What do you do to have fun with your DC?

[Bemyclementine]

I've noticed that as they get older/start school etc, the days are a blur and we don't have nearly so much fun as we used to. It makes me sad to say tbh.

They ARE still only little. But I'm conscious of other people with teens who also don't seem to have a lot of fun any more.

Obviously we have less time with school, work and hobbies, and also they go to their dad's 1 weekend day. I'm also not exactly rolling in money.

So, what so you do?

Singing, ball games, bike / scooter rides, board games, funny tv like bluey

Toy bubble machine in garden
Sprinkler in garden
Cheap canvasses from The Works to produce beautiful works of art
Cheap science sets - check charity shops

Fun simple games pass the pigs dice, zombie dice, quirkle (can buy games as presents), remote controlled cars.

Foot bath session with foot cream afterwards, small pamper sessions.

Camp in the front room one night

Make ice lollies with fruit pieces

Build "dinosaur" habitats in the garden with full mud swamp 😑

Disco where they controlled the music 😬

Wild flower/tree identification walks

Geocache walk

Creating drawings with stickers in among the image

We've just started geocaching! DD1(4) thinks it's amazing and actually I really enjoy it too. And it's free and gets you out of the house. Board games are always fun if you can have a quick dinner one night and squeeze one in before/after.

Thank you, we used to do a lot of this. Just got out of the habit as I'm working more , and they're busier too.

Movie nights
Geocaching
Baking
Handmade projects like soap or candles
Or digital creative projects like animated maps with photos from our travels or a family tree slideshow or 3d designs of a "dream house" etc.

We have a soap making kit stashed somewhere so thanks for that reminder.

Bedtime reading
Discos with smoke machine
Themed family teaparties for any occasion
Make up stories
Play records

Lego building

Reading those other lists I feel like I do barely anything!

But actually I know what I do, which is just to laugh with them and enjoy their own random and unexpected contributions to life. They are silly and I go with it. It feels like enough. If they ask me to do or say something and it’s not going to put me out, I do or say it. It’s fun!