To ask what you do with your kids at the weekends?

[SuzukiLi]

I don't see my child during the week apart from the 10 minutes in the morning getting dressed for nursery. She usually naps in the drive there and is asleep in the car in the way home again and straight to bed. I feel horrendously guilty that I don't see her all week and am trying to think of some fun, cheap things to do with her on weekend that are A, not too tiring as we're both exhausted after a long week, B, not expensive and C not too busy as I'm not very good in crowds of people. Obviously it being the weekend everywhere is busy! I also have to fit in the housework and food shopping and any other errands 😩
My Little Pony the film come out tomorrow but not sure if 3 is a bit young to sit through a while film.

Sitting side by side in bed chatting and reading is lovely. Just talking about this and that, making time to really listen to each other.
Walking in nature? Lifting up stones to look at mini beasts, finding the prettiest autumn leaf, that kind of thing. Going to the local library. Making food together. Slow, simple stuff so you can both just 'be'.

My DD coukd sit through a film at 3. Have you tried the cheap kids films in thw mornings? Most cinemas have a showing at 10 or 10.30 of a slightly older film (usually released a few months earlier) which they only charge a couple of quid for and they are full of kids so it doesnt matter if DD can't sit still. I would thoroughly recommend this and they have booster seats for little ones.

Farms and places with animals are always good. I avoid soft plays at weekends. Have you checked out the website daysoutwiththekids? That has good local recomendations on there.

Could you get a food delivery and avoid that chore at least?

We always try to get outside with hours, in woods or scoorer/bike. At 3 we took ds to the kids am showing at the cinema. Not latest releases but much cheaper so if he got fed up of it half hour in we didn't mind cutting losses!

Swimming is nice to do together.

Thanks all!
I think tomorrow I will try the cinema with her. It's supposed to be really stormy here tomorrow so I don't think we will be able to do any outdoor stuff and we are both allergic to chlorine so can't do swimming!

Check on Facebook to see if you have a local rock hiding page . We have Norfolk rocks. People paint/decorate rocks and leave them for others to find. It's really catching on, and a good way to spend time (painting, hiding, finding)

Yes to what other posters have said about walks in woods or nature gardens. We have an rspb centre near us and they put on activities and crafts for kiddies at weekends. Also the localngarden cebtre does crafty things and national trust properties sometimes put on activities.

The library is a great place to make a regular part of your weekend. Ours does activities at the weekend and of course just looking at books and reading together is fab at age 3.

Don’t be scared to just spend time with her. She doesn’t need constant ‘entertanining’. Let her enjoy being in her own house, with her own toys. Bake. Draw. Read. Do puzzles. Play orchids games.

I would do stuff at home. Sitting in a cinema is a bit passive really.

In the medium to long term can you do anything to tackle the issue of not seeing her?

I know, I think it's the guilt of not seeing her all week. I just want to spoil her!

Trip to the library, read, choose book together.
Cooking together (decorate cakes / buns)
Bike ride
Trip to the park
Treasure hunt ( easy clues) in back garden
Crafts (painting / veg printing / collage etc)
Mini disco at home
Get them involved in housework - my little ones loved dusting and polishing!
Swimming

believe there isn't anything I can do really.

Nottalotta what a brilliant idea

Walk in the park with a bucket she can fill with anything autumnal.

Buy predone little cakes and a tub of frosting, plus sprinkles etc and she can decorate some cakes.

Aside from the usual swimming/mini rugby, we do try to get out and about a bit - national trust places/ petting zoo place / softplay / riding stables / beach / museums / theatre /cinema etc

However sometimes its nice to have a quiet day! Tomorrow DH is on call so may have to go out and the weather forecast is poor so planning a play day at home, lie in, reading, films, comfort food, jigsaws, maybe a spot of crafts or baking.

I didn't think about baking. I know she loves that at nursery. I will give that a go.

Online shopping to save time!
Library, crafts, baking, reading books at homw, swimming - your local pool might have family splash, just being together is enough, no need to spoil her.

We shop at Lidl so can't do online, but she actually quite enjoys the food shop so that's not a problem! (Well, she likes the bakery!)

I agree with the others. You have both had a busy week and need to spend simple time together.
I wouldn't be looking at complicated activities.

Napqueen has it spot on.
An autumnal walk, lots to explore and collect at this time of year, bring home some leaves, make a collage with a pot of glue. Have some hot chocolate, do a jigsaw.
The time spent together is more important than planning big days out to zoos and adventure parks.

I only have my DS EOW as he still sees his dad on the alternates.

We swim, go to the cinema, have lunches while sitting chatting (although at a younger age we'd "go for coffee" and he'd get a little biscuit and juice), parks, museums, art galleries, soft play, cosy days in painting and watching films, bake, cook, go for walks etc.

I try to balance the two weekends with one costly trip (although it doesn't have to cost much) and then fill the rest up with fun freebies.

Baking (we've started off with the pre measured boxes so it's easier while we build confidence)
Pizza making / other foods that are toddler friendly
Potato paint prints / painting / drawing
Air drying clay is cheap in The Works & you could make models/cut shapes to paint & decorate (we've got Halloween shapes drying to paint tomorrow) / play doh
Sensory boxes/bags (lots of ideas on Pinterest)
Mud kitchen outside (utensils you don't mind being used outside)
Woodland walks collecting items to create a picture out of
Local museums/art gallery
Children's theatre performances start from age 3. Northern Ballet are touring Ugly Duckling which has been on Cbeebies (& Panto season is coming up)
Film & popcorn at home

Norfolk Rocks is really brilliant and gets everyone out and about. If you don't have similar near you how about geocaching, pick the one with larger containers so it is like proper treasure hunting.

This time of year - pumpkin carving!!

Printable scavenger hunts?

Pinterest has loads of cheap or free ideas: I have these general pinterest boards for ideas of activities for my children:

Outdoors

Indoors

I also have other boards for school type stuff and seasonal actives.

activities!

CBeebies have tips and ideas for cooking with little ones here

Depending on where you live, English Heritage or National Trust membership may be a good option if the have places close to you. My DN (4) loves making a picnic (she helps to shop and prepare it) and going on an adventure. I find membership is the best value as children go free and her attention span can be quite small if we spend a long time at one place, but with membership we can visit as many times as we like.