Filling the summer holidays

[itsahotmess]

I'm looking for some inspiration!

We have 2DC, one is 3.5 and the other is 5.

I need some ideas of what I can do with them during the summer holiday that will be fun for all of us and not cost a fortune.

The half terms iI usually go all in with day trips most days etc. but that's not sustainable over six weeks.

We have a few trips away planned. Two week long trips to see family and then three nights at CentreParcs.

Happy to buy some more garden hits if anyone can recommend anything that might keep them occupied. We have paddling pools, trampolines, water tables but they play with them for twenty minutes and then they're bored.

This is our first Summer Holidays and it's all a bit daunting!

Firs school summer holiday here too. Only have two days to fill per week as they'll be in childcare for the other three.

Our library does free or cheap activities so will be going to some of those - they do a reading challenge every summer so will be signing up for that.

Our nearest children's centre do activities - we went to some last year and they had all ages there

Probably go on the train or bus to a different town for a change of scene!

Picnics in the park on good weather days

Playdates with friends

Going to start collecting bits of recycling for junk modelling and I found a packet of water beads so will use them at some point too.

Depending where you live national trust can be good for free activities (crafts, strict time & trails) - also nice gardens for picnics, playgrounds and woods. They often have nice cafes. You'd need membership but over the year if you used it could be worth it.

Sorry that should say story time - not strict 😬🤣

Painting large flat stones (Paperweight gifts)

Planting a Sunflower seed. Watering it and measuring it.

Growing a few tomato plants in a grow bag. Picking little tomatoes.

Take scooter to park.

Learn to catch a tennis ball.

I always collect for comes earlier in season then I let my dgc paint them gold and silver for Xmas decorations.

Stringing penne pasta necklace. You can paint pasta too.

My dgc love nothing more than to have a sponge each and soapy water and try to clean the car. They are given 1 side each.

Painting the garden fence with water. Painting the patio with water.
Make them a den in the garden with chairs and a sheet or blanket.
Picnic at the park
Day at the beach
Picnic in the countryside
NT membership is good.
Give them time to get bored so that they use their imagination and devise make believe indoors or in the garden
Invite friends from school over for a morning.
Meet friends in the park.
Walk in the woods.
Bike/scooter rides to get a ice cream.

I'm a teacher and a control freak so I used to do a 6 week plan. Block out the preplanned things, holidays, family visits etc. Then one 'big' thing a week so I felt I'd achieved, eg soft play, swimming, trip to the beach. Then a few free things, going to the forest, library, going on the tube (she loved it, literally went from a to b and back). Then see if I could book any friends in to play. Days of no plans doing lovely things like pos suggest. Couple of days of spontaneous stuff. 6 weeks gone!

A lot will depend on where you live, if you have own car or good public transport, how much you're willing to spend etc
I'll have my 2DC alone for 2 days each week over the summer, my current ideas are:

NT/English Heritage places (have membership) - often do summer trails or activities
Local parks
Play dates
Local attractions that are low/no cost (Willow Farm, Donkey Sanctuary, local farms)
Beach
Swimming
Cinema - if you go to MiniMorn or similar it's £2.50 per ticket
Garden centre with play area/cafe (often does activities)
Library
Local museums
Ice cream farm
Fruit picking

I save anything of interest on FB events, & I make lists of places with interesting stuff happening.

Years ago I made a list - outdoor free/cheap, Indoor free/cheap, outdoor ££ indoor ££ and noted how far they were.

So if I felt I'd run out of ideas I'd double check my list.

I also had NT membership, parking pass for local country park and a local museum so lots of prepaid options. I let them lapse and renew after a few months so cheaper that way.

I mean places to go rather than activities.

There are play scheme's run by the council in my area. Parents has to stay. They are free or fir very little cost. Normally there a few activities and snacks.

Camping!! Super cheap if you have the kit. Either at home (free) or on a camp site (relatively cheap if you go for a basic one!).

I just let mine potter and play about the house or in the garden most of the time, not doing much on particular. We occasionally made it to the seaside or to the woods or a national trust place for a day if we could afford the diesel or the picnic.

Thanks all for taking the time to give suggestions, they're great and I'm sure I'll use them.

I absolutely love to have a plan, even if it's a plan to do nothing, so I'm going to make an itinerary and book stuff up now. Soft play etc. like one poster suggested

Will definitely look in to the NT membership.

I've also managed to rope DM in to staying a few nights when we're home as DC absolutely love having her here.

Lots of great ideas here. I'm going to throw Geocaching into the mix. Download the app and go on a treasure hunt. It was a favourite lockdown activity for my two. We have a big woods by us, and lots were in there, so we doubt it up with paddling in the stream and climbing trees too.

Google playgrounds in the areas local to you and spend a day at one that's further away that you wouldn't normally go to. You may find some really good ones.

Great idea, we have lots of woods nearby too so will look on to that.

We love finding new playgrounds, I'd never considered going to the one furthest away though.

The only P&Q I get in when they're in the car so sounds like a winner 😂

You can also use google earth to find play area - they often have similar shapes. Try newish housing estates & look for open green spaces with small sections of black/green.
Sign up to the newsletter of local attractions, you might get offers for cheaper days or check those ad stands in the library, tourist information or supermarket etc for leaflets that might have discount coupons.
TrazelZoo, Groupon etc sometimes have offers on English Heritage membership, or events & attractions.
Charities also run activities (Bee walks, pond dipping) so check out your local Wildlife Trust, or other nature based charities.

Can't believe I forgot soft play! Also splash pads in parks, & water parks.

Im rather like @Assignedtoworryyourmother !

Get out the calendar and fill in anything you've already got planned.

Add one "trip" per week - NT is defintiely worth it, or look into the bigger parks that often have things to do e.g. we have one near us (15 mum drive) that has a big play area and splash pool and lots of outdoor space, plus you can pay for boat rides/mini train/soft play. It's not totally cheap, but not too bad and it's a whole and only once a week.

Do you have children's centres in your area? Check your district council website. They often run a weekly thing during th summer that is free and lasts a couple of hours. There may be things at your local library too. Many churches also have free groups once a week.

Look for different playgrounds. Mine go to our local one quite often, but a 5yo might like some variety.

At this age, there are LOTS of free ways to entertain them. Make the most of it! If it's not a day trip day, we try to have one smallish outing in the morning (like one of the groups I've already mentioned). Early afternoon ( too hot!) Is a quiet activity - stickers are good, or magic painting or drawing etc. Nothing hard to set up, but it's half an hour of quiet while I make lunch. We do a bit of reading/singing after lunch and then it's cool.enough to head into the garden for an hour or two. Rotate what you have out e.g. only put out the water table once a week. A different day is just some soft balls. Back in fora snack and "free time" - this tenda to be when all the mess gets made! Tidy up just before dinner.

If youve for a structure planned, you can always abandon it and be as flexible as you feel, but at least you won't not know what to do!

If you're in the South West, the community hub Sparks in Bristol is having a free series of events with Aardman animations! Kids can come and create clay models with the animators and attend screenings. It's from 18th - 20th August.

If you've got kids on the spectrum or are hearing imparied there's a neuro-diverse and autism friendly workshop with a BSL interpreter. Details here: https://aardmanatsparks.eventbrite.co.uk

DM if you want more details!