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Help - things to do with 5 boisterous DCs under age 7

8 replies

PiratePanda · 07/12/2013 19:22

Two of my siblings and their families will be having Christmas with us. Not (thank heaven) staying with us, but around for a week. One family has three excessivly boistrous DCs, to the extent that I suspect that in the ex-pat community where they live and work, they're secretly known as "that family with the noisy children" Grin

The houses at our disposal are tiny. And I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to keep them all from killing each other entertained.

So- what are your suggestions for cheap (free preferably) entertainment for 4 boys and 1 girl aged 2-7 that will use up their excess energy without being dangerous? London day trips are easily doable from here; soft play is out.

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wonderingsoul · 07/12/2013 19:24

park is always a winner. even when its cold!

PiratePanda · 07/12/2013 19:29

Yes, had planned lots of running about outside (we go to the park most days anyway). But it'll geta little tiresome every day...

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PiratePanda · 07/12/2013 19:30

Actually I suppose the older ones may be old enough for the cinema?

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Glitterandglue · 08/12/2013 02:40

Baking - be prepared for the kitchen to look a bomb site when you've finished, and for there to be more mixture on clothes/tables than in any bowls. I do it with four who are very boisterous and you (just) have to keep ten steps ahead of them, handing out little jobs, you take a turn stirring, now you, what does this bit say? You pour the flour and you read the scales etc. They should also get involved in getting everything ready and everything cleaned up.

Same with arts and crafts - either just put out a bunch of paints and paper and let them go nuts, or maybe get a few of those little pound shop kits so they can have one each and do their own thing. I've done bookmarks, cards, bracelets and so on before.

Hide and seek - the smaller ones are rubbish at it but it's still funny. Hide and seek in the dark is even better as long as none of them are scared of it - I also used to let the seeker go around with a camera so they would take photos if they thought they'd found someone and the flash would show it.

Hot and Cold (if you don't know this game, someone hides something e.g. a shoe somewhere while everyone shuts their eyes, then everyone goes to look for it and the person who hid it says 'hot' if you get close or 'cold' if you get further away - it is mayhem with younger ones as they don't really get the concept but they seem to enjoy just hunting for it anyway)

Building a den! Or a house out of cardboard. And decorating it.

Indoor disco - turn the main lights off and the lamps and even just a tiny disco ball on, put on some music and dance.

Create a garden obstacle course.

Spend some time doing 'party games' like musical statues, musical bumps and let the older ones have a turn at 'doing the music' because they love that being in control bit. Even wrap up a pass the parcel with just sweets in it and maybe a bouncy ball or a pen in the middle or something else tiny - the anticipation's the best bit anyway.

The Animal Game - take turns pretending to be an animal without making any noise and the others have to guess what animal.

Snakes and ladders for the older ones. They could even spend an afternoon making their own board and counters.

Eye Spy but with colours/shapes rather than letters.

My lot would quite happily sit for a while doing workbooks from the pound shop when they were younger, despite all being very active. The older they get the less they're interested as it seems too much like school!

Turnipsandsproutswithtinselon · 08/12/2013 02:51

Make it wild

Is amazing book full of free outdoor activities. Lots of autumn/winter activities too. My 6 and 3 yr old love it.

Also an idea nicked from MN get everyone to write down their favourite things to do (see glitters excellent list above) and put them all in a box with some thrown in for good measure. Pick out and do activity before the next person draws one out of the box. Again my kids love this.
Strangely enough they love it even more if some other of the things in the box are chores. Kind of Russian roulette activity box!

ZingSweetPea · 08/12/2013 04:56

build camps.

lots of sheets and bkankets needed though. best fun

PiratePanda · 08/12/2013 17:58

Ooh cool idea; my DS loves building "dens" and his room is big enough too.

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PiratePanda · 08/12/2013 18:00

These are all great. I might buy a massive roll of butcher's paper and spread it the length of the house for them yo paint on.

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