Days out and summer holidays

[wingingit1987]

How often are you out with your kids during the school holidays? It’s a week into the summer holidays here in Scotland and I feel like I’m not the only one taking my kids out every day.

I take my kids out because otherwise they end up fighting or they come up with elaborate “creative ideas” that cause hours’ worth of clearing up.

If yours are fine at home - lucky you! Don’t sweat it.

We go out every day, but it’s rarely for a whole ‘day out’ somewhere expensive like the zoo. Most of the time it’s the library, grandparents, park, swimming pool, a walk in the woods etc….

Thanks everyone. I’m off on maternity leave with baby no.5 do money is tight and I was feeling awful but this is reassuring.

Definitely not every day! They're lucky if we go out once a week and it's certainly no where expensive.

I think there's something in letting them get bored and entertaining themselves x

When DC was younger, I’d have a whole plan for summer mapped out for each week of the hols. I work part time, hours set out over 4 days. The 6 weeks would involve 2 weeks off for holiday, each of the individual weeks would involve at least one day off for either me or the DH, bearing in mind that there was also the day I didn’t work the DS would only be in a play scheme for 3 days. Occasionally, there were holiday activities that altered the pattern - ie holiday orchestra being 5 days inc the Saturday performance day.

On the days off we’d visit my parents who live close by. I didn’t often ask them for childcare as they were quite old and my Mum was blind. I’d do trips with DSs friends or play dates. He and I liked a London day every now and then and sometimes we’d meet my friend and the child she was nanny to. The DH usually did cinema visits with or without friends or local museums. All this is doable with one child, much trickier with more children not least the expense and - of course - the logistics. Rainy days were tv, Lego, reading and lunch at my parents house.

The summer hasn't started here (England) but I work part time anyway, although currently on mat leave, so take him out on a weeekly basis when he's not a nursery to different groups and activities (play group, swimming and then day trips, soft play or to the park etc.). We'll continue to do these through the summer as I want to make the most of the time before he starts school in September with him and his new baby brother. Although I certainly won't be out all day every day!!

We leave the house every single day but a lot of that is things like a walk into town or to the library. Big days out every day, no chance. We wouldn't enjoy that. The summer holidays are for relaxing and recharging. Rushing around, driving long distances, going to crowded places every day is not my idea of a relaxing time.

Thanks everyone. We have days at the library, softplay and pool etc planned (pool is trickier with a large family- I rely on husband taking a few children per visit rather than all at once). I feel like the logistics are a bit tougher this year as my youngest is still only 5 months and a bit of a boob monster so I end up tied to a bench feeding when we go out.