What to do with kids? Feel like a rubbish mum

[wantywantynahgettygetty]

Hi all. Just looking for some suggestions as my mind is a bit poo

So - I'm a single parent to two kids (DS, 10 and DD, 2)
I don't have much money (£20 currently) and I can't think of things to do. We've been in the house most of the week. We've exhausted all of the parks, and I've taken them to the Bunny park and the cinema already.
There are some fairs but DS won't go on rides alone and I obviously can't leave DD on her own to accompany him
None of my friends are around (working or already away with their kids/family)
Some of the crazy golf places are booked up or expensive
Going into central London on the train is also expensive and quite a palava (tried this taking them to the Natural history museum in the Easter holidays)

My mum is working and my brother and his partner have good jobs and take their daughter everywhere.
I'm just at a loss for what to do. I'm getting very depressed and my previous depressive episodes have caused me to self harm and have suicidal thoughts. I feel like such a failure that my kids aren't doing anything

Can anyone think of anything fun that I may have missed?

Thank you in advance

Hello OP, we are really sorry to hear you are feeling this way.
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Hi, you mentioned Bunny Park, are you in West London? I only ask as I'm familiar with the area and might be able to suggest some things.

Richmond park is lovely. Take a picnic and sit by the river. You can get a couple of buses if you don't have a car.

Gunnersbury park museum can be quite nice.

This website might have some suggestions you haven't considered yet. www.familiesonline.co.uk/local/ealing/places-to-go

Hope that helps.

@ImaniMumsnet - thank you so much. And I didn't mean to cause alarm it's just I know how I can get so wanted to seek some suggestions here before that happened.

These fellow mums have been very encouraging and I have some ideas for next week now so many thanks to everyone and yourselves for checking in 😊

Let them play at home. Boredom is great for kids - it nurtures their creativity. You get 5 mins whinging and then they think of something to entertain themselves with. I think it’s pinterest and bleeding Instagram that makes us think we have to provide entertainment 24/7 for our kids - we really don’t.

@IvyPlant - yes I'm not far from Ealing. I've looked at Gunnersbury park so will do a day there next week. Thanks so much

Library
Museum.
Canal walks
Walks by the train tracks watching the trains.
Wanders through the farmers fields, spotting cows and sheep and such.
Parks with play areas. We have 4 near us so we rotate which we go too.
Walking to the supermarket to get shopping fills an hour or so at least. She picks what she wants, within the budget I give her, she often picks more random type stuff than I maybe would.. we had lincolnshire sausages and spicy chorizo sandwhiches for tea tonight as she found them both in the yellow sticker fridge. (Really nice to be honest)
And the garden, she likes the shady half.of the garden and plays with the cat and such.

Oh...
And screen time... in the holidays, in this hot weather, it's basically unlimited screen time for both of us. YouTube especially.

I have two of the same age and it's so tough juggling their different needs - and that's not to mention the hit weather, long school holidays and a tight budget!

Could you make a list with your eldest and see if he has any ideas? Maybe then factoring one special/fun thing a day, even if the rest of the day is fairly normal.

Cheap/free things we tend to do are:

• My DS likes to take little walks near our house or bike rides round the park using Strava (fitness/route app, free) to gain a bit of independence and he enjoys the novelty factor. He can also interact with people we know on it which he enjoys
• Geocaching, as PP have suggested
• kitchen challenge for your DS? You could prep and he makes, or he goes round the supermarket himself to get ingredients and then makes a simple dinner
• paint bath (I stick mine in with paintbrushes and paint and then just hose down when finished)

Glad the playscheme have a space too - sounds like you're doing a brilliant job!

Museum? Picnic? Swimming? Walking? Beach? Check out the library, they do arts and crafts thing which are free. Look on your local council website too.

I’m with @AceSpades54321 and @AtrociousCircumstance . Kids need down-time and a bit of boredom never hurt - it stimulates their creativity. I don’t remember this level of ‘entertaining’ kids when I was young, do you? I mean this as no disrespect to you - you have provided some great days, but if the budget doesn’t stretch to it, it doesn’t stretch to it 🤷‍♀️

@wantywantynahgettygetty you're welcome. I just remembered Ravenscourt Park is lovely and has a nice (free) paddling area (so bring drinking costumes). It's near Hammersmith so lots of bus and train options to get there.

Swimming* 😛

Kids don't need to be entertained constantly. Things cost a lot of money and usually they don't need it all.
My kids (like me) enjoy relaxing around the house.
I find holidays difficult and I'm married to a wonderful man.
They'll be in school soon. Pour yourself a cuppa and give yourself a pat on the back.

Have a look for some outdoor cinemas, there are loads about and most of them are free.
I’ve taken my dc most evenings to watch a movie and we just take snacks from home.

I'm not too clued up on your side of London as to what parks you have etc, but we have quite a few parks in south that has water fountains or a paddling pool, that again my dc will spend the whole day in if we take a picnic.
It really is hard sometimes wanting to constantly make sure they’re doing something, but it is also good to relax and enjoy each other at home.

OP, wishing you well.

Im not west but there’s Hanwell Zoo, London has screens about www.kingscross.co.uk/event/screen-on-the-canal

Check timeout for kids. Trip advisor, Google free things London/Middlesex (thinking out to Middlesex).

Canary Wharf has free outside stuff for kids (crazy golf I think). Oh and Royal Docks has a beach and is generally lovely to walk around.

Theres a free family carnival at North Greenwich today - check Just Vibes on EventBright. In fact Ealing carnival might be soon?

Day trip to Greenwich Meridian by riverboat? Would go past parliament, tower bridge etc.

I hope these are not out of turn as I know travel is expensive but just giving ideas. I find the travel itself can be made interesting.

Holland Park - massive adventure park, a Japanese garden and peacocks!