To ask for cheap/free activity ideas?

[ShabbyButNotChic]

Hi all, i am babysitting my friends 4year old boy from friday afternoon until saturday evening while they go to a wedding and have a mucky weekend and im struggling to think of things to do. He is a very active kid and loves playing out so the plan was to go to the park/have ice cream/go on the roundabout til hes sick BUT iv looked and its supposed to rain all weekend!

Im a bit skint at the minute so cant really do a trip to cinema/zoo or anything. I really dont want him to be bored. He does love disney so his mum is sending the lion king dvd, so thats a couple of hours. Any great ideas? There will also be a long dog walk occuring at some point no matter what the weather. Im obviously going to let him relax a bit but would like some back up plans! Thanks in advance :)

DS loves colouring in at the moment (he's 3, nearly 4). I printed off these colouring pages which I found on Pinterest, and DS loves colouring them in. Could your friend send her son with some crayons / felt tips?

Fountains Abbey is another good one - the National Trust are currently doing the 50 things to do before you are 11 3/4 or something which has some good things on - it could be online.

Granted not much to do there apart from walking, unless there is something on, but it's so lovely and serene

Keighley Worth Valley?

Howarth - we park way way up at the top, near the cemetary and never have any problems.

Ah thanks for that eccentric i will remember that for the future! I bet the town has lost so many visitors because of the clamping, sad when its a beautiful town and when you mention it people just go 'ahh yeah where the clampers are'.
I like bolton abbey too, went to a wedding party there once it was stunning at night.
Loads to think about now! thanks! im thinking movie friday night, then up for dippy eggs sat morning (both our faves ) then either a trip out or just getting him waterproofed and wandering through the woods. Will try to convince my mun to come and bake buns with us later on :) will also be keeping an eye out for exciting looking 'rubbish' i like the idea of junk modelling posted above. And my parents moved recently so they have loads of boxes :)

you'll be sorted then, small kids this age love boxes. We have one, currently a pirate ship, which has been with us for 6 months. you may find he wants to take a box home with his because it's become his car or similar.

Take them both out for a long, muddy walk on Saturday morning. On return wash dog. Then wash boy. Then lunch and snuggling up with a DVD. As long as you are laid back about mess and water, seriously, he'll love it.

Thanks you have all put my mind at rest a bit :) silly thing is i work in childcare! Ive always said its easier to entertain 10 kids than 1 kid. I think i was just worried about him being bored. I know they dont have to have structure constantly but i like to have some sort of plan. Looking forward to having him, hes a lovely kid, and his mum and dad really deserve a weekend away! They havent been away overnight since he was born which has added to the pressure a bit i think! He has slept here before though but with his mum when shes had a bit too much wine so im sure he will be fine

Ooh, another thought, bit of a long shot but do you or your mum have a tin of buttons? They're like gold dust at this age.

Is Hebden bridge too far? Hardcastle Craggs will wear him out! Then into town for fish & chips :) :)

I like wilson's plan!

peter no i dont im afraid, nice idea though, i agree mrslouis it does sound like a good plan :) by sone of the ideas on this thread im seeing that the simple plans can be the best! Ive spoke to my mum and she is free so going to cone round in the afternoon and bake some buns with us, so that will be nice. Sure my kitchen will be a right state after haha!

Is Yorkshire Sculpture Park too far?

down load a free or cheap geo cache app on your phone and go insearch of treasure. Take something to swap, we always save things like cracker toys.