Any suggestions greatly received please!!

[Lovemy3kids]

I am a single mum to 3 DC and in a recent discussion with them, they asked if they could have more 'family' time with me (I work 5 days a week, 9-5pm).

We have agreed that Friday nights will be our family time, also the weekends that the children aren't with their dad, but I was just wondering how you spend quality time together with your children - either single parents or families. I obviously have a limited budget so cannot afford bowling, cinema and the like on a regular basis. We do have board games that we can play, but this always ends up with one of the DC sulking because they've lost/not ahead on the board, etc, etc. I have 2 boys (14, 10) and 1 girl (7).

Any ideas/suggestions greatly received

DVD and pizza night? Does your local pool have friday night sessions? If not you could keep swimming for a saturday they arent with their dad.

Did you ask them what they suggest? Maybe you could set a budget you can afford and then they will have an idea of what sort of things they can request.

Do they get pocket money? You could say that you will pay for the cinema and they buy their own popcorn.

I agree though, cinema and bowling are so pricey. Its hard to find things for children on a budget!

My DCs are younger than yours but we do board games, watch films, go out on bikes, bake cakes (and then eat them, of course). They will also do different craft things at the ktchen table with me there to help out on the difficult part. Oh, and big jigsaws (we have one of those jigsaw rolls that means it can be rolled up and put in the corner if you haven't finished it).

Thanks for the suggestions. During term time the weekend is mostly taken up with football with the 2 boys (one saturday morning and one sunday afternoon) plus this is when i try to do my housework.

They do not get pocket money wannabe as the rule in our house is if you keep your room tidy without me having to nag you to clean it then you will receive your pocket money - so far - none of them have been able to do it!

I like the idea of a big jigsaw puzzle Poledra, will look into that and the jigsaw roll too.

When i spoke to the DC they said about going out to play football together (DD not impressed with that), DVD night, going out for tea (i said i could budget for that once a month). Am having to save for 2 new bikes at the mo, so a bike ride is out of the question (father christmas will be bringing these!).

Ask them if they had anything in mind. Maybe DVDs and popcorn, or each child / person chooses for a night then someone else next time.

If board games end in sulks, you could maybe do heats as there are 4 of you - the winners from each "pairing" play each other. You could also play some boardgames in teams.

Could you do a form of pictionary where someone draws something in the room and the rest guess it and the one who guesses it has to draw next. May be a bit juvenile for the 14 year old but then so is sulking if you lose

If it was me I would probably do the football thing. Your DD will most likely enjoy it when she gets there. And then next time she gets to choose the dvd or something.

This is maybe a bit naff but do you have a lot of old photos that need sorted into albums? When we were young I loved looking through all the family photos and would have loved to have sat down with my mum to sort them.

Family time doesnt necessarily have to cost a bomb. And sometimes the simplest things end up being the most fun!

The photo idea is a good idea wannabe, but at the moment the box of photos that needs sorting has old photo's of me, the DC and STBXH, and as our seperation is still quite raw to them, I think I will have to leave that for in the future

This is the sort of roll we have, not too expensive

Generally we walk. There are numerous free places near to where we live. Woodland walks for rainy days, the beach for nicer weather, a few country parks. Sometimes we talk a picnic.

We've had film night in the past. Dd enjoyed watching a series of films like all six Star Wars in order or Harry Potter. Perhaps the kids could write a list and each week someone gets to choose.

Dh will play Xbox games with the kids.

When our youngest is a bit older I'd like to go for family bike rides. We have a great long cycle path near us.

If dh and I are tired we generally just potter about the house. We can all be in the same room doing different things.

Could you make individual pizzas from scratch?

Paint individual paintings or one giant big one?

Construction - Lego/K'nex etc.

Treasure hunts - inside and outside

Quizzes - either made by you or the kids

Games like 'P or R', charades, pictionary, etc

Baking cakes/biscuits/ flapjacks

Geocaching - use your mobile

Sock puppets - of the family or characters in books

Make dinner from a different country

Come Dine With Me - each family member does a course

DVD in sleeping bags/PJs

Make your own clay models using make your own play doh

Sing - esp action songs

Camp in the back garden

Get a copy of the Innocent cookbook 'Hungry' - it has fab ideas!

Hope one of these is useful.

Thanks stargirl what a fab list. Will definetley be trying some of your suggestions out.....thank you :)