To be absolutely dreading February half term

[Whatdoesitmatterif]

I know i am being a bit pathetic about this but It's actually making me feel so nervous and sick because I know it's going to be impossibly hard.
the weather will no doubt be shit.
The kids will just fight at any given opportunity if I take my eye of them for a second.
we live in a small flat with no outside space or anything like that.
I have no money to do anything with them, we will be stuck in the flat pretty much the whole time.
i know I need to just build up some resilience and just get on with things like everyone else does and make the best of it but I just want to cry at the thought of trying to entertain everyone for a week, one dc has sen and I'm a single parent so even just going to the park or the shops can be very chaotic when I have to take the children with me.
the February half term is definitely the worst, most miserable one imo!

Are there things you can do that don't involve paying? Walks/library/play dates ..?

Sounds stressful!
I would start by making a plan of free things you can do for the whole week. Get the kids outside every single day.. wrapped up of course! Jumping in puddles, building snowmen if it’s snowy.. they need to get rid of energy! Try not to dread it … plan for each day. Indoor activities could be junk modelling, drawing, painting etc Get the kids to help you plan!

Try and get them out for some fresh air every morning if you can. Even if just a walk around the block? Does wonders to get rid of some energy! Any friends or family you can visit nearby? Good luck as it's tough

Too late for this holidays probably but does your child with additional needs qualify for break time provisions?

have you looked at what’s on at any local libraries/museums etc?

I get it. My oldest is autistic and Christmas break was emotionally and mentally exhausting. Some people don’t understand how much a struggle it can be for a SEN child to be out of routine especially for that long.

We’re using vouchers that we received for his birthday to take him and his brother to a large outdoor place with a soft play. He has one day at soft play with other children with a half-term camp for SEN children that was booked weeks ago. One day at home and still thinking on what to do Thursday and Friday, weather dependent.

Yes I would definitely plan something every day. Doesn’t even have to be something leaving the house.

Movie day
Treasure hunt around the flat
etc

(I’m assuming your kids are young!)

I know you said no to library and park but park doesn’t matter if they’re loud etc and library often have half term free events on. But you know your kids, just a suggestion.

I feel your pain, it does give me pandemic flashbacks.

That sounds... Challenging <ahem>. ☹️

Have a look on your local authority website, it's usually has something on for free for children from free school meals eligible homes.
Any other parents in a similar situation do you can divide and conquer between you, give the two children some space apart at all?
Round it way there are various community venues (town hall, library etc) who are making 'warm hub' spaces available, it's a change of scene and they often put out craft or games stuff, just to help you break things up and stop the trapped indoors feeling.

I hope you get some more ideas/ options op

IKEA are doing some free craft sessions and face painting over half term. Plus they have 45 min free childcare sessions and cheap lunches! That could be at least an afternoon out for cheap, as long as you don't end up buying too much!

My local council pays for free places at holiday clubs for families receiving free school meals - might be trickier for your child with SEN but worth looking into?

Are there any SEN drop ins? When mine were younger the local SEND stay and play sessions were a life saver in the holidays and siblings were welcome.

The library. Ours has free access to PCs and iPads. We spend at least 3 hours there on a holiday visit. There is often a craft type activity or colouring sheets available on the holiday days.

Take out books from the library and read them to each other. Everyone draws while one person reads.

Local museum. Often free. We download the trail and print at the library.

Big walks. Either a city trail or a country walk. Pack hot choc in a flask and biscuits for breaks when they start flagging.

Swimming. Family swim for £10 at our pool or free for children over 8.

Kids Club at the local cinema. Morning showing at 10am. £3 per ticket.

Invite friends for a play date. Mine behave far better when there are lots of children in the house.

Family jigsaw challenge - pick one up in a charity shop this week for £2.

Buy a cheap pack of cards and learn some old school games like Go Fish.

Ha. I home educate and spend every single waking min with my children and have done for years. My kids don't go to a school so I don't have a break

I always find these posts so strange....and I must admit it's something I can't even understand. They're your children surely you want to spend time with them?

How does this help at all?

just because something works for you doesn’t mean that everyone is the same. The OP and her unique set of circumstances mean that she struggles at the moment with that aspect. That doesn’t make you any better of a parent than she is.

Wow. What an unhelpful sanctimonious post. Like the vast majority of us the op doesn't home educate and has a valid concern about half term.

You have my sympathies op. Feb half term is the worst one. Good suggestions on here re libraries, museums etc.

No I’m looking forward to not having to do the school run tbh, I’m also a single parent and my kids are autistic, theyve never been able to attend the holiday clubs as my oldest requires a 1:1 and the clubs wouldn’t provide one (fair enough) I don’t think feb is the worst one as it’s only one week so goes quick, 6 weeks on the other hand definitely drags 😫

I feel you... Nothing is free these days, or if its free - usually its absolutely s*it.
We had a workshop at Pets At Home last week. It's free activity, 45mins. I just wasted £4 for bus tickets as workshop took no more than 10 minutes. I know before pandemic they used to have lots of nice workshops-free colouring books, stickers, etc.
London Zoo - they advertising that tickets are £3 if you have benefits letter. Unfortunately, my friend was turned off with her 2 daughters as letter was too old.
Our local cinema advertising free tickets for kids, I phoned them - an adult needs to buy a membership.
I really don't trust any "free stuff" for kids, it's not existing anymore.

Are you a single parent living in a flat with no outside space and a child with SEN? Because if not your situations aren’t really comparable are they?

What a helpful contribution. Surprised you could tear yourself away from your angels long enough to write it

Hopefully you are home educating some manners and basic empathy.

Do you have friends you can see? We’ve booked some play dates at friends houses so it’s free but still something to do!

Exactly. I don’t understand posts like that.

This is a good idea - make a plan. It will seem more achievable if you can see it laid out in black and white.
Are there any museums near you? They are usually free and sometimes half workshops on in school holidays.
Can you afford to go on a bus or train somewhere for the day? Even just a walk around a different place can be enough to tackle the boredom.
Pinterest has some amazing rainy day ideas for all different ages.
I do know how you feel though - it's really difficult - hugs x

Where abouts are you, roughly - perhaps people have ideas of where there's free activities.

When mine were small we would go to free activities at the library, free activities at the local (free) museum, local parks, one day we would do a make pizza day from scratch making the dough in the morning and going and buying some toppings, making tomato sauce etc - you can string it out. A play date with friends perhaps. Best one of all was setting them a research project for them to produce a report and PowerPoint presentation on the Friday, yes they really went for this until they realised around 10 no other households did this! Dd1 is autistic but I found having planned activities helped.

Well, that's a lovely pist. Why kick someone when they're down?

Do you have children with SEN?
Do you live in a 2bdrm flat?
Are you a single parent,

no no & no I'm guessing. Take yourself off to the 'look at me, Earth mother' board ...

If you have a local university see if they've got anything on, ours has a science fayre and it's usually free.
Also library trips, buy a bag of popcorn kernels and have a few film afternoons, they're cheap as chips.
Would they do any baking?
Do you have bikes or a joy walking in woods or parks nearby?
Do you get a local magazine of child activity in your area?