to ask for your tips...what can i do with the DC all summer...

[BabyDubsEverywhere]

This is my first proper summer holiday with the DC. They are nearly 5 and 3 and a half. They get on great and will amuse each other for hours. But they have both got so much out of school this last year i really worry how bored they will be this summer.

I am having a c-section on tuesday so may be off my feet for a while, I dont drive and cant see me being up to walking miles, plus we are skint.

Could you give me your tips on free, (or at least quite cheap) things to do so i can build up a bit of a planner. Hoping to take them for a proper paid day out once a week somewhere when DH has his day off, plus another drive away but free day out on his other one, but would like a list of 'go-to' things for when baby brain takes my mind and i cant think of what to do...

keep up with reading, writing, numbers ect with your 5 year old ( even if it just 5 minutes a day)

museums, library, park, arty stuff at home, homemade treasure hunt, tv time, cooking, nature trail

Geocaching seems a lot of fun, you get random walks out to places near you to tire them out, plus searching for "treasure" to keep them motivated, disclaimer although we probably will these holidays.

Seeing as you are having your c-section next week, good luck btw, hopefully you will be up to walking a bit by the holidays.

Tbh I don't really do the whole crafts at home thing, it never ends well here, a cheapo tent in the garden could keep them occupied, we usually do picnics and days out to the park if weather permits, so much easier.

Marking my spot, DC3 due on Tuesday and had a massive meltdown yesterday about how I would get through the next 6 weeks without any routine! DH works away I am so worried about how I will cope

Will miss the routine of nursery for getting us up and out in morning.

Have you registered with groupon as they often have days out at capped price. Thus week I bought entry to animal park with soft play at £12 for family. Also check local council website for holiday activities?

Good luck for tuesday

Play dough, painting, big boxes to turn into boats/cars/fairy houses, cinema afternnon(DVD and popcorn), baking, den making under dining table, story time, dols tea party, cbeebies website, Lego, scavenger hunt round house (list or picture list of objects to find), marching band, soft play, walk in woods, park, dressing up, snap, etc
Maybe go to pound land and get a few things to dish out when you are deperate, kids playing up but newborn needs attention, or lots of stocking filler your things - rocket balloons, glider planes, bubbles etc
Blow up a load of balloons
Water play in garden - fill up bowls and buckets and let them play with plastic cups etc

With a newborn you aren't going to want to go far, especially of you don't drive so I would mainly think of things to do at home (been there with a newborn, 2.5 yrur old and 4 yr old, not driving) is there any good friends / family who would take them down the park or an afternoon once a week maybe?
Maybe every day get out one toy eg train set/ Lego/ happylI
nd etc do they have something different to p focus on everyday

Give them job to do to help with newborn, mine loved getting nappies, helping to bath, etc
Invite people round to play (with their parents) gives kids company as well as you and extra pair of hands to help out with kids or baby

Plan lots of things but don't forget to schedule pj days for when weather is rubbish, baby been up all night and you just need to sit on sofa and let kids play on floor!!

Theme days help to keep kids entertained
Eg farm day - print off farm pictures to colour, read any farm stories you have, play with any farm toys you have. Make farm animals from play dough, maybe theme lunch too so lots of fruit and veg from the farm.
Other themes - space, rainbow, beach, castles, bugs etc

get them to help you. explain your position and guide them in learning domestic skills.

Six weeks Bree!

You lucky thing, we got out of school end of May and don't go back until the beginning of September.

Marking my place, I don't really know what to do with DS either...we bake, go for long walks, etc.

Paddling pool in the garden
Treasure hunt in the park
Swimming
Library summer reading challenge
Snuggle on sofa on rainy days and watch telly
Get them interested in the Olympics

Our local museum has a lot of free activities in the hols....crafting things etc usually related to whatever is on display...so make a Victorian Puppet type things....but simple stuff so little ones can manage. Call yours up and see....

Dou you live near a community centre? Ours have kids clubs and fun days.

Leisure centres usually have trampoline, sport clubs type things on for a few pounds.

Also look on your local authority's website, ours have fun days and play clubs at local parks that do go carting, laser tag, ect.

Go to a park other than the one you usually take them to. Take a picnic.

How close are you to a beach? (I am a 5 minute bus ride away from one)

Pond-dipping

Stash of toys from poundland.

DVD's from libary.

Lots of printed colouring sheets and worksheets.

Friends round to play.

Get all the duvets and blankets in the house, and make dens in the living room.
I do mad science with all the DCs on my street:
8 mentos dropped in a 2l diet cola bottle explodes very satisfyingly.
Value spaghetti and a bag of mini marshmallows - who can make the highest tower?
Cling film a speaker very well, lay it on its back and put a cornflour& water mix on the speaker well. Play really bassy music and the cornflour "dances".
Get huge boxes from local shops and get the DCs to decorate them with pens etc.
Make the living room into a cinema. Close the curtains, make popcorn (in a heavy pan) draw your own cinema tickets etc.

Definitely check your local council website. Ours have details of free events happening in the museums, parks, libraries etc.

Your free paper may have details of other cheap events.

Your local leisure centre may also have organised activities for the little ones.

Are you friendly with any mums from school? A meet up in the park will keep them entertained for a few hours - more so than just going by yourselves iyswim.

there are lots of threads like this in CHAT. Look there for some ideas.