6 weeks holidays, solo with two kids. I'm actually scared!

[mamoftwolittles]

So ridiculous but I'm actually slightly filled with dread at the thought of the 6 week holidays. My 4 year old goes mad if he's cooped up at home so chill days aren't very chill. We have a big holiday in September need to save for and I'm on maternity leave so I can't afford to do lots of big days out. My husband will get his 2 days off a week but can't take any annual leave for a longer period of time. My mum works too so again have her 2 days off but that's all and they might clash with my husbands. I feel like I need a bit of a plan and structure for what I'm doing over the holidays. I'm not even sure what I'm posting for! I want it to be a nice time with my kids and not constant tantrums I guess? Ah!

God I feel you. 8 year old and 5 month old. I'm going to sit with a coffee when baby naps this afternoon and try and find free activities twice a week and pencil them in, keep Wednesdays free when my mum is off and maybe put something like swimming in once a week that I can do with them both? Any other ideas? X

Get up and get out first thing. Go to the park, feed the ducks, library, local museum, trip on the bus, picnic by a lake, take a football somewhere. Burn lots of energy, hope in time for lunch and then get the paddling pool out, arrange for DC friend to come over, baking, scavenger hunt in the garden, craft afternoon, film and popcorn afternoon. At that age they don't need lots of money spending. But defo get out in the morning every day! If you have friends try and arrange to pay dates too.

Agree with the above. This is my first summer holidays and DD is 3 but I am also 20 weeks pregnant with DC2.

I will be trying to go out every day it's dry. Park, feed the ducks, cheaper farms, beach, soft play etc if weather bad.

Will try and arrange to meet friends and their kids for some of this.

Also Playdates, baking cakes (the ones where you just add egg and milk that are £1 daughter will spend a while decorating these), crafts (got some stuff from Hobbycraft), play in the garden etc xx

ALL OF THE PARKS.

When my oldest was that age I discovered when I looked there were loads of tiny local parks - some were only a swing and slide but they existed.

So every time we needed to escape we went to a different one. Then we gave them marks.

View them as like puppies at that age, they need very little to impress them but they do need long walks to burn off energy.

I feel similar, not single but will be looking after 4 kids (8,5,2,9mo) pretty much on my own during the weeks!! Ive tried to work out what is MOST important to me this holiday and this year the most important thing for me is that the 2yo and baby go to bed reliably at 7 each night which means I’m not planning any long car rides because the 2yo will fall asleep and I definitely don’t want that (he’s almost 3).

So I’m planning to meet friends 4 out of 5 days each week and have one day at home with the paddling pool out so I can catch up on jobs at home. If I overfill our days I just feel overwhelmed by washing/cooking/tidying at home. And if I underfill our days then we all get fed up and need to get out (they are all boys).

Draw up a big summer planner so you can see what you have going on. And enjoy it…one day these days will be just a happy memory x

Lots of walks and adventures. Pack a picnic and set off. Needn't cost anything.

But reframe this. You are not doing it alone. Two days a week with another adult = not solo. Husband coming home after work in the evenings presumably = not solo.

Also, have you checked whether you're financially eligible for any help with childcare costs? You can use that towards holiday clubs some days (assuming your other child is older than 4?)

Have a routine. This really helps.
Firstly, check out free stuff to do with kids in your area. I used to book free library and park events. See if there are any near you.

Find all the parks and forests in your area.
Download 50 things to do before you're 11 from the National Trust

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/50-things#cb-497505740

Sign up for the library reading challenge.

Morning - breakfast, pack snacks and lunch and head out
Choose parks for sunny days and museums and libraries for wet days

Afternoon - home. Toys, Arts and crafts, play doh, books, baking and movies/tv

God, I feel for you. I agree with all the other posters - you need a routine and you need to get out of the house as much as possible.

Try to imagine that you are a professional nanny providing a service and structure your day the way a nanny or nursery would. Do a time table for every day and try to stick to it. If the 4 year old kicks off just say "It is Tuesday and on Tuesday we go to reading circle at the library" I think kids like being in a routine.

There must be free stuff in the park/library/local museums.

And agree that establishing and sticking to a firm bedtime will make life more bearable - if you know that at 7.30 you can sit down on your own, it will really help.

I’m going to be alone (lone parent) for 6 weeks with 4 children who don’t see their father so it will be 24/7 I’m actually dreading it completely

No other tips that haven't already been said, just solidarity.

I've got a 4.5yr old and a 1.5yr old, we've on the 2nd week of summer break and I'm already fed up. I don't know why I struggle so much, but I do!

I have a 1 and 5 yo. I'm quite looking forward to the summer really, there's always lots of stuff to do within easy reach (we're in London) and I have mental bucket lists of places we've heard about but never got around to visiting that I'm keen to visit. Lots of outdoor summer events often for free, and we live near a couple of big parks that we haven't fully explored yet as we moved last winter. We'll probably spend as much time outdoors as we can, and 5yo will do some fun camps to try out some activities she likes. We have enough funds for some fun events like kids shows and workshops - really nice to break up the week and gives you a bit of a break (and baby usually a free baby in arms)