CM club: Do you ask for contributions towards days out in the holidays?

[mogs0]

I was planning to take 2 mindees and ds out for the day tomorrow but having just checked online the place we were going to visit I've realised the day out is going to cost more than £50. I'm trying to think up less-expensive alternatives before the morning!!

Do you ask parents for a contribution towards outings or do you cover it yourself?

I used to make contributions to the occasional day out organized by my CM when she was taking care of my 2 boys. I think it would be unreasonable not to. Childminding fees would not cover this.

If you gave the parents warning of a special trip then fair enough to ask for entry money, but there are so many free outings over the holidays £50 for you and 3 children does sound alot. Have you tried googling for money off vouchers.
Try the local council websites for organised park activities or librarys or neighbouring councils.
Why not take the children down to the tourist info office so they could help pick up leaflets and plan a weekly activity .

I used to, but them sometimes a parent would say they couldn't afford it and didn't want their child to go, so I include everything in my fees now (food, outings, nappies, etc). I just find it easier to make spur of the moment choices. You are right though, some of the best zoos, etc are VERY expensive. We do lots of exploring through woods, etc, but it's nice to go somewhere special sometimes.

I've never charged. I personally do ONE expensive trip out a week in the hols. This is easily £50+ BUT it's for 6 kids and not 3.

The trip I had planned was to a castle. The entry fee for 2 children and 1 adult was £26! I don't drive so we travel by bus, this would have cost another £10+. Also, I'd planned to take them out for lunch as the forecast had said rain so picnic would not have been a great idea! As I'm only having them for 2 weeks of the holidays I thought one lunch out would be a nice treat for all of us.

In the city I live in there is very little on offer for children, especially if you can't drive/don't have a car. I did take them into town on Tuesday to do the one free activity on offer but the two older ones were bored within an hour eventhough the youngest one and I were quite enjoying ourselves!!

We ended up going to the museum today, which was fine but the big ones were not really very interested! I think we'll just be sticking to the local parks for the rest of the time. My eldest mindee (10yrs) is not too keen on walking very far whereas her younger sibling (almost 3) and my ds are quite happy to just wander for a few hours without getting tired so I find it a bit tricky to plan outings when she's here in the holidays.

I had a good look for vouchers online but I couldn't find anything for where we live or the next big city which is the capital!

It is difficult, but I always feel parents pay me to look after their children and if I choose to take them out I usually burden the cost. I avoid the more "tourist" things such as zoo's or castles, and ask parents if they have found any interesting places.

I found Great Notley discovery park near Braintree which is fantastic for nearly all ages and for only a small car parking charge

For my 10 year old who I have in the holidays, I invested in a good set of Lego, magnetix, some annuals such as doctor who or old beno's, hama beads, and allow him to play on the x-box or play station which I have set up in a different room, so I can do some other things with the little ones. I also have diablo's kites, soft baseball bat and frisbee's. He is also really good if I set him a task to read to the little ones or help them with a more challenging jigsaw. Towards the end of the week, we also do a cinema treat - pop some popping corn close the curtains and watch a movie.

Thanks for your tips Rosie. I asked 10yr old mindee to think of some things I could get or some activities that she'd like to do but she said she couldn't think of anything! I might start another thread about how to entertain older mindees.