Three kids, including baby. how to survive summer hols?

[buffythebarbieslayer]

Have an 8 and 5 year old and 10week baby who doesn't sleep well in the day and cries a lot. We are on Sumner holidays (Scotland) and I'm finding it hard!

What are your survival tips?

Send them somewhere! Drama/sports/playscheme/school club, just get the older ones out of the house.

Park.

Softplay.

Anywhere that involves you sitting down and them entertaining themselves.

Loads of TV/computer.

Just think that it's only one summer, so too much TV/junk food is fine. You can do all the good stuff next year.

Ordered some new second hand dvds and a freezer full of easy food!

We have a fantastic field and park 5 min walk away so will spend some time there. Survival mode until August, when middle dc starts school!

Watching with interest as I am in a similar situation - DS1 is 5.6, DS2 is 3.3 & DS3 is 20 weeks. DS2 will still have nursery one day a week, but apart from that trips to the park etc not the easiest thing as DS1 a lot faster than DS2 & DS3 screams in pram but not ready for pushchair yet

Another watching with interest!
I have Dd (5) DS1 (3) and Ds2 (18 months). So far, I've booked DD in for two separate week long dance camps and the boys still have their nursery slots booked. I've saved my holidays up so I can have 3 weeks off and will probably do lots of day trips/friends over as well as maybe a week in Cornwall with my mum.
Supposed to be going abroad for a week but the youngest doesn't have a passport so not holding my breath on that one!

Get out toys they haven't seen for a while.
Invite some of their friends over.
Go swimming (wears them out)
Get some outside activities. Chalk, swingball,
Get them each a scrapbook for whatever they want to do in it.

Good ideas Rita!

Yes they have a week of swimming lessons booked each. Although it's an effort getting there and managing it with a baby, it at least gets us out and burns off some energy for the older two. We can pop to nearby child friendly cafe for lunch after so less dishes and mess at home.

Dug out the train track which hasn't seen light for a while. My normally tidyish, airy living room has been taken over but don't care. They've played for ages with it.

gutted my baby screams in pram too. My older two were the same. I've had a hard time grappling with slings and babies that won't be put down. It's exhausting!

We actually moved house in the autumn & what with the arrival of DS3, we never quite got round to sorting out a playroom for the DC - it has been full of bits to be sorted I had a long day sorting it out yesterday while DS2 was at nursery & DS1 at school then a playdate & it is nearly finished. There are even more toys to bring in from the garage, too. Maybe that will keep the big DSes occupied for some periods of time