How to bring some structure into school holidays

[TypicallyNorthern]

We are 3 days in to our school holiday. My DC have 8 and a half weeks off . I have sorted out a lot of it. For the youngest he has a few camps and playdates and we have a couple of holidays and relatives visits to entertain us. However, that still leaves about 3-4 weeks. My eldest (13) doesn't want to go on any camps or anything. Plus they cost a fortune.

So, day 3 and there is a lot of lying around in PJ's on iPads and watching crappy TV, lots of mess and a lot of moaning. I am already on stress level 5 and twitching.

How can I bring some structure to my 9 and 13 year olds lives on days when we are not doing something. It was easier when they were smaller and liked arts and crafts!

Please share tips that get you through the holidays.

Mine are 11, 9 & 18m.

We are having a pj day today due to middle child vomming this morning, but over the past couple of weeks we have:-

• Local swimming pool with flumes etc
• Beach (live near lots, I appreciate not everyone does!) with picnic
• Visited friends & family
• Cheap kids cinema at 10am
• Farm park (have an annual pass)
• Hiked up a local hill
• Strawberry picking - PYO
• Local big parks for a play (appreciate 13yo is too old for this)

Over the next few weeks we plan to:-

• Do more of above
• Museum
• Library holiday challenge

We don't have much spare money so it's all a bit stressful. Getting them up and out with a picnic most days is my goal.

It's taken me ages to write this post so you've probably had lots more useful replies!

At 3 days in, I think it's fine to be lolling about and making plans, they do need some down time after a busy term.

I'd decide on your budget and make a plan for the next few days/week. Do you have any friends you can meet up with to do a joint/shared activity?

Trampoline park?

There's often lots on locally for kids. I'd get a big calendar and put in the events and scheduled play dates, camps etc, plus a list of possible ideas (swimming, cinema, woods etc) next to it and encourage the kids to make suggestions. Pencil in a duvet day every week or so, and see how it goes.

Hmm, like the idea of a big calendar sheet.

Hi Typically Northern

I have a large age gap between eldest and youngest (3 dc) and youngest is a baby...so, I am just accepting that unfortunately, we are going to be having a lot of down days this Summer hols. I am more reluctant to go out if it is really hot and banking on a few cooler days.
Eldest is booked into a camp plus one weeks holiday, middle dc at holiday club one day a week, dh taking one day holiday from work most weeks - the rest will be down days, and friends visiting. When my eldest dc was an only child, we went here, there and everywhere most days...but now with sleepless nights (teething baby), I have had to accept that getting out is not always on the agenda except to the local park etc.