New Lone Parent Half Term Dilemma

[misscat]

As a new lone parent, any (cheap) suggestions for activities for myself dd (10) and ds (7) ? So used to doing things as a family and half-term is looking scary! Don't want to be stuck indoors all week and we do have a car but not many friends with kids.
Can anyone help me kick-start my new single life please? Living in the South West BTW.

Have a look here. You can select area, price range from free, age range and indoors/outdoors.

I am NW so cannot recommend anywhere near you I'm afraid.

Are you near a beach?

Lots of walks

Swimming?

Museums in local city?

Ice skating/bowling

Cinema?

(ARE YOU RURAL OR URBAN?)

Does your area have something like this
Green gang is fab

where in s west, it's pretty big!! i have similar situation.

Do you have any theme parks near you,Stately homes?Pack up a picnic and go for it

piratecat we are near Taunton in Somerset

Also the National Trust have some interesting and not necessarily expensive events on their calendar.

we have been swimming today, we have these cards, that allow us to swim for a quid. You can get them if on low income.

We are going to the cinema on wednesday with the orange wednesdays deal.

will prob go swimming again on tues.

dd has asked for a colouring making day (jeez) which i will grit my gnashers for.

Also going to make some cakes, which should be interesting as i have never done this.

Library and some chips one day.

If it's dry, a walk on the beach.

we have been swimming today, we have these cards, that allow us to swim for a quid. You can get them if on low income.

We are going to the cinema on wednesday with the orange wednesdays deal.

will prob go swimming again on tues.

dd has asked for a colouring making day (jeez) which i will grit my gnashers for.

Also going to make some cakes, which should be interesting as i have never done this.

Library and some chips one day.

If it's dry, a walk on the beach.

oops it went a bit mad then

Swimming is always a favourite. Unfortunately our museum in Taunton is closed for refurbishment, which is a great shame as dc's would be interested in a visit there. Bowling is a bit pricey as is cinema TBH. Actually thought it would be nice to borrow a dog and have a nice walk.

piratecat, what is orange wednesday deal at the cinema?
I can give you a nice recipe for coconut rock cakes - easy and lots of involvement for the dc's (hands in mixture kind of mess)! We make them often and they ALWAYS get eaten!

You could have a duvet day.Am on limited budget.Sometimes we have a duvet day.We bake cookies and then snuggle under a duvet wtching dvds and eating them.(In our local library we can borrow kids DVDs for £1 for a week) if I can't think of owt else tod do

Realised my last post didn't make sense...we eat the cookies,not the DVD's,that would be a feat!!!

LOL at wrinklytum!
My dd would have no problem with a duvet day and neither would I - we are accustomed to the lazy lifestyle! Ds on the other hand is an action man, typical.

Othr silly things..board games,play "hunt the sweets" (Hide sweets round the house or garden).Do a silly treasure map..aSK A SILLY QUESTION AND GET THEM TO gOOGLE IT....

piratecat, just looked at Orange Weds cinema tickets - good one!

misscat, thaks for the offer, dd not into coconut, tho i am!

Do you have any nice fairy cake recipies, that sort, or chocolate type cakes.

How about just the usual victoria sponge mix but substitute one tbspn of flour for cocoa powder. Put mix into little cake cases and decorate with anything you like really. Sometimes I slap on a bit of choc spread and some buttons, smarties, sprinkles - you know, all the sort of stuff that send dc's on a sugar high!
Mine also love 'Australian Crunch', more of a tray bake type thing, involves crushed cornflakes, cocoa and a little coconut (not so you'd notice though) always a hit, easy to make and I can supply that recipe if you like the sound of it. Flapjack are also easy and enable you to sneak a few healthy ingredients in too.

At our local cinema they have "Empire Juniors" where all seats are £1. Maybe they do something similar at yours?

I used the Netmums website and look at things going on in the area, I also look at www.visit(townname).co.uk - which is a tourist page so has a calendar of activities going on in the town - ie museum activities etc. I also check what the local theatre and arts centre have going on too.

Lots of walking maps available online:

Taunton and Deane - Circular Walks
Walking in Somerset
Circular Canal Walk, Creech St Michael
Somerset Space Walk

Hestercombe Gardens - £7.90 for adult + 2 children

English Willow Baskets - has a Free visitor centre. Located near Stoke St. Gregory.

There is a place called The Fire Museum, details are lacking through, so no info regarding cost or what they actually have there. Could be worth a phone call.

Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury - entry appears to be Free.

Taunton YMCA - may have sports events for children during half term, low cost. Contact them to see what activities are on this coming week.

The Fun Farm - admission around £13 at the look of it.

Walking in Somerset0 - cost around £5.

Walking in Somerset1 - cost around £28 for 1 Day Rover ticket.

Ahh, forgot that Mumsnet does not like too many links.

Last two were:
Sheppy Cider Museum

West Somerset Railway - though that is quite high cost, looks like £28 for Adult and 2 Children.

Odeon Cinema Taunton seems to be running Kids Club on selected days. Tickets £2.50 / £3.50 depending on the film.

Taunton Parks - places for your DS to run around.

Taunton & Deane: Find a Playground