Do you take your kids out every weekend?

[millionaireshortie]

7 year old seems to expect full and interesting days out every Sat / Sun.

We're at home today as I'm not feeling well. It's 1pm and she's now actually crying about what a boring day it is.

Out of the house? Yes it is very rare we are inside all day and if it happens I regret it by about now.

Expensive ‘days out’ no not every week. But parks/free museums/library/relatives/friends houses this sort of stuff.

The park and swimming when they were little but not proper days out - those were special treats.
She can always read a book, snuggle and watch a movie together or help with the housework...

We go out every day, some days it’s to the park or a local walk, others it’s to a play area. Most of the time it’s a free trip out though.

I do, but only because it's easier than being stuck in the house with a very energetic child.

We didn't, boredom is a creative driver!
Actually we felt it was important to show that it was ok to do nothing but chill out, read a book, watch tv play games, have down time etc. I don't remember going somewhere every weekend and wanted to do the same for my family

Like pp we go out, but plenty of free and low key stuff.
If I'm feeling unwell I dress it up as a bit of a treat to relax in and put a film on, eat snacks and be lazy - my daughter is only 3 though so perhaps not as easily bored as a 7 year old!

No way. They need to make their own fun and I don't want them to take days out for granted.

I kick them out every day

We live in the country side. I wouldn't let the kids stay inside all day unless ill or tired and content to have a slob out duvet day without any whinging.

I can't imagine staying in the house all day ever unless ill.

However that doesn't mean that I take them on outings, they just go outside to play in the playground or on the green or the football field, or call for friends or friends call for them.

I work a 24 shift (including 6 hours sleep, 18 paid hours) either Friday midday to Saturday midday or Saturday midday to Sunday midday so we don't do big outings at weekends, only in the holidays, but we might go swimming or to town for an ice-cream by the river.

My older 2 are out of the house under their own steam (14 year old organised a trip to the open air pool and has gone with her friends, 12 year old is at a birthday sleepover which he walked to by himself) but my 8 year old is currently playing a make believe game around the living room, where I am. If he complained of boredom I'd give him short shrift and suggest even more boring chores he could do, and he'd decide to go to the playground or phone his friend who lives at the other side of the village and invite him over, or ask to cycle over to his, or ask to call a friend who lives a bit further away requiring liftsto play with.

I don't really tolerate whinging about boredom though, I think of even more boring alternative and suddenly inspiration hits and the kids entertain themselves!

Their friends are always welcome here though, and I'll always give lifts if they're invited to play (or go to not play for the teen) somewhere - I think that's essential.

Is your DD used to spending most of her time in structured childcare when not at school?

Children who are used to constant adult led activities really seem to struggle massively without adults entertaining them or telling them what they should be doing, but they need unstructured time desperately, it's just very hard for them until they have had plenty of practice at organising their own free time and developed some inner resources and independence.

No not really. We’ll generally do something: park, library, walk, etc but we’re out of the house so much during the week with school, work, clubs, etc that it’s nice to be at home on the weekends. My children enjoy playing with their toys, craft, playing in the garden, etc.

No, I'm chronically unwell which has some bearing in it, but my DC enjoy some downtime at the weekend. Crafts, colouring, TV, playing in the garden, doing low key outings like going to the park or garden centre. We used to have annual passes to all the big theme parks, national trust, zoo etc but I think they were more beneficial to me than the children. Now I can't do any of that I've realised it's not so important to go for big outings every week. Spending time together having a picnic in the garden, washing the car, popping to the shop for sweets etc is just as good. Also if you always take them out they never learn to play independently or together. Both are doing very well at school and have lots of friends so it hasn't done them any harm!

We often have v busy weekends and this weekend we fully intend to do as little as possible. We’ve had a quick mooch round town after dropping ds off for a school trip. I’m now on the sofa on mumsnet (obvs 😉) and dh is doing the ironing in the other room. DD (10) has just taken herself off to make marzipan fruits with some marzipan she found in the cupboard and my collection of food colouring.....
I may have a nap.

Say we always go out and do something

I don't always take mine out. Eldest ones will play out with friends and youngest will play in the garden.

Not always doing paid expensive activities but yes, at that age always out, even if it was just to the country park for a walk and picnic and a bit of den building/bug spotting.

No chance of getting sloth like teen out these days.

I think we did one out of the house activity - going to the park, pool almost every weekend on Saturday and had family over Sunday for lunch and kids had paddling pool out etc. Or if no family out to the countryside for pub lunch and kids runaround. We have dogs so they came out for walks.
But I didn’t have a packed full schedule (though I think my daughter did ballet for a while, and my son has rugby from September- May every Sunday morning since he was 10 and now rows in the summer) - it was what took our fancy. Occasional play date, party etc. But the kids had to come up with their own entertainment at least half the time.

We go out every weekend, Saturdays are dance club first thing, then soft play (I have membership and want to get my moneys worth). On Sundays we now do swimming first thing followed by the park, unless it’s raining heavily inwhich case we go to a trampoline park.

Out of the house, to parks, friends, shops, garden centres etc, always yes.

Days out like theme parks, seaside, cinema etc, no.

Been reading this thread feeling guilty about not taking the kids out today. Just found them playing with a big cardboard box, all sweaty, saying they’re having a lot of fun.

Yes in the sense that we go out of the house every day, as kids need daily exercise.
Not expensive activities though.

Like most other replies, we'd usually be doing something that involves leaving the house, but not "a day out to entertain you" though.
Weekends are busy - it's when you need to get everything done, and a lot of the stuff we'd do would be jobs that need doing. Other days, we'd go to free things nearby - at this time of year local fetes and carnivals, or things like the fire station open day and so forth. We are Church goers so 1/2 a day a weekend is taken by that, and then occasionally there's be other activities to do with that. Then you make other 'chores' sound exciting...... being Dad's 'co-pilot' when he goes to some shop or other, or, if you need to garden or wash the windows at home, then making it sound like you were doing them a special favour by letting them help with part of the task.

Ds goes swimming every Saturday and the afternoon is usually a bit more chilled. Sometimes we'll go to the park too or the museum /library.

Sundays are typically spent by us getting ready for the week and ds dossing about watching cartoons and playing games

DontDodo your kids are probably better equipped for life in general if they can create their own entertainment playing together with a big cardboard boxthan kids who's weekends are mostly adult led scheduled activities with little or no unscheduled time.

We do go out and do something, but that doesn't mean we spend money. We go to a lot of parks and free places top, DC are only 6 and 2 so don't expect a great deal yet.

We have a dog so yes.

Not expensive or fancy though. Beach, park, countryside...

Yes because it’s actually easier when we are out and about. My DD (under 1) is so much happier people watching and seeing new things rather than being at home throughout the day. I’ve noticed her mood infinitely improves.

Weekend activities include:

A trip to the beach
Brunch/lunch then a nice park
Swimming
Shopping (she’s going to be a fashionista I think)
The local farm
Picnics