to be dreading the easter holidays?

[exactchange]

Dh has just wanted informed me that he needs to work all easter. It means he will get paid a bit more (salary of under 20k so we need it) and time off in lieu, but it also means I have to occupy a travel sick 5 year old and a nearly 2 year old on my own for 14 days straight. Most people we know in our new neighborhood are tied up with family or on holiday. We have no money to take them anywhere, and visiting our old neighborhood/family will be problematic due to the travel sickness. Already dreading it. Just had to get it off my chest! Half term was the same and it was awful.

Boxes, yes! A bog box they can sit in can be turned onto acar/boat/rocket

We have our school holidays now (Canada) but it is only a week (well 9 days if you count the weekends). I am finding this year easier now DD2 is 2 rather than 1 and can join in a bit more. DD1 is 6.

I gather bits and bobs to do in the weeks before.
New playdoh (or make your own)
Bag of pipe cleaners and goggly eyes to craft with
New colouring books/stickers from pound shop
New activity book (we got Don't Let the Pigeon Finish this Activity Book - it has been a BIG BIG hit with my 6yo)
Also some bigger treats:
Cinema trip (we saw Cinderella it was fab) - go on cheap tues if they have one
My eldest got 2 hours at a craft camp, which gave me some time to run errands with the 2 yo.
Tomorrow we are meeting friends at softplay
Most afternoons we take the scooters/bikes out for an hour or so
Baked brownies
Downloaded some new movies: new barbie one, new tinkerbell, big hero 6...
We also fit in some 'homework' for the 6 yo which is doing her school reading or maths programs (online) - that is nearly an hour a day (not in one sitting).

Our weather is still cold so not really able to get to playgrounds yet but you should have decent weather...
Other ideas
Buy some bubble mixture/new wands
Pavement Chalk
Got to the library
Go swimming
Do a nature 'scavanger hunt' - print out a list
eg find a pine cone, find an acorn etc give DCs a list and a bag each and go out for a big walk hunting for everything.

Maybe see if a friend will do a toy swap - they take your train set and you get their Duplo?

I think once you sketch out say 8/10 things you will do over the two weeks and spread them out it won't seem so daunting.

Good luck

Haven't RTFT so apologies but do you have a garden?

If so utilise it as much as possible - water play, obstacle courses, ball games etc.

Go for walks / scoots / cycles

Have movie afternoons

Let them do crafts

Look on Pinterest for rainy day ideas

I know how you feel but if you're prepared then it will be easier.

When Ds was 5 and dd was almost 2 dh had to work all 7 weeks of the summer holidays. I had my moments don't get me wrong but it wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

WorraLiberty
"I really don't remember either of my parent 'entertaining' us during the holidays. We mostly played and did our own thing, apart from a few trips to the park/swimming with them. Why do parents put so much into entertaining their kids nowadays?"

This

I'm always puzzled by threads/posts bemoaning having to amuse children 24/7. When I was a child we amused ourselves, played with toys, made up play stories, reading etc.

I agree with the person who said get out in the morning. At least you feel you have done something , feeding ducks, counting steps to the shop libraries, museums, swing park. I think it is the lack of adult conversation that gets to a lot of people.
Giant cardboard boxes are endless fun

www.buzzfeed.com/mikespohr/31-things-you-can-make-with-a-cardboard-box-that-will-blow-y#.fnB21Kz24

Painting pebbles, I love crafts but it is not everyones cup of tea. Hopefully we will have nice weather as that always helps.
I used to love not having to get up and be in a rush.

I love the holidays. But my lot are good at playing together.

Wrt the thing about us not remembering our parents "entertaining" us - it's likely that we just don't really remember much before we were 6/7. Like pp I remember seemingly endless holidays just messing around with friends, making up plays etc. But that was when a bit older. Bet when we were 2/3/4/5 our parents mums had to put in just as much donkey work!

Or were more libertarian 70s mums who just got on with their own thing while the children amused themselves with sharp garden tools, boxes of matches etc

Have you tried no milk before travelling? DD was only sick if she'd had milk for breakfast. On toast and juice she was fine.

They are a hard age. I recommend lots of baking, early baths and wine! I disagree with others in that I think the easiest way to get through the day is to just potter in the morning and go out after lunch. But getting out every day really helps even if only a walk to the playground or feeding the ducks.

Wrt the thing about us not remembering our parents "entertaining" us - it's likely that we just don't really remember much before we were 6/7.

I also was left to own devices but I am sure I wasnt left pre 5 years at least. My memories before that are hazy

Or were more libertarian 70s mums who just got on with their own thing while the children amused themselves with sharp garden tools, boxes of matches etc

Or in the car outside the pub lucky if allowed in pub garden with crisps and coke.

I absolutely agree that children tend to entertain themselves when they are older - no way did that work for me when I had two little ones close together. I had to have a lot planned or I would have gone mad.

Holidays are hard work with toddlers. I forgot how unrelenting it was until I went and had another one.

I never understand the problem with school holidays. I think kids spend too much time at school

Ah I love these threads. I can make some popcorn, sit back and thank God I'm not a sanctimonious twat like some of the posters on here.

I dont blame you op, school holidays with young kids and no money are crap, theres only so many times you want to splash in muddy puddles before you reach for the gin

everyone I know who says they love school holidays are either living down the road from family who regularly take the kids off their hands or are on prozac.

My DH will be working every day of the holidays except Easter Day. He's basically working 7 days a week. (His choice)
My problem is that with 3 differently aged kids it's finding activities that they all enjoy.
They're quite spread out - 2,7,10
So cinema is out, because 2 yr old won't sit through a film.
I try and write a list of activities that are possible for us to do, and each day they can choose one. And some of the time I just tell them to go and entertain the selves with their toys.
But it is tough when money is short.

All these lovely ideas are making me feel guilty that I will be working most of the Easter holidays and my kids will be with childminder or grandparents.
Ho hum...

What Worra said. Some of these lists sound exhausting. A trip to the swimming baths, library activities, park, baking maybe but I just let mine play with their friends either outside/each others houses and throw a few lunches in. Too much pressure to be doing things, spending money. A break from school routine is enough really.

OP does your 5 yo have any friends at school he/she could meet up with? Could you discuss a play date with the parents? So you have a friend round to your house and (hopefully) gets invited back!
Our local cinema has £1 tickets for the early morning screenings - might be worth checking.

rocketcat no need to feel guilty, if you're me your dc will have more chance of doing the things on these lists with childminder or grandparents!

So are we agreed? Chuck the kids in a large cardboard box, stick frozen on, throw copious amounts of snack food into the box and then retreat to a safe distance with ear plugs and Prozac?

Blaly - yes in a perfect world it would be me doing these lovely activities with them - but must admit MIL is wonderful at entertaining them, and our childminder is golden.
Darn that guilt complex of mine !!