To think big days out aren't worth it?

[tiedyetie]

Took the kids to a science museum/zoo type place. Cost loads, cost for parking too. Plus gas.

Drove there = 40 mins each way. Kids hyper in the car. On the way back too.

Museum was packed full of folk. Kids rushed round super quick, barely glanced at the animals.

Went outside, someone had set up some inflatables outside = fiver a child for one hour. Moaning because I wouldn't let them on it.

Had a picnic - found a really steep hill which the kids ran up and down for an hour! Best bit of the day apparently!

AIBU to think big days out are overrated???!!!

I remember the year we took the girls long haul to Africa. Safari. 7 star works. Etc
Also went camping down the road that same summer with friends.
All they can remember is the camping.

Re the zoo. For very young kids, why would an elephant be any more exciting than a cow?

We went to a farm over the weekend, £50 for us to get in. DD is 2 and all she wanted to do was play on the park.
It was still a nice day out but I think it depends where you go and the age of the children.

When they get to about 9-12 that’s when museums etc become better for them. Otherwise they don’t really appreciate what they’re looking at and you can’t fill in the gaps in their understanding as they don’t really “care”. But then that’s based on my own two dc so perhaps others are different!

Mine always seem to remember the most random things about days out too. I took my dd to a huge animal rescue / sanctuary when she was about 5 and she had a wonderful time (as I remember) feeding the animals and had some “wow” moments (I thought) but now when we talk about it (she’s 18) we laugh as the only thing she can remember about it is the donkey having a massive Willy…..!

I agree it often depends on what they like doing.

My ds loves swimming and theme parks.

So we have had Paultons and legoland annual passes over the years and done these repeatedly.

He now likes chessington but we haven't bothered with passes due to time and covid.

We also do big water parks or visit CP - again - we haven't done CP due to restrictions on the pools as part of covid. It defeats the point of the visit for us!

We've done other things such as motor museums etc over the years but he tends to like to learn information and not re visit.

My trick for days out has always been to arrive for opening. Do the attraction (Eg at zoo the animals).

Sit and have a picnic lunch and then let them run around the parks, splash pools etc. Then do something like coffee/cake/milkshake in the cafe. Then I say it'll be time to go soon and so if there's anything else he wants to see (not do as I don't want to do parks etc again!) then we'll look at map and sort out a route. In most cases I've got his attention by then and he's ready to engage in more stuff. If he wasn't then we'd go home relaxed and happy!

@AHungryCaterpillar

Depends, some aren’t worth it but I do feel sorry for kids that never get taken anywhere ever, there is a family near me and they never take their kids out anywhere they go to the local park all day every day and never seem to take them anywhere else and before anyone asks how I know I must be there too, no we walk past there on the way out and back home and they are there everyday they’ve been there everyday in the Easter holidays.

At least they are going to the park. Its better than being stuck inside all the time. And potentially the parents can't afford to take them anywhere else. Not everyone can drive or even if they do they can't afford petrol, so even other parks or the beach are off the cards if you can't easily walk to them

My worst holiday was my DDs best apparently. Now they’re in their early 20s they love to reminisce about the leaky tent on a cliff top in Cornwall. It pissed down all week. Apparently they loved the wet bbqs.

Seem to have forgotten about Turkey, Spain, US 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yes that day you describe does sound overrated. Children don't need expensive days out, they need our time and attention and to run up big hills.

I do remember vividly museum trips as a child (free entry and bus it there) which can't have cost much but I really enjoyed. I take mine to the museum all the time but they're free.

I take my daughter to the park and around the block on her bike and that's all she wants.

Incidentally we also have days out, to museums a bit further afield or to a fare or jumble sale for culture in a smaller town.

DD quite liked the zoo - but she bloody loves feeding the goats at our local community farm. Which is free to enter, albeit with a suggested donation. (Which we always pay.)

Friends sent lovely photos of their kids enjoying the London aquarium - but regretted spending the money when I suggested a trip to the local garden centre and their fish section a few weeks later. I take DD there a lot.

And maybe she'd like the rides at a theme park, but I'm fairly sure it wouldn't top climbing on the "rides" at our local supermarket. She has no idea that they move and play music of you put money in.

I agree op. I went on loads of days out as a kid. The best part for me was catching the train.

This has reminded me of when we visited a zoo and had lunch by the giraffe enclosure. "Gerald! GERALD" Baby DD waved at the giraffe...on a poster...on a bin.

At least they are going to the park. Its better than being stuck inside all the time. And potentially the parents can't afford to take them anywhere else. Not everyone can drive or even if they do they can't afford petrol, so even other parks or the beach are off the cards if you can't easily walk to them

We’re in London, most people I know with kids don’t drive, great transport links and free for kids!

Even if they can’t afford it a different place for a change would be something, loads of free places to take kids or at least a different playground.

Kids don't tend to realise that they should be having fun because it was expensive etc, they like what they like. We have too many expectations because we know how much we have spent.

My DCs love nothing better than to spend time outside with their friends. We've just had a weekend in London and while we had a good time, DS in particular was really glad to come home. We've been to Disneyland Paris for a couple of day trips while in France and luckily for me, they have no interest in going to the original.

I do feel very lucky they're quite low maintenance.

We have had merlin passes for the last few years so we do what to some people are big days out every Saturday and Sunday and most days in the holidays but as a result I really resent paying for a farm, zoo or non merlin theme park as I never feel we get value for money. We pay £50 a month for 10+ trips a month to the merlin parks!

Depends on the ages, younger ones are better off going to parks for a picnic and the swings, perhaps an ice cream. Once they get older they appreciate things more, mine loved National trust places, but I paid once a year for unlimited visits

Little kids get overwhelmed quite quickly if you try to pack too much into a single day. We have annual passes for a couple of local attractions and that works much better for my 4yo since we can just do one or two things (and then visit the cafe ) rather than trying to cram everything into one visit. The really expensive days out when we've felt pressured to do everything since we're only going to be visiting once tend to be the worst.

Can be. You have to work out what your kids are like and what you think will work for them, but sometimes they will surprise you depending on their mood anyway unfortunately. I do resent how much money days out cost on top of the actual price of wherever you go though. We went to Knowsley Safari and they weren't impressed- they were more excited about our hotel room. I had a feeling they'd be that way and I should have listened to my instinct.

Anything crowded tends to annoy my son and anything that takes too much walking will too. My other two are more easy going but if he doesnt like anything then it tends to go sour for the rest of us. It's a tricky dynamic with 3.

I don't tell my DC where we are going until its the day of it, so a few hours more. That way it doesnt get built up and they dont nag me about it. That helps a little.

@Coasterfan

We have had merlin passes for the last few years so we do what to some people are big days out every Saturday and Sunday and most days in the holidays but as a result I really resent paying for a farm, zoo or non merlin theme park as I never feel we get value for money. We pay £50 a month for 10+ trips a month to the merlin parks!

Love this. It takes absolutely all sorts - that sounds like my idea of hell, I can't stand being around lots of people for very long! Isn't it funny how different we all are?

I think it’s about managing expectations to a degree. It’s the Easter holidays, I’ve known everywhere I’ve taken my 5yo would be busy to a degree this last week or so. We often try and do indoor things on a super nice day, as places tend to be quieter. But we’re lucky to live on the coast so so when the weather is nice we’re able to take advantage with v little effort. I try not to hype things up for DD

Totally agree all they want to do is hang with their friends and enjoy doing nice chilled things.. my kids don't like long queues and loads of people around.

We did an expensive day out recently. Kids mostly enjoyed it, youngest has no chance of remembering it. But you know what? I made some lovely memories for me of a day out with my small cute and easily amazed kids.

Yanbu when DD was little she just wanted to race through the museum/zoo/theme park barely looking at anything to get to the gift shop. The highlight of the day would be the overpriced plastic made in China toy and an ice lolly that we could have bought anywhere.

I often entertain my grandson by going across the river on a car ferry as a foot passenger. Costs nothing if on foot and he loves watching the big chains pull the ferry. Second only to going back and forward on several trips sitting on the top deck watching the river traffic ( police launch is highlight)
Other great day out for him is local country park where he can skim stones at the waters edge and roll down the big hill.