Just wondering…

[Christmasfun2022]

Posting here for the traffic but should maybe be in parenting 🤷‍♀️. Was discussing this with a friends at the weekend while we took our children to a country park with the usual animal farm, adventure playground, trails type set up. When do children get too old for these type of activity ie endless farms/play park etc. we thought about 9 or 10? And what do you do with them at the weekend/holidays/for family outings when they get to old for that stuff but before they are independent enough to go fully go off and do their own thing. Hope that makes sense!

You will never know. It depends on the child.

I can’t say what age as it depends on DC
When my DC outgrew those sorts of activities we still did museums, sport activities etc until they transitioned to doing their own things with friends
tennis, squash, badminton, swimming, golf, trampolining were always popular
museums and places of interest or even a good long walk if accompanied by picnic, ice cream, or cafe
I used to keep them occupied with treasure trails and quizzes at venues they weren’t as interested in

My youngest is 7 and older siblings still enjoy tagging along!! Even dd 33!

Fewer paid farm type places by the age of 7-9 I think. Now they can go on proper walks and picnics and less need to pay for the convenience of toilets close by and "organised fun".

Still plenty of places to spend money on - cinema, bowling, trampolines etc but it's less of a family day out and more of a couple of hours having fun with friends.

Also can go to more interesting places like museums and exhibitions rather than endless farm parks and playgrounds.

National Trust type places with adventure playgrounds.

My DD is 11 and we haven't done a children's farm for a couple of years. She still loves the zoo though. Other things we are getting up to this summer include paddle boarding, museums, maize maze, walks, fun pool, taboganning, botanic gardens, roller skating. Tbf if I told her we were having a surprise day out and ended up at the farm she wouldn't complain, it just wouldn't be high up on her to do list now

In my experience, sports activities take over when they get to school age. So football training and matches, gymnastics, running clubs and then the endless birthday parties. On the rare weekends or in the summer my DS who is 8 still likes a park or swimming or using the local tennis court. Then it’s cinema, or bowling, the beach is always popular too.

Thanks guys! Mine are a baby and 4 but was just something I was wondering 😊…I’m looking forward to being able to take them both trampoline and to cinema, and proper museums etc I guess it depends on the child as well.

They had football/cricket/drama which took up Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons.
Usually had friends to play Saturday afternoon or vice versa. Sunday morning we might go for a walk or local National Trust.
We never did theme parks etc or ridiculously expensive days out. When they got to 11 they had Oyster cards so went out and about themselves with friends. This was 15 years ago.