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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask what families will do in the summer "holidays"

101 replies

Feellikedancingyeah · 21/06/2020 17:54

7 weeks to fill for us. What are you all planning to do for activities for children? We are put off going to parks as toilets are closed and people are toiletting wherever 🤢 praying some sport activities can open up again or our 13 year old will likely be spending even more time sat in his room

OP posts:
Yurona · 21/06/2020 20:22

Work for us, childminder for the kids. Won’t get any holidays this year As the business needs us to do 12 months work in the rest of the year.

ATomeOfOnesOwn · 21/06/2020 20:23

Online drama workshops
Walks
Archery
Football
Gaming
Tennis ( there's a free, outdoor court about 5 mins away)
We'll probably work on some kind of creative project eg writing a book, making a short film, photography, painting
Drive-in movie

Stripyhoglets1 · 21/06/2020 20:26

Hopefully going on a holiday we just booked in the UK in a holiday cottage in August.
Or if the UK government doesn't open the holiday accommodation in the UK and Spain is allowing holiday makers then we will use the flights we have booked before lockdown and go there instead. Need to find accommodation as not booked that in Spain as it all shut down after booking flights but I'm sure we will be able to find last minute accommodation if necessary.

hopeishere · 21/06/2020 20:27

I'll still be working from home as will DH.

DS2 has SN but his school might run a summer week. He's occupied himself for the past few weeks.

DS1 will do Xbox and hopefully play with friends. Have signed him up for one week of a camp and hoping for another in August. Possibly golf lessons. Have suggested a "summer contract" with him re doing C25K, reading every day and eating breakfast. Possibly some other stuff.

One week holiday.

I'm planning to take a few days here and there as well as the week off.

reinacorriendo · 21/06/2020 20:28

Our local in NT is about 1 and half mile walk away so will spend time there as they have toilets and tea room open. Great for a picnic. Bike rides, crafts, baking, will spend some time in my Nans garden. Would like an overnight stay at my Dads.

Was due to get married and 2 weeks abroad but not happening. Wouldn’t mind a weekend away some where, day at the seaside if we can.

EmpressoftheMundane · 21/06/2020 20:29

Both my children's sports clubs have opened open partially. The kids can practice on their own in timed slots with parents on hand.

Is anything like this available for you?

Otherwise, can you 13 year help with a project in the garden? Are you close enough to a famous hiking trail to walk bits of it each weekend with a goal to finish the whole thing by end of summer? Perhaps a paper route?

flack · 21/06/2020 20:29

Zoos. And everything we've done last 13 weeks.
We are toying with idea of a city break to Dublin.

jakeyboy1 · 21/06/2020 20:32

Mainly trying to think of how on Earth not to neglect them as I am now by having to work constantly and praying some form of summer camp will open...

Dailyjunglegrind · 21/06/2020 20:32

Will be much of the status quo; board games, baking, catching up with friends, local sport clubs, games in the lush back yard games / picnics at the common, etc. Buy whatever we need to get through.

we hope to get away, but honestly seems more trouble than its worth this year. Would rather book holidays for next hear being more carefree.

megletthesecond · 21/06/2020 20:36

It's going to be dreadful without school work to occupy my teen. The entire summer will be me trying to work and get him off his screens.

EatDessertFirst · 21/06/2020 20:36

I'm furloughed till August probably (I work in Entertainment) then back to work for two weeks (kids at exHs for a week, then my mum is coming to stay for a week for childcare), followed swiftly by two weeks annual leave. We've booked a trip to a wild animal park, I've got credit for an escape room (cancelled in March due to Covid) and we'll be doing A LOT more walking. We were supposed to be going to Scotland the weekend after school broke up but we've moved that to next August.
Its gonna be a loooooong summer!

liverpool1981 · 21/06/2020 20:44

Seriously wanting to buy a banger of a campervan if we can afford. I really cant see myself sitting in a cafe bar or restaurant for years to come. I just dont think this will be over it came from one person apparently and there is more than one in the uk who have it plus the infection rate is still too high even though i have been meeting with my family i am so so afraid, but i just missed them so much my parents are retired my sister is on maternity. I dont think i would use a public lav ever again

sleepismysuperpower1 · 21/06/2020 20:56

I don't know if this would interest anyone or what sort of price it is, but this company are offering 'online summer camps' in things like coding, done through the webcam of a computer
www.techcamp.org.uk/book

BangingOn · 21/06/2020 20:58

I am so grateful that DS’s school are running their usual holiday club so he will do that 3 days a week for 4 of the weeks. The rest of time will be a combination of us on annual leave and him entertaining himself whilst we work. I’m hoping for lots of sunshine so we can have garden play dates and hopefully a few days out to the attractions that are starting to open up again.

sleepismysuperpower1 · 21/06/2020 20:59

pressed send too soon- it might provide more structure to the day for your dc if you are working?

covidco · 21/06/2020 21:02

Thanking God mine are in school all summer. Absolutely no idea what we'd do otherwise!

Echobelly · 21/06/2020 21:03

DD (12) was supposed to go to a residential summer camp for 10 days at the start, and they're going to confirm this week if they can manage a 3-night residential with small groups somewhere very local instead (seems likely giving government messages around camping etc).

Day camp that DS (8) attends has just announced it's going to try to run, but they're not taking money until nearer the time just in case, so I have booked 2 days, then 4 days at the start as I have a really important work project launching exactly then, I am just praying they can open. May book other weeks if not.

Again, if camping a goer we might get to a private DIY 'festival' a mate's brother runs for family friends interview - he says he can do it short notice. And then might go camping for a few nights mid hols, and maybe again later. I will split up the two weeks I booked off to go to the US for that, and if we're not elsewhere we will do some daytrips while I'm off work.

DH's contract is probably finishing just before holidays and he's going to take some time to work on developing a product and help with DS (being diagnosed for ADHD). DH will work a few hours a day on maths & handwriting with DS during the 'holidays' when we're not doing something else.

DD is just about old enought to go and meet up with friends, and is planning on doing an online drama workshop some days as well.

HoldMyLobster · 21/06/2020 21:22

It's going to be dreadful without school work to occupy my teen. The entire summer will be me trying to work and get him off his screens.

That's how I feel about my 15 year old who has ADHD. School finished here a week ago, and restarts 1st Sept. I have no idea what he'll do. I'm hoping his older sister will entertain him a bit, and he can go out on his bike to see friends. Our rule is usually if it rains you can go on screens, so he sits round praying for rain.

SimonJT · 21/06/2020 21:54

We were supposed to have a week in Sitges in July then I was going to be playing in the Bingham Cup in Ottawa.

Instead I have booked a holiday cottage for August so fingers crossed that will go ahead, apart from that I guess the same as the last few months. We will get to some more outdoor places though.

okiedokieme · 21/06/2020 22:04

All the parks are open. Only bit closed is the kids playground but people are climbing over the fence!

EffieIsATrinket · 21/06/2020 22:04

Going to try and keep some educational activity going - the sorts of things that haven't been covered in our primary curriculum. Greek myths, the lives of famous people such as Martin Luther King, capital cities, some nature knowledge, Bible knowledge. The kind of things that help you understand and navigate the world a bit. Also listening to audiobooks, radio plays, reading out loud to each other. Practice musical instruments more. The only formal schoolwork will be spellings as this is an area of weakness we have identified in one DD and made some progress rectifying. Both children like this type of activity as long as not too many demands made of them in terms of actual work. So no guilt about it.

Otherwise crafts, trying different types of paints and styles of drawing. Sewing. Finish the 1000 piece jigsaw languishing in a corner unfinished.

Clearing out bedrooms a bit. Sorting old clothes and toys.

Helping me clear out a few cupboards in the rest of the house. Spend time looking at old photos and family memorabilia. Playing in the garden while I sort out home admin and paperwork.

Walks. Meeting friends in parks and in our garden. Scooting up and down the pavement outside.

TV, films, WhatsApp calls to friends and relatives. We have enjoyed quizzes and playing certain games this way.

Localish holidays for two weeks if all goes to plan.

Working 3 days.

I honestly don't feel like I'll have a minute to get bored. But I chronically feel like there is simply never enough time for all I need and want to do.

DefConOne · 21/06/2020 22:05

More of the same with less nagging to do school work. Beaches, moors, NT gardens, Eden project, cycling, meeting friends for roller skating and scooting, meet-ups in the garden. Two weeks off end of August supposed to be camping in The Netherlands for 10 nights. If this doesn’t happen then we’ll try and book something in the UK. We need to get to Wales to see the in-laws at some point.

Luckily for us we left London 20 years ago and gave up culture and careers for Devon so if we can’t go on holiday we still have plenty to do.

paastumho · 21/06/2020 22:41

@Love51

We don't even live near a beach. Hoping the playgrounds open. My dog phobic child has started a treatment programme so going to the woods might be slightly less traumatic for all concerned. I think I'll be able to send them to the childminder for a while. Lots of walks and hanging out in other people's gardens / having them in ours. Probably working towards badges. Brownies, beavers, blue Peter, ones we make up, any really. I've used up all my best entertainment ideas and interesting craft activities.
love51 off topic but pls tell me about the treatment programme
Love51 · 21/06/2020 22:53

@paastumho
It is parent led CBT. We chose her dad to be the parent she's doing it with, as she's braver around him. Our local camhs offer it. There isn't the massive waiting list normally associated with camhs because it isn't done by a qualified psychologist. The worker calls DH every week and talks through her thoughts feelings and behaviours around dogs. They've not got very far, as the worker has been off ill but I have high hopes.
Sometimes when we are people look at us like I'm torturing her. I try to go out anyway bit it is hard! I know that the more you feed the anxiety the worse it gets, but a simple trip to the woods or park can be quite traumatic, with a usually happy fairly biddable child. Who loves climbing and trees but has meltdowns over dogs.
Hope your area offers it too! We had to get school to refer which was odd as she has no issues in school. The dog owning parents all know her though, they tighten the leash and avoid us (nicely!)

HathorX · 21/06/2020 23:19
  • seeing the grandparents
  • day trips to local forest and zoos, we are going to go to some of them (even if the play areas are shut, we can see animals and picnic).
  • Pick Your Own farm
  • meeting school friends, hopefully, for lazy afternoons in the sunshine
  • We are going to do a few art and craft projects (eg making stuff for Halloween), and probably trickle along with schoolwork like mainly spellings, reading, science, history.
  • heading to the seaside for a few days, it will be busy but I'm sure we will enjoy it anyway

Sadly our usual summer holiday club already announced it won't open. Devastated as DD loves it there.