What are you doing with your pre-teens over half term?

[Mgup]

Normally would spend half terms taking kids to the park library and to see family over the half term break however this year, my 11 and nearly 13yr boys seem over it and are sneering at things like the aquarium etc

I have booked the week off work to spend time with them however apart from eating and gaming they don't seem interested in any activities and I obviously want them to do more than just this over the week

I am thinking of a week at Butlins but this is nearly a grand for the week and there will be another week in May and the summer to also think about

Butlins seems the most fitting as we could do with a change of scenery, and we would get one of the meal plans which include buffet type breakfast which is right up their street

I don't even feel bad about not travelling somewhere to get them some culture as after the initial 10mins or so, they will just wanna eat, banter with one another and ask when they can go on devices!

I also want a venue where we don't need to keep spending once we get there, so what are you all up to for this age group?

Being honest, I leave them to it!

I have booked a day off and will take them into London (they were told the date in advance). I will go to the cinema with one after work one evening and probably take them out for lunch or get food delivered one day.

Mine like to relax, game and eat during the holidays and usually will arrange to meet friends but this is usually last minute.

We go away for a few days at Easter.

Eldest is 15 and I found it hard to adjust at first.

We’re not going away until May half term.
they’re both gaming with headsets talking to mates at the mo.
meeting up with friends tomorrow trying out flip out place as we’ve never been. Day after my ten year old having a mate over and 13 year old will go out with mates. Said I’d take them out for lunch Wednesday. Mates sleeping over Friday. At a football match Saturday ( they have season tickets ) both have matches on Sunday so will probs have a couple of chilled days mixed in.

We’re doing a bit of a road trip in uk in May.
your DC like anything like that ? We’re heading North stopping Manchester, Blackpool, Glasgow and lakes. Staying premier inns so decent breakfast and exploring places.

Not much, I'm working. Taking him for lunch with his friends and the other mums tomorrow. Dh taking him to the Birmingham show the next day. Other than that he can slob and x-box.

Though I am keen to have a change of scenery the prices seem steep for the week, keen not to let them veg on devices

Do they do any sports?
Laser Quest?
Geo caching?
Day trip to an interesting city?

At least 2/5 days DD1 (12) is out with friends.

Other days will be cinema (Wonka), EH site she’s super keen to visit as it’s the area of history she’s studying, and visiting family.

Dh is taking ds fishing tomorrow, mil is taking him to some kind of exhibit, Wednesday dd is taking ds and one of his friends donutting and for lunch and then back here for a sleepover. Thursday im off and have booked an escape room for ds, friend, dd and I and will probably have lunch out and drop friend home after. Friday Dh wants to go to Greenwich to the observatory etc and we are going to book the hawksmoor for dinner as ds has never been and steak is his favourite.
So sort of juggling, he’d be fine left to his own devices while I wfh at the start of the week but he’s got a nice week lined up.

DS(13) is doing his sport 2 full days of the week. Could have been 4 days but we decided against the second camp for various reasons.

Other than that, we'll be going out for coffees, out for dinner one night, seeing grandparents and having plenty of down time. Might do a national trust place one day.

Haven or park Dean
its a lot cheaper than taking them out everyday

Have paid for football holiday club for 12 yr old to keep him off Playstation

I find it depressing that kids just gravitate towards screens. Even when some are up for park with a ball so many are on screens its hard to get them all out together

Nothing major planned, but at least they will agree to go out for a walk along the beach (especially if there is somewhere to get a hot chocolate) or to the local pool which runs fun sessions every day during half term. As long as they get out for a bit of fresh air every day I don't mind if they are just chilling or gaming with mates for the rest of the time, they need some downtime after a busy first half of the term, and it gives me some peace to work.

I took them to the zoo. They moaned on the way there, but actually had a great time taking photos of the animals etc.
Going to the cinema and a comedy club later in the week.
Otherwise it will be Fortnite all week

For those saying there will be lots of gaming...do you think kids should be chucked outside sometimes and told to just play and entertain themselves? By 12 most can walk to a park

Arent we in danger of letting them turn to gaming for every spare moment

Depends on the child doesn’t it?

£170 Monday to Friday at a parkdean site - swimming, activities and a change of scenery

Well it depends on child of course and how near they are to be able to safely have some independence - but where I live it is safe enough for NT 12 year olds to go to the park and the ones I know do all the time - but increasingly I can see gaming taking over - even when one wants to go the others are gaming - or they come in from school/ wake up and want to game

I think there is a loss because children just think either paid activity or gaming is what a holiday is - rather than being left to be a bit bored without screens then wandering about with friends seeing how they can entertain themselves.

Genuinely . Fuck knows .

Winging it here . One has suspected COVID. Other doesn’t feel great either . I need surgery soon so can’t do anything much. DH due to go back abroad with his work on Thursday after leave.

Each day as it comes here.

2 days to chill then DD will do her sport for 2 days + a competition, trips out for exercise ie climbing, swimming etc. She will walk with us with the dog every day for approx 1 hour and do any homework that needs doing then DH and DD are off to Centre Parcs Fri-Sun night.
We also set a reading challenge every holiday; research and buy 2 books and challenge her to finish them both by the end of the holiday.

My DS is playing sports for a few days and going to the ski slope/trampoline park with friends for the other 2.

Ours are knackered.
The preteen has had two big days of football since he broke up, we have a two day trip away to visit family at the end of the week. We have a fancy family meal for valentines that he will help to make. I’m ok with him doing a bit of screens, we have a Lego model to make together, he also does a lot of Lego on his own. He’ll watch some tv and get out for a walk every day with me and the dog.

We so more in May half term when the weather is a bit more cheerful.

DH taking Monday off and they’ll go into ‘town’ - museums etc. Tuesday we’re both working so they’ll be left to own devices (pun intended!). Maybe have a friend round. Wed-Sat we’ve got friends staying so it’ll be games, walks, big dinners, etc.

We’re away in France for 4 days. Other days, they are meeting friends for cinema/shopping/football. We might go swimming or for a walk. Mine like to be out & active though.

Walk on the moors then cheap cafe one day

swimming with friends one day (local leisure centre not anything fancy)

one trip to museum (cost £8 for exhibition)

might have his friends round at some point if I’m well enough.

Making sushi
Swimming
Visiting grandparents
Trampoline park

My son is 10 so slightly younger.

We are going to the Lake District this half term (we break up this Fri). We go fairly regularly as its only 1.5 hours from where we live. Stay in a cottage up there.

So, we will do lots of walks - we take full waterproofs, maybe go swimming, potter round Keswick at some point. Maybe go to the garden centre and/or Lakeland if the weather is particularly bad.

If we are at home we do things like:

Walk on a local bridle path to an inexpensive cafe.

Swimming.

Maybe to the local clip and climb or bounce nation (usually take one of his friends along as he is an only child).

We do also have days just chilling and pottering at home.