How much do you put aside to entertain kids in summer hols?

pepsi · 2006-06-21T10:26:31+00:00

With the summer holidays only 4 weeks away I have started planning activities for my 6 and 4 year old. We have a week away on holiday but aside from that I wondered how much cash people spend on entertaining the children for the holidays.

tenalady · 21/06/2006 11:28

Blimey i hadnt thought about it. Just go with the flow. I look at it in the reverse I guess. I say we do three events in a week. 1 or 2 of those could be visiting another kids house or them coming to us, then I might go to a big ball park for the 3rd event. I just think we can entertain too much and kids should be left to use their imagination.

Original poster

pepsi · 21/06/2006 11:31

I agree with you. But when I chat to other mums at school everyone else seems to be doing so much. We will do a few things in a week but I was just curious if people put aside for the hols, I havent up to now.

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tenalady · 21/06/2006 11:42

Dont believe that playground banter, none of them want to look as though they havent got anything to do. If they have got that much on, then more fool them. Overstimulating the children will only give them a harder time later on.

Original poster

pepsi · 21/06/2006 11:44

How do you mean "harder time later on"........do you mean that they will expect more and more and will be disgusted by your weak efforts by the time they are teenagers.

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Original poster

pepsi · 21/06/2006 11:44

Do you think people really make out their lives to be busier than they are, perhaps I am just naive.

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tenalady · 21/06/2006 11:45

yep exactly. If they are always entertained they will not be able to organise themselves at the age when they ought to.

FioFio · 21/06/2006 11:46

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FioFio · 21/06/2006 11:47

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tenalady · 21/06/2006 11:47

how old is tiddlypeep?

Original poster

pepsi · 21/06/2006 11:48

I know you are right. I shall have to stop myself organising too much. Its the same with after school clubs. I am convinced every child in my ds's class goes to every class and are experts in swimming, ballet, football, french ,etc, etc, etc. One mum I spoke to this week has signed up her 6 yr old dd for extra tutoring to help with her writing, plus she does stuff after school and often they go to friends houses, parks, etc etc. Its hard not to go with the flow dont you think.

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Original poster

pepsi · 21/06/2006 11:48

I know you are right. I shall have to stop myself organising too much. Its the same with after school clubs. I am convinced every child in my ds's class goes to every class and are experts in swimming, ballet, football, french ,etc, etc, etc. One mum I spoke to this week has signed up her 6 yr old dd for extra tutoring to help with her writing, plus she does stuff after school and often they go to friends houses, parks, etc etc. Its hard not to go with the flow dont you think.

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Bozza · 21/06/2006 11:48

Isn't it a bit early to be planning the summer hols yet. So far I have promised my DS that he can go to Blackpool but need to discuss with my sister whether it will be before or after my nephew is potty trained. She is doing it over the hols because is a teacher.

tenalady · 21/06/2006 11:52

After school stuff is roughly the same balance a couple of activities in week and one at the weekend. this could be a mixture of fun things. My son loves French, football and horseriding. When we get to summer hols most of these clubs except horseriding shut down til September. So I like to utilise the time doing stuff you cant do during school time, Like spending time together.

crunchie · 21/06/2006 11:58

Well I have organised my Summer holidays DH is having the kids, excpet for one week when we are in France and one week we have a beach hut planned. He has the kids, he spends the money and I go to work Actually He is doing a lot of groundwork, he has found a distant relative who has a swimming pool and lives only 5 miles from us I can guess where he will be A LOT!

Bozza · 21/06/2006 11:59

OH yeah crunchie obviously I have organised childcare and our two weeks in France. But other than that I haven't organised anything for the days I don't work and am planning to take a few extra days but haven't booked them.

Sherbert37 · 21/06/2006 12:06

My children are now 13, 11 and 9. I used to 'organise' loads of things for the holidays, but then found it stopped us doing spontaneous things if the weather was good. Also, my eldest plays sports for several teams and doesn't want to miss any matches or practices that will be arranged at short notice. I've stopped booking anything up in advance AT ALL, as there always seems to be something happening. I just love looking at that diary with nothing on in the evenings and very few entries during the day for a whole eight weeks. Ask me again in August!

fairyjay · 21/06/2006 12:16

I've always loved looking at a much clearer diary, but I do find that the children seem to get more out of the holidays if we have some things planned. We have our two weeks holiday, ds is a CCF camp for a week so dd is having a friend to stay for a couple of nights. They are going away with friends camping for a week. I might try a weeks tennis course, because they did enjoy that at Easter. I suppose because I work, I do try and fit in more things, so they don't get bored. But then they do need to chill as well - I know ds would happily spend 10 weeks on Playstation!

tenalady · 21/06/2006 12:17

ooooooooh France is popular then, glad to hear it. Im off this week for three weeks, wahay, nah shall miss old blighty really.

SecurMummy · 21/06/2006 12:26

Well, I have a three day hol booked (close to home but lots of "entertainment" ugg) we are having a day trip to Alton Towers as a joint birthday treat for dd1 and 2 and I have just ordered my swimming pool chemicals - that is my entire summer dealt with (and the sum total of money I am going to spend too!)

If the children aren't bored by the end of the summer hols then how on earth are you going to convince them they want to go back?

I may let them take me on a bike ride the 10 miles or so to the beach once though

SoupDragon · 21/06/2006 12:29

Whatever it takes...

notagrannyyet · 21/06/2006 13:21

we're spending summer at home this year.Spent money on house and car so got to have a cheap summer!
When boys were younger always did 'crash courses' down at the swimming pool. Now the only organised things we do are sports. The tennis club always run coaching sessions so will do that.All 3 play cricket and we will spend some time watching county play too.
Other than that I'll just let them play in the park, swim, probably the odd bike ride round Rutland Water....Will hide PSPs,gameboys etc.
I'm pleased most after school things like scouts also stop over the summer.
Some mums do organise their kids summers too much
it won't hurt them to be bored sometimes!