So, what exactly are we supposed to do this Easter with the DC?

[FredaFlinstone]

Day 3 and at my wit's end. Just want to sit down and cry. I have a tween and a teen. Just what exactly are we supposed to do with them for the next 2 and a bit weeks?

I am usually a very active person with my DC. We go to the cinema, out for lunch, do day trips, go to the beach, book into day camps, go away for the weekend, see family and pack all the holiday out.

So far...it's been DC1 in their room, DC2 in the other. Video games, TV, and early Easter Eggs.

Trying to think of something to do, but stuck. We've been to the park already a few times.

My neighbours are out every day playing golf. How is this even fair? Our DC have f*ck all to do and are off for 2 weeks. They don't even have schoolwork to do.

Could you visit some national trust places? Do you have a garden project they could get stuck into ? A friend/neighbours dog to walk ? Visit another city for a takeaway lunch and a mooch about. I had to go to Chester on Saturday to take dd to the train station we had a look about and a nice lunch it honestly felt like a day out !

I have an 11 year old. I got him a roll of lining paper and suggested he design an old fashioned map, then I'll show him how to stain it with tea when it's done. We're also making a fruit loaf.

Could they plan an evening meal between them one night, giving them a budget or an ingredient they have to include?

As far as I'm concerned, we can't travel further than the local towns as we have no need to travel further so shouldn't be. Our nearest national trust places are in the next county so not accessible. Our youngest keeps asking to go to the beach but is too young to understand why.

You can still go to the beach.

You can go for outdoors activities.

You can see family, as long as it's outdoors and only two households (so who has the nicest garden?)

Do you have bikes?

Some sports have started up - might be a bit late to book for this holds, but still worth a Google to see if anywhere local to you still has places

You can still go to the beach. You can have lunch, as a takeaway eaten outside. Our local crazy golf opened on Monday maybe you have one near you? We have been to see my sister in her garden, also, and my parents are coming to our garden on Easter Sunday. Also my oldest has been to the park with his friend and they got a takeaway.

English heritage are doing Easter trails. The government confirmed we are allowed to travel to the beach. Picnics in local beauty spots. At home cinema. See friends at the park/ for walks. As of the 12th zoos will be open again. Do a treasure trail : www.treasuretrails.co.uk do good ones at £10 a pop. You didn’t say where in the country you are but check out local national trust for events.
Yes it’s tedious but it is what it is unfortunately. At least Witsun half term will be more “normal”.

Our schools start back again on 12th, so cinemas etc. restarting then are of limited use to some areas of the UK. Are public toilets open again if you drive for 2.5 hours (as we'd have to) to go to the beach, with no shops open when you get there. I thought we were still supposed to be avoiding non-essential travel outside of our area?

You can go for days out, take a picnic or plan a route that includes a takeaway cafe
Round here there are loads of kids activity holiday clubs running - football, tennis etc - they are quite costly but could be good for a couple of 1/2 days

We are spending a couple of days at home with DS (his holiday club fell through but DD is in club and we are working) popping to the shops or bike/walk/park.
He has a day's SEN outdoor activities booked and might go to another one.
We have 3 separate NT garden visits booked (two to the same place, one with our bubble partner who can come indoors again now, too, after her relative who was living with her has gone home). We will have her round for a roast dinner, probably on Monday.
I have DD and her BFF booked into an outdoor play area one day next week and I might brave outdoor swimming with DS, or take him or DD out on the tandem.
DH took DS to the garden centre yesterday (but fat chance persuading DS to plant the plants he chose!)
I'm going to make chocolate nests with DS and Simnel cake with DD.
DS and DH both have medical appointments...
I don't think we're going to be bored...

@TrainWhistleChoir

I have an 11 year old. I got him a roll of lining paper and suggested he design an old fashioned map, then I'll show him how to stain it with tea when it's done. We're also making a fruit loaf.

Could they plan an evening meal between them one night, giving them a budget or an ingredient they have to include?

As far as I'm concerned, we can't travel further than the local towns as we have no need to travel further so shouldn't be. Our nearest national trust places are in the next county so not accessible. Our youngest keeps asking to go to the beach but is too young to understand why.

Jeez if he wants to go to the beach, go to the beach!

IF you're in England, travel further afield seems acceptable as long as it can be done in a single day - no overnight stays. Nick Hancock said he was going London - Suffolk and back on Easter Sunday to visit family...

OP have you tried geocaching - tweens/teens seem to like it because they can use their phones and it gives purpose to a walk. I recommend the c:geo app.

Can't your teen meet up with friends - allowed up to 6 now. Lots of cafes doing takeaway coffees/lunches.

Walks- find walking trails and go for long walks.
Teach them to cook?
You can still see some family outside.
Also it’s okay for kids to get bored right? They don’t need every hour of every day filled with meaningful activity.

You are allowed to go to the beach! There's no restriction on travel now, just not overnight.

You could take up golf if you wanted to!

@TrainWhistleChoir

How far can I travel after March 29?
The most significant change is the 'stay at home' order has replaced with advice to stay local, but you are no longer legally obliged to stay in your own town or village without a good reason for travelling.

So, yes you can travel out of your area for non essential reasons like day trips.

We have every day booked up. Farm visit, another farm visit feeding lambs, parks and woods with another family or friend, tween meeting friends for a take away coffee / walk. Tween and friends going to a huge shopping centre after the 12th, indoor climbing centre, meeting a friend I haven’t seen since October with her children (lives 1.5 hours away so meeting in the middle). Going to family’s gardens, national trust places. Just hoping the weather isn’t too wet

Spare a thought for us in Ireland restricted to within 5km of our homes since Xmas. Nothing open and kids off for 2 weeks.
At least you can travel further!

So far...it's been DC1 in their room, DC2 in the other. Video games, TV, and early Easter Eggs.

Lots of kids this age would probably quite like that. You can do some local outdoor things as other have suggested. They can meet friends in small groups. Maybe just leave them to it. Surely the teen doesn’t necessarily want to be doing 2 weeks of activities with parents anyway.

Re “stay local” Hancock said “We’re saying that you should minimise travel, but if you want to travel to see friends and family then that is absolutely fine - no matter where they are in England” www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/matt-hancock-confirms-what-stay-20277409

If your neighbours golf, I'm assuming you have a garden? Suggesting garden work to children usually stops boredom instantly!

A few video games aren't the end of the world.

My teen has so far met up with a couple of friends outside (they sat in the park with a box of doughnuts).

We've been for a walk by the river and got fish and chips - it's not the beach, but we're making do!

A couple of outdoor trips/long walks slightly further afield with friends planned for next week.

Elaborate code-breaker egg hunt planned for Sunday - writing and solving clues should take everyone lots of time.

Will make a simnel cake, hot cross buns and easter nest cakes today.

TBH my Dc is happy just to hang around at home.

You can have children to play in your garden and your children can go to their friends gardens.
We’re doing some school clubs too.

We break up on Thursday, so we have a week of a bit more freedom after 12th April as we go back on the 19th.

If you’re in England day trips are allowed. Lots of outdoor places are now open, like crazy golf, outdoor pools, national trust properties etc.

Next week I have a few things planned for either me to take my son to or my friend who is babysitting. So we have crazy golf one day, beach another (we don’t care about the weather as long as its dry).

I'm working while my 12 year old is off, so it's all a bit dull for him too.

He has a good friend in the village and they've been going to the park pretty much every day.

If I wasn't working, we'd be travelling locally to parks (ideally with outdoor coffee shop), taking a football, seeing other friends for walks or to the park, or forest.

Some good ideas so thanks.

Sorry for the rant. I am just fed up today. I've been positive for a year and got a lot done. I've not wasted the time. I think it is the weather. The sun makes me like a bunny bouncing off the walls.

DC have had way too much TV and video games over the past year. DC2 is now overweight and very unfit because he has not had his sports clubs for most of the year. It broke my heart yesterday when we went for a run and he couldn't do it.

I have had enough of this now. Not for myself, but for them. They don't have friends in our village as they go to school 25 miles away and their friends live miles out the other side.