What are your plans for summer hols if you have two young docs (5 and 2) and you're not going away on holiday? Do you make plans or let them make their own fun?

[Sausageheadset]

First ever school holidays (without nursery days). I am a sahm so I'll be doing all the childcare. Feel I need a plan!

Definitely a plan. They'll have fun at home for a bit but then start climbing the walls / winding each other up... It doesn't all need to be expensive outings and soft plays though, it can be playdates, visits to parks that might usually be a bit far to travel after school, baking etc. We try to get out in the mornings by 10.30 so they get some exercise and fresh air, then have more relaxed afternoons.

I'd say keep things low key - you don't have to take to them to a big expensive 'day out' place every day. I have a rough plan of possible options which I draw up before the holidays and then pick one depending on weather, cost etc.

Plan as much as you can. That way they're entertained plenty so not so much time to get bored. Split it up with days at home in between. Check out time out and the like for local free events too. HTH

Water play in the garden. Local playground. To be honest at that age it was basically just going to the playground and playing at home

I have a few things organised like play dates, the odd full day out (ie farm, zoo), and then a range of activities to do depending on the weather.
I definitely try to get out each day, we're near the beach so that helps but I also try to go to the different play parks near us.
For at home I have a few messy play activities to use if it's raining ie goop, painting, play dough, making cakes/biscuits.
Then it feels like they've done something fun/different each day even if you've not been able to go out.

A bit of both. For the last couple of years we've made a summer holiday list. We've sat down and thought through ideas of things we'd all like to do then made it into a challenge to do as many as possible.
There have been a range of ideas from play in the paddling pool or go to the park and a few bigger ideas such as camping.
It's been great for inspiration on days when we're a bit stuck for something to do.

I'm looking out for summer activities too. Last summer I set up craft type activities for the older one in the kitchen so she could go and get on with it as and when she wanted.
Lots of water play in the garden and walks with a treasure hunt style list of things to find/spot.

I wouldn't worry about filling every single day with activities, sometimes it's good for kids to just relax and play or watch a bit of tv or play games.Those days are fine as long as its a mixture of trips out and activities on other days.
I'm taking my kids away for three nights to a holiday park in the middle of August. Affordable and local but they will know they have had a little holiday.

When mine were that age I did a combination of going away probably just for a week. Having some firm plans I would do whatever the weather and a selection of things to do on wet or dry days and some home days with no plans.

Last year we made an ‘I’m bored’ jar, with lots of different coloured papers in it- blue for rainy days, yellow for sunny days, green for days out, red for movies to watch etc- write on the papers various activities (specifically things you’re prepared to do!) and then let the 5 year old pick one depending on what you are able to do that day. It went down an absolute storm with us last year and there was no arguing about doing things, that’s just what we did. It was only simple things like park, swimming, woods, picnic, library, baking etc (stuff we would have done anyway)

Bit of both. We have two 5 day trips planned, plus we have 5 annual passes for places then the rest od the time it will be whatever takes our fancy

Plan.

We’re sitting down this evening to make a list of everything DD would like to do.

We’ll do what we can (within reason) and have some days of chill time too.

DD 13 who doesn’t have any school friends outside of school has created a table for me this year with activities on for every day of the holidays.
I have some leave but I am working some days. She’s populated the whole of the summer I am shattered looking at it.
When she was younger we compiled lists together and she remembers this happily and obviously doesn’t want to be in the house bored. She even has her and her slightly older brother down as packing their cases for our summer hols one morning when I am at work which I am sure will go down a storm 😂