To not be able to afford to take our dc's to theme parks ,so it will be back to the good old basics in the 6 weeks hol as we just dont have the money ,

[sweetbloom]

I know that most kids get to do expensive days out but it is just so expensive for a family for one day out,so its going to be the following. Even if we could afford it I can not justify all the money sothis is what we will be doing if I have not gone mad by the end of it.
Camping in the garden
Barbecues
Paddling pool
Bubbles
Painting
Play doh
Art and crafts
Walk in the woods
Feeding the ducks
local parks
Baking cakes
Picnics

Please feel free to add any ideas you may have.

Treasure hunt using left over choc coins from Christmas or chocolate wrapped in foil etc etc. I have even recycled little toys and so on.

Love it!

It sounds great.
Personally, I'd rather take a red hot poker up the shitter than go to a theme park in any case.

Even if I was rish I would make sure most of the things DS did over the summer where free things.

We like going on park-crawls with our bikes and a picnic.

sounds lovely

Agree with the other ideas about painting on huge paper in the garden - wallpaper lining paper works well and is cheap.

Totally understand your pain - thankfully we have no theme parks anywhere near.

However, it was over £20.00 last week when I took my 2 DC to see Shrek - £18.00 for the tickets and 2 drinks and 1 popcorn.

Swimming in out local council run pool is also £5.00 per head!

We are skint and meant to be moving house in 2 weeks (downsizing) so hoping that will provide a bit of distraction.

9 weeks of wet school holidays is crap

I'm with Moondog.
Theme Parks fill me with dread, not my scene at all, and even if they were, I'm emetophobic and terrified someone would be sick.
No thanks.

I struggle to understand why anyone would want to go to Disney.
Why?
Large people eating burgers and sickly sweet crap, dressed up people and overpriced tat.
What is that all about?

Ys, actually fighting your way throguh hordes fo sweaty large peopel for privilege of making rich fuckers even richer.
N
U
T
S

I was looking the other day at the kiddie walks in ..... (lots of areas) books on line and some of them have examples of really well thought out walks that you can view. It also had ideas for games and activities to play on your way around. I thought we would try mudlarking by the River Thames. The library probably has a copy too.

DD would love to go to Disney, she can, when she pays for it herself.
Hell will freeze over before I'd go there.
I just don't get it.

My friends kids went recently (with their Gran) and she was so envious, but then she also told me that Scarborough is beautiful.

Of couirse YANBU

ANd you know what- we just went to legoland, kids said best day ever and yet given we were given tickets by a charity gfor disabled kids, if we could have the option of no theme park ever again or the disability gone we'd opt for the never another theme park n a second! Even ds2 who is a coaster addict.

Theme parks mean nothing.

Why are you posting in AIBU when your post is really "Ideas for cheap holiday activities"?

you would be U if you said we cant afford it and sat doing nothing but your ideas sound fun
also you can go on free days out like museums if have good ones for kids nearby, summer fairs, look on ur council website or netmums you can find a lot of free or cheap activities and days out

On rainy days- finger painting, make & ice fairy cakes, take turns to come up with lines for a book- that can go all over the place!

My sister and I used to love making camps with the sofa the radiator and a huge sheet!!

My best free activity that allows you to do something useful while the kids have fun is making "potions" give them a mixing bowl and wooden spoon and go through your cupboards giving them everything that has gone out of date to mix up! My DD would do this every day if it were posible (she's 5). If they are extra good a jug of water and food colouring to mix in at the end ensures a witchy brew

For Crafty ideas try Activity Villiage and and this site

The library do fab free arty days and their free reading quest thing is always good(think it's space this year).

We got the inlaws to get us a family NT card which has been fantastic. They do Wild Wednesdays throughout the hols with themed activities or we'll just explore the gardens.

We'll be going to the beach,woods and local farms a lot.

The website Kidscraft weekly is fab for cheap craft ideas with stuff from around the house. The Crafty Crow site is also good.

I'm also going to get out all the old board games and sort though the toy cupboard getting the dc to play with all their Lego/Playmobil they never have time to normally.

I also google around and make a list of cheap things to do at home if they get bored eg dd wants to make a fairy garden for her plastic fairies,I'll get the boys to do the same with dinosaurs.

I've got them some new paints and have been collecting junk and cheap cellotape,glue etc. Might make a holiday scrapbook.

I also go through the Primary Times and make a list of all cheap/free stuff,plotting it on the calendar.We then do the free activities and have our chill out days on days there is nothing free on.

You don't need to spend a lot to keep them amused but I do think it takes a bit of forward planning. Having a few cheap ideas up your sleeve stops you panic spending iykwim.

check out local museums ..ours do lots of cheap acivities for kids

Mumsnet: Family Days Out for £5 or Less

Candle making. Make sure the kids have a good jam thermometer so they know when the wax gets to 155 degrees.

On that note, Jam Making. One can boil the molten sugar whilst the other one stirs. The fruit harvest will be well underway before the holidays are even half over!

Lawn mowing. Make sure they put the lid back on the can of petrol, it can stain your patio if it leaks.

Barbecueing. Get some of those easy firelighter things as kids can find it difficult otherwise - though, if its not happening, see above (petrol). Make sure they chew the meat properly though, dont want any choking stuff happening, and of course to floss well to prevent tooth decay from bits of rotting meat.

Window cleaning. One can climb the ladder and do the cleaning bit, whilst the other can hang out the window from upstairs to point out if they have missed a bit. Oh, but dont let them walk under the ladder, it can be bad luck.

What else. Oh I was going to say Train Surfing but the PC pinko-liberal types will no doubt shoot me down

SloanyPony fab ideas...
Cleaning in general is always good - cars / powerwashing anything

Making a fire and cooking lunch/breakfast over it is ace

Junk modelling always good

"Nature" walks

Disney is best for adults imo - and I can think of much better stuff to do in all honesty

Kitche Science - do your own Science fair. Fab!!

What are top tips for cheap holiday activities with tens and teens then?