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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel bad I can't afford to take my kids out during half term?

111 replies

OneTiredMam · 18/02/2022 09:31

My DC are due to start half term today and I'm dreading it.
With all the price increases, I'm struggling to put money on my electric/gas meters and have enough food shopping in let alone take them out for a nice day out to break up half term.
We could afford it before the price increases but it's really beginning to hit and I feel so guilty there going to go back to school to say "we haven't done anything." They don't play out (reasons to outting to post), and we don't have any family near by with kids.

Any ideas how I can make it fun for them but for free? And how not to loose my sanity being stuck in all week please.

OP posts:
BuddhaForMary · 18/02/2022 09:59

OP has said the boys are 6 and 10.

Half term starts today for us too, luckily there's a few things on locally which is just as well because I don't drive. But with the weather like it is I doubt they'll be happening so it'll be a week of baking, crafts, and a nature trail!

I've also organised a sleepover, movie night and pizza type thing with a couple of school friends. Any chance you could do that too?

CrimbleCrumble1 · 18/02/2022 09:59

Could they have a friend over each?

QuietKingdom · 18/02/2022 10:00

Totally agree with MaryAndHerNet especially for the Feb half term which is always horrible weather, you really don't have to go out so don't feel pressured too. Kids get a lot of benefit from free time to just play with their toys and get a bit bored and creative. Mine are making things out of the recycling today. We've had half term this week and we've been to a free museum one day, crafts and books at the library another day and then just chilled out at home. Mine actually seem to enjoy it when I do a big clean up at home, I like to make the most of the rainy weather and have a clear out, they love cleaning the windows and seeing what's right at the back of that awkward cupboard, but your house may be tidier than mine!

beautifullymad · 18/02/2022 10:00

@Hospedia

Also, it's a bit niche, but right now my DC are massively into "how things work" so I've gotten some old electricals from Freecycle that were being advertised as broken/spare parts only. They have a microwave, a hoover, and a really old box-style television. I'm going to let them in the back garden with some tools (under supervision for the littlest DC) and let them take them apart. They can then use the parts for other things (eldest likes doing experiements), model making, recycling, etc (I'm going to use the empty casing of the TV to help my 4yr old make a fairy garden inside it)
This is inspiring. I wish I'd though of it decades ago!
user1506328491 · 18/02/2022 10:01

Agree February half term (weather) and age (10 year old) is hard.

emuloc · 18/02/2022 10:02

@MaryAndHerNet

Who says you have to go out?

No fucker that's who.

If you've a pleasant and safe home, stay in. It's not a hardship and kids rarely actually care about going to places the adults think they want to go.

Spring is round the corner, plenty of time to be out and about when the weather is warmer and nicer, go out then.

Good post. So many children are in homes that are not safe or pleasant to be in, so if you have that, then that is a plus. Op, if your sons like reading, perhaps a trip to the library could happen, if not too far away!
DukeofEarlGrey · 18/02/2022 10:03

I don’t have kids but my own happiest memories from childhood all involve days of playing outside for free. Going to the woods, making a camp (also a favourite indoor activity using blankets and boxes), climbing trees, bike rides. You don’t have to impress anyone OP and I bet your kids will hve a fab time doing these things with you.

Stickypace · 18/02/2022 10:03

Parks and walks have always been my saving grace when I don't have much money. I take a packed lunch and let the kids climb, get messy etc.

user1493494961 · 18/02/2022 10:04

Libraries and Museums are free.

YouHaveNoAuthorityHereJackie · 18/02/2022 10:05

Totally disagree, charity shop and tip run would be a grand day out for my boys Grin. I’m taking my eldest boy to ikea tomorrow, it’s the one thing he’s asked to do, and it means I can stock up on cheap house gubbins while we’re there. He just likes walking around it like it’s some kind of wonderland. I can relate. Half terms didn’t used to come with any expectations or pressure. My dd is almost 20 and half terms really were about playing outside if we could. No social media back then meant even if other people were living it up and having a whale of a time, we were none the wiser. Really ask yourself where this pressure is coming from, I can almost guarantee the kids expectations are way way lower than the pressure you’re putting on yourself.

HairyScaryMonster · 18/02/2022 10:05

Just finishing half term here. Had some great blowy walks with friends, made pizza from scratch, movies and home popped popcorn, gardening.

It's February, I'm sure they'd be happy to slob most of the time.

Svara · 18/02/2022 10:07

Woods nearby to play in? Build a den? Take them for a night hike? Do you have a tent they could 'camp' outside in in the day? Build a fort inside? Make pancakes the weekend before pancake day?

DementedPanda · 18/02/2022 10:08

I've an 11 Yr old and a 10 Yr old. It's very hard to find free things to do. Yes can stay in but then they'll just be on screens all day and bickering. The extra food alone adds a lot to the shopping bill.

BringBackCoffeeCreams · 18/02/2022 10:08

@MaryAndHerNet

Who says you have to go out?

No fucker that's who.

If you've a pleasant and safe home, stay in. It's not a hardship and kids rarely actually care about going to places the adults think they want to go.

Spring is round the corner, plenty of time to be out and about when the weather is warmer and nicer, go out then.

I agree with this. I rarely take my DS out during half term. He has so much doing on in term time that he just wants a week of gaming and bouncing on his trampoline in his pjs.
Hospedia · 18/02/2022 10:09

My DC love the tip, especially "yeeting" stuff into the big skips (and you have to say "yeet" in a Hugh pitched voice when you do it). They also love being given a couple of quid and being let loose in a charity shop to see what they can find ("treasure, mum!" as they spot the costume jewellery, my 8yr old usually leaves looking like he's raided BA Barracus' jewellery box).

And you've just reminded me that IKEA exists. Tiny wooden pencils, paper tape measures, moving walk ways, and plastic hot dogs at the end. What's not to love?

newbiename · 18/02/2022 10:10

Also my local cinema has £1 screenings in the holidays. Is that doable ?

Original poster
OneTiredMam · 18/02/2022 10:10

We don't know many people round where we live. We have a few friends who we do play dates with but there not here for half term.

Going to go for baking days as I've remembered I've got about 4 baking kits in the cupboard left over from Christmas thankfully!
And try and get out for a nice country walk if the weather gets better (looking at snow and rain all week at the moment)

Love the suggestion about taking things apart and seeing how they work. My boys love things like that and funnily enough we have a few nerf guns we need to take apart and fix so I'll get them to help. Grin

OP posts:
VoyageInTheDark · 18/02/2022 10:11

We've had half term this last week and just been to local soft play once. I have a non sleeping baby so I just don't have the energy to go out plus it's cold/wet. DD has watched TV, done colouring, built lego, climbed on the furniture, watched films and today we are going to bake brownies once I get around to getting off the sofa...

ChimChimeny · 18/02/2022 10:12

My photos from last year have been coming up on time hop, we did loads of online activities because everywhere was shut, I bet if you look the vidoes.Will still be around.

All i can remember is The Royal Parks did videos on Facebook with various things, i had a thread which a really helpful poster added loads, I'll have a look and link it for you

Hospedia · 18/02/2022 10:12

There's a channel on YouTube called The King Of Random and another called The Backyard Scientist, I highly recommend them. They do lots of "what would happen if...?" videos and then they explain the science behind it but they're really fun to watch as they blow stuff up, melt things, do silly stuff (backyard scientist filled his pool with orbeez to see what would happen).

JustmeandtheKIDS2 · 18/02/2022 10:13

Tie dying (can use natural products like beetroot. Old white school shirts and string! Will cost you nothing.
Also get them involved with cooking tea. It's something you would have to do anyway but can be an activity.
How about that geo hashing??!!
Don't beat yourself up about it, we're all in the same boat !!
When things get really hard or you have exhausted the days activities just let them watch TV. Honestly it's no Biggie

SingingSands · 18/02/2022 10:13

Agree with @MaryAndHerNet and her great post.

I never did much in Feb half with my two when they were little, either.

My ideas for this age:

Make them breakfast in bed on Monday - celebrate no school!
Building a den under the kitchen table with sheets and pillows - boys can have lunch in the den, bring their toys in.
Obstacle course - the floor is lava!
"Rediscover" their forgotten about toys/board games from the back of cupboards.
Build a treasure hunt - just list a bunch of random objects (a blue sock, a dice, something red, a toothbrush, a stick, a glove etc), written them in a list, give each boy a carrier bag and set a 10 minute timer.
Living room "camping" - mattress on the floor, have a picnic tea, put a movie on and put the lights out.

Also - lower all household expectations for the week, have fun and don't worry about creating a messy home - that's where the memories are! You can tidy it all away when they go back to school after the week.

Have a lovely half term with your boys OP!

SleepingStandingUp · 18/02/2022 10:13

U was going to suggest at gallery,museum etc but hard if you can't afford the petrol.
Assuming no local parks.

What are they into? There's often lots of online resources for activities if you have the materials.

But it is also OK to do a movie marathon (can you get a cheap bag of popcorn and a cheap bottle of fish pop?) or get them to build forts from your bedding, chuck them in the garden and get them to do some weeding etc.

Redroceritsover · 18/02/2022 10:14

This reply has been withdrawn

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AnnaMagnani · 18/02/2022 10:14

Worth remembering that any day out in the 70s and 80s involved eating cheese sandwiches in the car, due to a mixture of naice cafes not having been invented and no-one having any money.

I wasn't even an outdoorsy child but we must have had a 'day out' to walk up the local steep hill about 50 billion times.

Walks, walks and more walks. Plus any free event at the local museum/library. Once you have been to one, they tend to tell you about the others and it's often the same kids going to them so you start to make friends.