so it's just the cost of me to pay.

TeenPlusCat · 14/06/2022 07:15

2.5 year olds can still enjoy and be enriched by things even if they 'can't remember' things 6 months later.

We had a couple of annual memberships and used them. Then the next year dropped one and replaced with a different membership., etc.

Newnormal99 · 14/06/2022 07:17

When they were that sort of age we usually did the farm park once each school holiday. We also had a chessington pass when youngest was a little older.

I know people say they don't 'remember' at a young age but I do always wonder if it does have an impact on them and how they grow?

I took them to farm parks or similar from very young and while they don't remember it now they loved going - there is a mini zoo and we have not been for a long while as it's got quite expensive but even though the oldest is 14 and technically too old for it she still wants to go back as I think it holds so many memories for her.

OneFrenchEgg · 14/06/2022 07:17

Op - are you near London? Kidsweek in August could be perfect for you if you can be flexible in dates. Free child with every adult and they often have shows for under 5s etc

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