I don’t know what to do with dd at the weekends

[Chihowhow]

Dd used to see her Dad every second weekend. He has recently changed job and now finds out on a Thursday night if he gets the weekend off, so hasn’t seen dd for a month as he has worked.

I can’t enrol her in a weekend class as he might be seeing her at the weekend, and he wouldn’t take her to the class if it was his weekend. I’m on a very tight budget so can’t do big days out every weekend. I’m a bit lost as to what we can do as she is bored of the park and the local museums. What do you tend to do at the weekend?

I have my kids every single weekend. Sometimes we just stay in as they don’t like going out every weekend and sometimes like just a day to chill. Could you invite her friends round?

I’m not sure how old your Dd is but I can think of a couple of things that are cheap to do, or free.
Walking in the countryside, local woods, lakes etc.
A couple of hours at the local swimming baths, followed by a hot chocolate maybe.
Decide on a special meal, doesn’t need to be expensive, then make a shopping list, go to the supermarket or outdoor market for the ingredients and spend the afternoon cooking your delicious evening meal.

I would love to invite friends over. Up until now I’ve made quite a big thing out of weekends as we only had 2 a month together, but I can’t afford to do that every weekend but feel like I should be doing loads with her. I think I’m worried that I’m not doing it right!

Walk in the forest (if you have any nearby)
going to the local library
going to the local swimming pool
playdate with friends
pay as you go sport classes
jigsaws and boardgames
christmas films and hot chocolate at home

How old is she?

How old is she?

Swimming
library
crafts
movie night
cooking

Join the NT / EH and do those places at weekends
baking
film evenings with home made popcorn / pizza

Do you have a cinworld near you? Movies for juniors is only £2.50 a ticket.
Our local cathedral often has free events on for families.
Would she enjoy choosing books from the library?

Walks in any weather. Or how about a park run/ kids’ park run? Baking, library, listen to podcasts, create a fun ‘lesson’ to teach her whatever skills you have.

There might be a session on at the library that you can just turn up to. Lego club at ours on a Saturday morning. Or it us nice to go and browse the books, see what's going on. Charity shop shopping for new books.

Home cinema with popcorn, snacks, lights off. Craft kits last several goes. Clay or decorate your own wooden Xmas decorations. Cooking, even just a cupcake kit or some cookies.

Can you get the train or bus to a nearby town/village for a change of scenery? Swimming at a council pool? Library’s sometimes have events and clubs on at the weekends too. Any community centres?

Thank you all so much. There are so many lovely ideas on here, thank you! I felt a bit overwhelmed when I first posted, I’m feeling much more confident now. Thank you xx

What is she interested in?

Could you cook/bake together.

Also time to ‘just be’. Time for her to develop her own play/interests. Some self reliance and creative thinking. Time to relax.

Kids really don't need to be organised and on it all the time.

His new job isn't really working for you all though, is it? A father who has DD every other weekend needs to look for a job where he is free to do that. As those weekends are his responsibility could he give you some extra money to take her out sometimes? It seems really unfair that this is all on you. You can't even arrange playdates if you don't now whether she will be there or not till the last minute.This doesn't seem a workable arrangement in the long term - what he say about plans going forward? Is he looking for something else?
Meanwhile, I know even going swimming can be expensive. What about Saturday morning cinema? Have a look to see if there any drop in classes that might work, or you might find craft activities at museums.

would the dad give you any money to do something with your dd if he can't make that weekend? (i know all situations are different, just suggesting it incase it is a possibility)

Our DCs have classes. You could:

Go to the library. Our libraries have iPads, jigsaws, crafts, etc. as well as books.

Badge work for Scouts/Girlguiding. You could do PawPrint as an alternative.

Baking, seasonal crafts, jigsaws, board games, mindfulness colouring, etc. at home.

CBBC website has lots to do both off and online.

Blue Peter badge work,

Movie night on a Sat with popcorn. Pick up DVDs at charity shops for 50p.

Instrument practise. Recorder is probably cheapest: DD1 found one in a charity shop for 50p.

The Week Junior. My Dad bought the DC a subscription. Lots to read together plus crosswords, puzzles and word searches.

Drawing using Art4Kids hub on YouTube.

CBBC radio and podcasts while doing chores/helping with chores.

In addition to all the other good ideas, if you do find a class she would like to do that is cheap or even free, it’s probably fine if she misses the odd week when she is with her dad.

Could you find a class that works with visiting times somehow? Or I’m sure you might just do weekday classes if important.

Not sure about the age but me and my DD introduces Funday Friday - which can easily be done on the weekend. We would go on walks and find places and add it to our list of places to visit.

I usually browse eventbrite to find child friendly events and we would go together.

If we had absolutely nothing we would go to a restaurant together - which is nicer when they are older as you can have chats and talk about school and stuff. If on a budget finding a free museum and preparing sandwiches (which you can do together at home)

If we are staying at home we would bake and she would help - usually the same thing - cupcakes but we will experiment with different topics and flavours. We would make our own milkshake. Make biscuits. Fruit salad and then have it infront of a movie or watch a show.

There are some craft things too. We would do some handsewing. Now she is older we do knitting. I often enjoy buying those DIY packs and going through them too.

We're not lone parents, but we do living room picnics, discos (cheap light projector), bubble parties, etc at the weekends when it's too awful outside.