Easter holiday ideas when the weathers pants and your bank accounts empty!

[rootsandwings89]

I have a 10 yo and a 5 yo and we live in North West. Easter eggs are sorted, but the weather is not looking promising over the next 2 weeks and I’m now skint until middle of April when I get paid.

How are you keeping your kids entertained over the holidays without relying on iPads?

Play dates
cook together
crafts/ art
walks and picnics
free museums
limit screen time - go to the library and encourage them to pick some books

Do you have any local libraries or museums? Our library is doing Easter crafts can easily spend a whole morning doing the craft, choosing books and then a sausage roll from Greggs my kids think is a great day out 😂

Swimming pools often have cheaper sessions in the school holidays.

Cinemas often do cheaper screening of kids films eg our local one is £2.50 a person, we take our own popcorn and sweets.

When the weather isn't too bad, go on a walk or park and take a sandwich for lunch (doesn't have to be a full blown picnic, but something to fill you all up), that way it'll make more of a trip out.

A trip to the library, so they both have a book to read or can be read to in the holidays.

Family game

Play dates.

Making things like rice crispy cakes.

where in the Nw are you? Can you get the train to liverpool for the free museums?

As long as it’s not pouring down, wrap up and still go out, it’s only cold if you are sitting as long as you keep moving they’ll be fine. Go to play parks take a towel to dry off swings, chutes whatever then the kids can still go on them no bother. Take a ball for kicking about. We’re in Scotland if you waited for nice weather you’d barely leave the house.
Crafts can fill a couple of hours, and different skill levels for the 10yr old and the 5 yr old, paper crayons, pipe cleaners, glue and glitter can make wonderful “creations” and can be bought in the likes of Poundland for an actual £1 each. Google for suggestions.
Get cardboard boxes from shops make a train, dolls house, shop whatever, (if you don’t already have some for next birthday / Christmas I would suggest getting Makedo connectors etc as they are good for both my 4 yr old and 9 yr old) or use thinner cardboard to make masks.
Day time bath for the 5 yr old lots of splashy fun instead of at bedtime.
Echo PP’s suggestions for libraries, both our local and our big library have play sessions on during the holidays, also our big shopping centre has free stuff on.
Post on your local Facebook page asking for suggestions for free activities, lots of other parents will be in the same boat.
Make sure you haven’t overlooked any local free museums, art galleries, open days if it’s been a while since you went, go again.
Our city has quite a few trails, developed by the local council, you can download them or pick up a brochure, if you have similar let the kids guide you all, it’s a walk with purpose.
Organise play dates, they all get the chance to play with different toys.
Do you have a jar of change play cards for pennies with the 10yr old good for maths skills as well. A piece of paper can be used for playing hangman ir connect boxes and other paper based games like making cootie catchers.
Do you already have some board games or jigsaws that you don’t play because they take too long in a normal day, holidays are perfect time to use these

Mine usually game online with their friends when the weathers crap, or go out and play. Is there no free museums by you?

Decorate eggs to make and easter tree: How to make an Easter Egg Tree | Middle Europe

Trips to the library.

Play dates.

Letting the youngest play in the bath for a hours or so.

Lego/Sylvanians/whatever else they already have.

Board games.

Whereabouts in the NW? The Police Museum in Lancaster Castle is really good. It’s in the old prison and each cell has different aspects of police/ prison history. Plus you can take in the grounds of Lancaster Castle for free too.