Summer holidays and feeling overwhelmed....

[princesslouloubananahammock]

So have DD 7... she is an only, has a lot of energy... doesn't really entertain herself with anything other then a screen.

This is our first summer holiday where I haven't worked so in previous years she's be at a holiday club or grandparents.

Feel like we are just wasting time, not doing anything of any substance. She's on a screen, or watching TV.... I'm on my phone because I feel bad if I start doing anything else around the house ( not sure why I feel guilty about this and not about being in the same room as her but on my phone)

I'd happily take her to soft plays, park etc but she won't play on her own and she won't make friends where we go so I have "to do" everything with her..... which I find exhausting.

Don't really know what I'm asking .... think just need to post how I'm feeling in the hope it makes me feel better!

Just coming back to say I think you do need to play with her some of the time and yes it is exhausting. I don't think a 7 year old can entertain themself all day long.

I wondered about outdoor activities (if the weather is good enough) - frisbee, skateboard, bike, kite. This can be fun for you too ;) Actually even if it is raining it can be an opportunity for some muddy and mucky activities - dam building in a stream, mud sliding, that kind of thing. You could do a nature walk - write down 10 things she has to find - white feather, acorn, brown pebble, .. it will keep her busy for an hour while you just amble along!

Local museums and attractions as well as the national trust will also have kids activities going on here and there.

So my son has asd so we have a stringent schedule roughly like this-

7am cuddles in bed
730 breakfast (kids tv on)
830 play switch
930 dress (he gets his tablet while I get ready/do a few tidying jobs)
1030 walk dog
1100 play a game or cards
1200 lunch (tv on)
1300 activity eg. Soft play
1600 tv
1700 tea (may get tablet if he finishes before us)
1800 play switch
1900 get ready for bed

My son has ASD and ADHD and he’s exactly the same (not saying your daughter has) he won’t play on his own, won’t go round play areas alone neither even though he’s 7 too. He doesn’t sit, no screens entertain him apart from iPad for minutes at a time. The only thing that entertains him is being constantly outdoors bike riding so I got one too. Would your daughter enjoy that? Arts and crafts? Play doh. I have no real answers for you unfortunately just wanted to say it’s hard and I can relate to you completely.

We are def aware she is on a screen too much... I go through stages of being on my phone a lot to not being on it at all.... but def know it's far to easy just pick up and lose an hour.

I do, do things with her I know she can't entertain herself for hours on end.

We have tried various hobbies and clubs but as soon as something gets difficult she wants to quit. She's very self conscious and worries a lot about what others think also very shy so only wants to go to something if someone she knows is going.... all very normal for a 7 year old I'm sure but can make it hard to convince her to stick with anything.... especially if said friend ends up being "better" then her.

Today my plan is to get us downstairs in 5 mins to have breakfast together. Then take the dog out if it doesn't rain.
There's a bike riding thing on, which we attempted yesterday but she gave up after falling off once. So I said we'd go again today. Our goal is to have her riding without stabilisers by end of the summer, and I said we'd go for a milkshake afterwards if she tries!

Let's see how we get on!