If you have 2 children of your own and you mind 2 other children..

[Summerfruit]

How do you organise yourself during holidays. I have a 6 years old dd who is not allowed anymore in our local playgroup. I have the parks etc but she is getting bored. The 3 are 3 and 2. I'm starting feeling guilty towards dd1 as I'm not offering her much. I dont have any family around. Can you tell me about your experience ??

this week have had two 8 year olds, 5 year old and 3 year old. we have done kids club at cinema, park and adventure playground they are next to each other so half time in each, blue reef, kids disco,

we also do days at farm, themeparks, softplay areas,

two similar posts so thought i would link to each other
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/childminders_nannies_au_pairs_etc/914870-What-are-you-doing-during-the-half-ter m

Thank you lesbianmummy ! I wish I could look after older children but cant find any.

i have had younger ones until this year and now have 6 older ones it goes in fits and starts but all these ideas cater for 2 to 10 year olds easily

There are fab ideas, the only thing is that I dont have it next to me. During school time, I have various playgroup, music class during holidays, its harder as if I want to do soemthing different I have to take the bus/tube...How do you travel ?

There are places I want to take them too but its too far or too expensive.

It is hard summerfruit we had 12 at times ranging from 2 - 10, the other ideas are great we like to do nature walks and a lot of outside stuff, the weather is pretty naff atm which isnt great, so we try to bring the outdoors in IYNWIM, lots of treasure hunts, hide and seek, water and sand play, making dens. I just take it as read that during 1/2 term the house is going to resemble something of a war zone and live with it.

But we do spend several days having a gut out as soon as the kids go back to school. I work with assistant btw, hence a larger no of mindees.

I do have a chuckle at the term time only mums who seem to think that we have a nice relaxing 1/2 term

We have more in the holidays, but I love not being tied down to school runs. We get out and about (and muddy) whenever we get the chance. We are having an 'easy' day tomorrow, by going to soft play (but we will need eyes in the backs of our heads).

I almost had a nervous breackdown today when I was told they didnt want my daughter anymore at playgroup as she was too old...the weather was so miserable and my place is not that big and the 2 little boys I'm looking after love the outdoor life ! I think I have just find a solution for dd1, I have found a easter camp which will cost me only 25 pounds a day, she will go there 3 days a week..it will be easier for me to have more interesting day !

I had 7 on Monday, 7 Tuesday, 7 Wednesday, 8 Today and 5 Tommorrow, aged between 1 and 13. Its rained all bloody week and my garden is a mud bath. I am tired and grumpy and have no voice tonight, and already longing for a V large G&T.

BUT we have had lots of fun. I have mainly let the children lead, I allow the older ones to set up lego/magnetixs in a different room away from the little ones, and we have glued, glittered, painted, made masks, had the garage, cars, barbies, puzzles, games, dressing up, dens under the table, playdough, decorated pre-made chocolate cakes and when the sun shone for 3 hours yesterday, blew millions of bubbles and played in the garden (which is now resembling a pig pen). I have been unable to go out because of the numbers, but tomorrow will take them swimming, 3 little ones with me, 2 big ones in the main pool - with full parental signed consent. Big ones can be really helpful and will help entertain the younger ones, although lunch times goes on for ever because I can't get them to just EAT .

Roll on school time.....

p.s had to smile, a local friend has just called to say hello and told me how stressed she is having her 6 year old at home with her 2 year old little brother because she is bored, and its so cold they can't go out......

this site is great for saving on trips out www.experttips.com