summer hols - again - what to do?

[grumpygriselda]

hi
The cruelly long summer hols are fast approaching here and I'm desperately looking for some good websites/cd-roms for my just-7 year old ds and maybe his 4 year old sister to amuse and keep their hands in school-wise while they're off (can't spend all day on the beach). We live in Spain so ds is prob not up to UK 7 year old standard. Bought some bargain Muzzy cd-roms which they'll both enjoy playing around with but does anyone know of anything else suitable? I am more interested in fun that education but a bit of both would be perfecto. Thanks.

I ignore my kids during the holidays. They become really creative as a result.

yes, i do a lot of that, but they've started bothering the neighbours ...

oh I love the summer holidays. We are counting the day until they are here

Ok, that's a lie, but they do start nagging me after a while, and the house isn't big enough to hide in (me)

I want them off the computer not on it during the summer. Keeping the hand in schoolwise, I think a stack of books or a library card would be better.

MrsWeasley, ours are nearly 3 months long! If you don't plan something you go under fairly quickly!

nkf, ds has only just started learning computers this year, so it's a novelty. I'm thinking of a half hour to one hour a day, as a treat

My dd likes the activity/ work books you can get at any book shop/ Smiths. Here's a maths one but you can get any sort for any level www.whsmith.co.uk/CatalogAndSearch/ProductDetails-Magical+Maths+-9781843151234.html

6yo DD likes:

Rainforest Maths
CBBC/CBeebies websites
Disney website
Club Penguin (we only have the free version and she is happy with that)

don't forget the summer reading challenge at the library

grumpygriselda: 3 months, sounds like bliss to me but sadly I cant do hot climates Like you I would certainly have a plan or at least a list of all the things we wanted to do or make.

Mine have kits that they had at christmas that they haven't used yet (like a candle making kit, electrical kits)

We do lots of crafts our favourite this year is painting rocks!

They love baking so I alternate between them making it from scratch and having some dough ready in the freezer! This very much depends on who much clearing up I fancy doing

Gardening is becoming a favourite I try to pick some quick growing plants so they can see the cycle!

Of course mine would sit on the computer all day too but they loved the jump ahead CD Roms. As they got older they like cluefinders

HTH

Woodlands Junior school has a good website but is aimed at 7+ so won't be suitable for your dd.

Poissonrouge is a favourite here - they can learn the alphabet in English, French or Spanish!