£15 per child for an hour, absolute rip off

[elliejjtiny]

Where we live the only attractions within walking distance are several restaurants, 2 garden centres and a trampoline park. No play areas or anything like that. No woods or places to walk unless you want to walk round the business park. Dh is away most of half term (eldest uni interviews and then working) and I can't face staying at home all week with the younger dc. Dh will have the car and ds2 can't cope with public transport due to SEN. In laws would sometimes help but they have their other gc all week.

So our only option for going out is the trampoline park which costs £15 per child per hour. Plus extra for ice creams, drinks etc which we will not be having. If I had the car we could go out for the day for less than that. The trampoline park is always heaving with people when we go so people pay the money but I can't see it costing that much to run the place. We will go once because there is no other choice really. My dc are too old to want to go round the garden centre now.

I think 10 is absolutely fine to take a bus? Lots of children do for secondary school at 11. Send him with the brother who can go on the bus, if possible, so at least those two are "dealt with" so to speak and you'll just have the one to entertain.

That, or try and encourage the one who struggles with buses, to get the bus. Not sure how feasible this would be. But it's a great life skill to be able to use public transport. If he can cope with a trampoline park, might he be able to do buses with a bit of practice?

I agree, it will be tricky for the four of you to be in all day, every day for a week.

I love how many people are justifying the extortionate price for a trampoline park! £15 per child per hour is absolutely INSANE. £12 by me for two hours and soft play is £3.50

Why do people always assume the worst about OPs?? Why does it have to be an attack?! Stop justifying places who absolutely are ripping people off!! Yes lots of places do it but you can vote with your feet.

Hey, @elliejjtiny - life sounds tough for you. To be honest most parents in real life would massively empathise with your situation. Please ignore the small minority of ableist posters and keyboard warriors who really are just there to enjoy making you feel bad. It reflects on them, not you.

Can Your OH do the trip on public transport or hire a car for the trip?

That sounds tough, OP. If you don’t drive, have 5 kids (one of whom has disabilities) and live in such an isolated location, it must be tough all the time. Might be worth trying to find other women with SEN kids, who may have a car, so you could keep each other company on days out and help each other out.

How old are DC3 and DC4? If mid teens, they can surely do their own thing in half term. It’s only DC2 and DC5 (10) you need to occupy.

Could DC3 and DC4 stay at home with DC2, so you could take out DC5 for a few hours. Would DC2 have meltdowns if at home? Would they all be safe? Then they go out separately other day, while you stay at home with DC2 and DC5?

Could the PILs help you out with lifts (e.g. to trampoline park) one day? Or with the cost of a taxi?

If you have a garden, could you get DC2 and DC5 to do a project or some jobs in the garden for a couple of hours each day? Clearing up leaves, digging in fresh compost, assembling a bird table, clearing out a shed or garage? That would give them some fresh air. Then come back in for hot chocolate and watch a movie together. Or maybe do a project in the house? Clearing something out, painting, baking some nice cookies or cakes. Teenagers often moan about helping but will usually get stuck in if you give them responsibility for helping out.

OP I'm sorry but you sound a bit negative. You live somewhere where there is no green space to walk and no play park although you have said there is one 1.5 miles away and one 2 miles away which is walking distance.

You clearly need to move house or learn to drive.

Dh is normally working from home with flexible hours so we can go out as a family most days, this is an unfortunate one off situation

You've also said it's a one-off so I'm not sure what you're moaning about.

It's not a situation you come across every day though is it? The op can deal with a meltdown at a trampoline park but not on a bus.

It doesn't really sound like a sustainable situation, living somewhere so isolated with a child with SEN and not being able to drive. If DS is unable to cope with public transport presumably he won't be living independently very quickly if at all? So it sounds as if you need to prioritise moving and/or driving.

I agree. Also, so OP has some independence too, rather than having to rely on her DP to take her everywhere.

i would hire a car for the day. I had to do that when mine went bang and I drive sn hour for work

car depending it was around £30 a day or for week think £150 so like getting 2 days free

I had assumed Primary young kids till you said about ages

older ones can get a bus

you say ds can’t get a bus or has meltdowns. What happens if has a melt down at the trampoline place - how do you cope or other younger kids cope there if near him

I get a week in with no car is hell

Area depending it’s a dry but cold week so wrap up and walk the 1.5/2m or bike /scooter it to get to park /green space

I get dh is usually working at home so you have a car normally so when you know you don’t you need to think of other plans

Wow. You are criticising OP for sounding “a bit negative” and you are not sure what she is “moaning about”?

What is the point of your post? Having 4 kids to entertain in half term without a car or much money is surely worthy of a bit of a moan on MN, before you even start considering the SEN and meltdowns which OP sometimes has to deal with.

It is obvious from the OP that this is a mother struggling and letting off some steam. If that’s not for you, why post?

£15 per child for a trampoline park is really cheap! It's £25 where I am and adults have to pay to watch

^that.

is there not an annual path or something that would make it bit cheaper?

She has 5 children and 4 of them have sen

The whole point of a forum is to give opinions. I don't believe it's in people's best interests to just say "there, there" when they clearly need to change something.

I know - but at half term, the oldest one doesn’t need her support as he is with DH, hence saying “4 kids to entertain”

But you do believe it’s in people’s best interests to be told off for moaning and being negative? You would say that to a friend of yours in a similar situation?

Sure, Jan. 🤔

Are any dc able to stay at home alone for any amount of time? Eg Dc who can't cope with public transport. Then you could take younger dc put for say the morning on the bus somewhere free and cheap. Then focus the afternoons on the older ones or activities at home.

I think a membership to the trampoline park would be a good solution. I considered one for one near us. The membership is much more reasonable than paying each visit.

Also how much does the zoo cost for an user? May it be worth reviewing other memberships? We used to have a membership for the local zoo and would go many times during the holidays and at weekends. We didn't renew ot once dc1 had started high school. Dc had other activities and wanted to spend time with friends and we also went from spending a full day to them getting bored after a few hours. It is harder to entertain dc as they get older/teens. Things they want to do are much more expensive. They also are not happy with just going to the park (unless with their own friends).

What stops you learning to drive and becoming more independent with more options for where you can take your children?

Could you get anywhere worth going to by Taxi, for less than the cost of everyone trampolining?

Can you book driving lessons so this doesn't happen again? I'd be climbing the walls if I couldn't drive. Also things like yesterday took 2 kids to an event, driving cost next to nothing as electric car and just £8 to park all day. Train would have been £70 for 3 of us!

Wish people would least read ops reply’s

she can drive

they are a one car family.

dh has car this week

Dh usually wfh so she has the car