How do you fill the summer holidays?

[susanandlucypevensie]

Please give me your best ideas for filling the summer Holidays that don't cost much or are free.

My kids are 7 and 12, 12 year old likes to do stuff but is also happy to have chilled days at home and is pretty good at entertaining himself.

7yo needs a LOT of stimulation, has a tonne of energy and isn't good at just relaxing indoors.

I struggle not only to keep up with her, but to provide activities they both enjoy, being such different ages.

And I can't keep spending a tonne of money!!

For this reason, I dread the summer holidays. Please help me to feel better about them and more prepared!!

Get friends round and hope the parents reciprocate! We used to do this and it gave a free morning or afternoon. My 12 year old would have been out with friends doing sport or just chilling...we lived in London so free transport for them so they could sort days out.
I spent very little money...no theme parks, paid attractions or the like.

We wrote lists. Stuff each fancied doing from home, stuff out and about (but under a tenner) and bigger stuff like a day at Eureka or going to the cinema or having a film festival at home with cinema style snacks. Equal number of contributions from each.

Then we cut up the lists into strips, folded them and put them in different coloured cups. Each Monday morning we took 5 slips out - two from home, two local and a bigger one. That was the week’s plan.

They got VERY invested in the picking thing, ended up making a whole ceremony for it, which amused the hell out of me.

We also maxed out any possible free stuff happening locally, went on a lot of trips to parks and playgrounds and wildlife areas, older one would sometimes take a book or gaming device while the younger ones ran around.

I do this, I invite different friends over, but the parents never reciprocate.

My 12yo has one particular friend he's had since reception. He must be over here at least twice a month. He's been there maybe 5 times in all these years.

Focus energy on getting them to entertain themselves. Art is a great distraction and engineering activities (like building things from junk) can take on a life of their own. Give them a space of their own in the garden to grow things . The age gap is not unusual, the older one can support the younger if that's fun not a burden (depends how they get on).

A walk, a game, a film and some self-directed play would be a good day for no money.

As for people not reciprocating play dates - some people just don't and there's nothing you can do, so only invite if that's going to be a good use of a day.

I generally try to split each week into:

• one bigger day out (look at deals vouchers or club card points)
• one smaller activity - swimming, cheap kids cinema, picnic at park
• one day at home - play and do chores
• one day with friends - have them over to play or meet in local woods, beach or park
• one day for errands - food shop, baking, haircuts, new uniform shopping, vet trip etc

Are you close to any free outdoor areas that are exciting for kids? Beach? Forrest? Big outdoor park? Etc ?

If so, I would just take them out a lot to free outdoor places. Invite other kids if possible.

Probably doesn't help but I used to find the first week the worst as everyone was a bit on edge (and sorting out pecking orders) but after that we relaxed into the time off more. I used to dread the long holiday but always regretted them going back in September, having to get a move on in the morning and watching bedtimes. Hope you get some useful help on here.

The 12 year old can be left at home if they don’t want to do an activity or it’s not age appropriate.
We went to the play park quite a bit. Food shopping always seems to go down well with some young kids. Do you have a public pool nearby? Cinema. There’s actually a skating rink not too far from me but it is ££. If you can swing a few days at activity camp for the seven year old that may keep you sane! Some indoor activities like baking? Not particularly active but takes concentration with a nice reward at the end. I’m not adverse to giving my kids the vacuum to help with the housework … do it together it’s not so bad!