British weather on holiday with bored kids help

[Towelles]

On holiday in Norfolk with DH and SDC for a week. It’s overcast and windy. I am an outdoors person but SDC (primary aged) aren’t so we can’t do activities any water sports. They don’t really like walking far

The caravan park facilities are ok but the arcade and food is expensive. It’s too cold to swim in the pool longer than an hour. The on site park is shit. The beach is lovely but very windy and the kids are bored after an hour or so. There is evening entertainment so that’s all covered it’s the day times

We have been mostly driving around trying to find things to do. Went to a play park today with a zip wire that actually charged adults to go in and frankly it was a rip off.

We went to see the seals the DC thought that was boring.

I would be happy to do coastal walks or hire bikes I think it’s beautiful here

About to hire a boat to go on the broads (for ££££) (I would also like to walk around but I don’t think this will be popular) so basically it’s me sitting in the back of a boat watching the SDC argue about who is steering it

Can anyone suggest ideas?

we tried crabbing yesterday but the kids got bored as we didn’t catch anything

they then slept in till 10am so most of the day was gone by the time everyone got dressed

please help me save my sanity - is this going to just cost me £1,000 to make this week any good?

It does sound quite boring to be fair so not really surprised they are bored!

If I were you I'd go and do my own thing and let DP entertain his children.
Get up at 10
Go swimming
Have lunch and and then an hour of down time/TV in the caravan
Hour on the beach
Let them go to the park on the site on their own
A tub of 2ps at the arcade
Have tea
Go to the evening entertainment

@Towelles nope, not remotely defensive. You’re the one on here miserable because you’re having a shit holiday 🤷‍♀️

There's a leisure centre in Great Yarmouth that has a pool with slides and a clip n climb - DP can do a day out there.

And a VUE cinema in Norwich - the tickets are only £8

OP - posts multiple defensive comments in response to astute observations and recommendations she doesn’t agree with.
OP to everyone else - you’re all being defensive!!

I sense a bit of cutting off your nose to spite your face. Yes it sounds like a poor holiday choice if you have no money to actually do anything, yes maybe worth a discussion with DP about future expectations when you get home, but whether you think the his parents’ fault, the children’s fault, whatever, the fact is you are there now and maybe it would be an idea to try to salvage something? Just go for your coastal walk and let them go and do something else, you don’t have to all stick grimly together with you striding ahead and everyone else trudging behind. Or accept that when you go on holiday with kids that even when they say they want to do something, the reality when they’re doing it is different and you just have to adapt.

That’s just kids. On MN everyone has 8yos who love long walks and going around art galleries for four hours and other cultured stuff, but in reality (and I volunteer with kids 7-10 so know this age group well!) most kids that age still have relatively short attention spans for stuff like that. A short walk with an ice cream or play park/beach to play on, a museum with stuffed animals and weird stuff for an hour, hours in the pool, downtime back at accommodation is fine, picnics at a play park, cinema, I often bring Lego kits etc to do back at accommodation between activities.

When we do Brownie camps, everyone’s least favourite activity at the end of the weekend is always the walk! We do it every time regardless but keep it short and do an activity while on it the whole way round and finish with some sort of ‘treat’. And it’s still always the least popular activity on the feedback forms.

Ultimately it doesn't change much.

You guys both knew what the kids were like. You both know they are happy playing for hours in a pool. Why book somewhere where pool access is restricted.

At 10 id have hated all your options. Mine at a similar age we had national trust and english heritage and we holidayed near somewhere with big free play parks. We'd have spent between 9 and 2-3 out and about an hour in the pool and chilled before take away to treat meal I'm the evening (mine didn't take to the entertainment unfortunately). One day play park, one day zoo, one castle one, national trust with a kids trail, one walk under bribery of cake.

We,d have spent significantly less than you overall. Yours kids are happy with just a pool, your holiday really shouldn't have had to cost a fortune

It's their holiday too. I'd have been fed on your holiday as an adult. Tbf I'd been fed up on any holiday i had to fish.

But walking off because they don't keep up. That really is bratty behavior

I agree with this. Sod em. Go for lovely long walks on your own and treat yourself to tea and cake/a pint in a nice pub after.

Pleasure beach in Gt Yarmouth (if they enjoy rides). I think adults can just pay £5 for a wristband for entry and to go on 1 ride.

The Dinosaur park - other side of city. Think it’s quite pricey but is a good full day out with kids - has indoor area too.

Bewilderwood (near Wroxham) - outdoor adventure place. A bit pricey but fun for kids your age.
How Hill down the road is a lovely (free) outdoor space along the broads; great for picnics, little fisherman’s cottage museum, guided boat tour and secret garden in the woods.

Norwich city - nice city to walk around and you have the castle museum (recently renovated), cathedral, cinema, escape rooms etc.

Fairhaven gardens (near Acle) - nice walk around river. They do guided boat trips there I believe.

Whitlingham ski slopes - tubing, skiing if they like those sports. Cafe there too for the adults whilst watching. Further down that road is a big lake with a walk around and cafe. Also watersports.

North Norfolk is nice to visit. Places like Holt are quaint for little shops, cafes etc and the beach at Holkham is lovely. A walk through the pine forest out onto a huge expanse of golden sand. Holkham hall opposite is nice too - big grounds with deer, cafe and wooden outdoor play area.

This is mostly your DP's fault and it is entirely a selling point. He is not selling these activities to his kids.

If I take my 8yo for a walk to see a castle or for a beach walk, he moans "boring". On the other hand, if there's some sort of adventure trail or challenge to find things with a prize at the end, he's running ahead, leading the pack. I take some small favourite snacks - those fruit things, cookies - and bribe the kids with them. "First one to find x things can have a cookie!" At the beach, the kids get buckets and sent off to "find the most interesting rock on the beach". You'd think 8 might be too old, but no... We've had 12yos joining in without getting bored! He should be leading by example - sitting on the sand, building sandcastles and trying to make a moat without it collapsing. The kids will only join in if they get the message from him that this is fun. Are there any local treasure hunts or orienteering trails... ime kids enjoy walks with a purpose more than general ambling.

For UK holidays, we take chalks, a football, flyer toys and remote-controlled cars with us to keep the kids busy if we end up somewhere they find "boring".

Another one here who would have found this holiday boring at 10, and even now at 50 would not be thrilled with it given the weather. You do realise its ok for people to like different things?

I think your H is right about loosening up, you were upset they wouldn't play at the beach, but then when they do play on the beach youre upset because you're supposed to be looking at seals. You're upset they stop every ten minutes on a walk to try fishing, but this shows they will walk if they have something to do on the way. You don't want to do normal indoor activities like cinema because youre on an outdoor holiday, but if the weather's bad why force it?

Just go off and do your thing and let them do their thing, its the only way to salvage the week.

Norwich transport museum near Lowestoft - costs under £40 for family of 4. Lots of working trams. My kids loved this place when little. You can take a picnic as plenty of picnic benches or there is a cafe there.

I’ve not read the thread so apologies if I’m repeating things but some options - will try to add links on a separate post

a trip on electric boat from How Hill

paddleboarding or any other activities at Whitlingham broad , also paddle board rental in Norwich

theres an arcade / games place in Norwich with an all day pass, if they like screens and games

Norfolk wildlife trust have lots of kid friendly activities for the holidays, mostly free

https://www.retro-replay.games

https://www.visitthebroads.co.uk/things-to-do/boating/boat-trips/product-detail?listing=4&key=748341

https://www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk/family-events

also, a bit of a drive from Yarmouth but Holkham estate has lots of kid friendly activities - zip line , ropes courses, rent e-bikes, rowing. It’s a bit outdoorsy and also expensive but could offer variety? Or Holkham beach is a lovely beach for a walk. www.holkham.co.uk/visit/

This wood drive me demented too @Towelles

Your husband needs to step up and get involved.

But I would let them swim first. Book the 9am slot and then they aren't waiting for it (we often book first and last slot).

Then I agree, he needs to find ways to make things fun. They should be capable of walking but if they are not used to it then the games etc are the way to go.

Who can throw a stone furthest in the water, what do you think that seal should be called, who wants to be path finder etc.

It sounds like he has a very low energy/effort approach to parenting and is struggle with that.

The DC s are not being passive aggressive - they are genuinely bored!

It doesn't sound as though they are used to this type of holiday and aren't being encouraged or enthused by the adults with them

Have they got balls, frisbee, kites, buckets and spades for the beach? Are they having races along the sand? Drawing pictures with pebbles and seaweed? Have an hour to do this and then hot chocolate/fish and chips and then on to the next thing?

Geocaching gives a purpose to a walk - or give them a list of things to find on the walk.

10 & 8 are still pretty young and they do get bored pretty quickly if not doing something that they can really engage with.

Do they normally spend much time with Dad - he sounds completely clueless! And it sounds as though you don't have much experience with kids - and you don't seem to like them much .

In my experience the best holidays are the ones where the kids are happy.

Oh! Also these treasure trails can be quite good https://www.treasuretrails.co.uk/products/visit-norfolk-norwich-castle?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=16880257828&gbraid=0AAAAAD0ADZcNokiAkj3z5C3NEQK6Cz9Hq&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgtT00IWZjwMVBp1QBh2mexpBEAAYASAAEgLQy_D_BwE

options for lots of places in Norfolk and only costs £10 to download and takes a couple of hours to complete.

I think most kids that age would be bored of walking/looking at things/fishing. Kids want to actually DO something. (And of course they may want to fish but in the age of having everything instantly, they won’t appreciate waiting hours for a fish!).

I also think that your lack of funds is dictating that you can’t actually do much stuff that they would consider “fun”. (Did their Dad not save for holiday spends? As it sounds like it was all on you).

When my DD was that age, if we holidayed in the UK, we went to a Haven park where I knew there would be lots of activities. We would also take board games, a ball, swing ball etc. yes, it wasn’t really the holiday I would choose for me but that’s what happens when you have kids - you make sacrifices and it’s all about making memories for them and keeping them happy until they are a bit older and you can do more what you want.

I think if you are going to take them on a holiday, then you need to ensure there is enough money saved up for it. Otherwise you may as well have stayed at home and spent the money on some great days out, where it would have been more fun.

Oh yes DD1 has really enjoyed the ones we’ve done! Lots of finding hidden stuff on buildings etc.

Love how OP has latched onto the MN mantra of absolving herself of all responsibility for the step kids. She’s doing a great job of convincing herself all this is the fault of a useless DH and horrible kids. OP you married him, you then chose to (in fact arranged for and paid for half) go on holiday with them all. News flash - this is your family now. That you chose. Your DH needs to step up and do his share, but you are now responsible for half the planning and entertaining and parenting on this trip. If your default response when things don’t go your way is to blame the kids then you need to seriously rethink your marriage.

@PassOnThat thanks this is pretty spot on. It’s my DP’s inaction that’s the issue. He ought to be able to gee them up a bit and get them excited

please please read the post rather than repeat the same things - I am doing my own thing. We are doing separate things. Thanks for suggesting it, it’s covered. I’m not ‘choosing a holiday for me’ I am asking to leave the caravan and go outside to do things that aren’t digitally flashing. I do not think that’s unreasonable. I am not forcing the DC to do boring adult things, my DP is not engaging with them enough. We booked a holiday on a budget and we have what we have. Neither of us can magic up extra cash so we either try to make the best of it, or we just mope about in a caravan all day

@Weekmindedfool I have made an incredible effort to try to make this a good holiday and I am disappointed my DP has not pulled his weight enough.

@Seeline
they have buckets, balls, nets, spades, frisbee, wet shoes, access to a beach etc. Their boredom is not due to lack of equipment or opportunities. They do not race up and down the beach. They don’t play independently or creatively. They kind of hang or walk around listlessly everywhere asking to go back to the arcades. DP creates no structure or purpose, so you arrive somewhere and have no purpose for being there. Please can you visualise what I mean? They will ask what we are doing today, he will say going to the beach. They don’t ask more questions. We get to the beach. We all mope slowly along the beach. We all become separated because they are listless. They might pick up a stone and ask DP to carry it. We put them back into the car and go home.

We are off to some woods today we driving 2 hours to it. They haven’t asked what is at the woods and he hasn’t told them. They are playing on their tablets. No one is talking. So I expect the woods will be disappointing. It doesn’t need to be. I did suggest geocaching but I am not sure he is listening. I did also suggest the cinema he said no

What a bloody nightmare. We have memberships to National Trust and English Heritage and used those a lot on holidays. Sounds like the kids just want to spend their hols on their screens/watching TV. OP, get yourself out for a walk and leave their Dad to sort out their boredom!

I believe Great Yarmouth has free fireworks 1 night a week.

Buy a kite & fly it

Paint pebbles & leave for others to find

Beach clean for eco/wildlife

Look for fossils & sharks teeth

Geocache

I spy

But why don't you create some structure or purpose, why don't you get on the sand and say let's build a castle or let's see who can run to that rock first etc etc, it was your idea to go there after all. Why aren't you explaining to them the point of going to the woods and coming up with games to play there? I know you said your H wants to be laid back but as long as you're saying things in a fun way and the kids respond, how could he object.

Why should it be just the OP jollying the kids along? He’s also a competent (?) adult. And they’re his kids!

This dad should know how to engage with and inspire his kids.

That he has the animation of a dead jellyfish and the charisma of limp seaweed is not the OP's fault.