what to do with the children on holiday

[HeadFairy]

It sounds daft but we've never had a family holiday before and i don't really know what to do to entertain the children, well ds really, dd will be 8 months but ds is 2.11. We're going to my mum and dad's house in the south of france which has a largish garden an
d a pool, but we won't have tons of money for lots of activities. Does anyone have any good ways of keeping ds entertained at least some of the time. I'm happy to let him potter and splash around in the pool the rest of the time.

Go to the beach, and use the pool.

After sitting in traffic, buying and cooking food (or sitting in restaurants), there won't be a lot of time for much else.

So long as there is plenty of shade get him outside as much as possible - a plastic watering can, a tea set and a washing up bowl should keep him royally entertained getting wet in the warm weather.

Are there any places you could take him for trips out? We'll be taking DS, who's a similar age, to MILs place in Nice soon and are planning to go to the aquarium in Monaco, and there's also a little road train that goes around the town in Nice which I think he'll love.

Hmm not really MamaVoo, I'm a bit of your trip to Monaco. Sadly it's about an hour and a half to Monaco from where we are, we're up in the mountains behind St Trop. Those coast roads are a killer in the summer too so it could take even longer. I think we'll brave it one day for a trip to St Trop to see the mega yachts because that should (should) only take about 50 mins.

Suzie and MmeRed.... thanks. I wasn't sure a nearly 3 year old would be entertained enough with just the pool never having done a family holiday before. If you think that'll be enough I guess I can rest a bit easier. I was going to load up the car with loads of his toys to entertain him!

Take the toys if you have room. Better to have too much stuff to entertain him than not enough. Hope you have a lovely time.

I am sure that the best toys of all will be having parents and grandparents around to play with.

I hope you have a great time.

We've done these trips since dd was 6 months old. Pool or beach is plenty! She would be in there til hypothermia set in given her wish! Now she is 6, she likes a kids club and bit more variety but as a toddler, water, playground, more water did the trick.

PS if you will drive down to St Tropez, L'Escalet beach is gorgeous. Rockpools and all. And there is a very nice restaurant in Gassin, with a wonderful view over the vinyards to the bay, nice local wine and a kids menu!