How do you occupy your kids on a weekend?

[Berosey54432]

My children are 3 & 7. 2 girls. It’s just me and them on a weekend and this might be a bit strong but I dread having to occupy them on a weekend. My youngest has epilepsy and has behavioural issues she has no sense of danger (would go off with anyone, run away on to roads) and cannot manage her feelings. We see my Nana and Granda for lunch on a Saturday but they’re in their 80s and on a Sunday my eldest goes swimming whilst me and my youngest sit and watch for 30 minutes which again is challenging as she struggles to sit still. I do put £10 per week away to entertain them but as we’ve just had half term the £40 pretty much got spent. I will replenish the pot next weekend. There is plenty of activities near where I live I mean most of the free activities are weather depended like a walk, trip to the park, beach etc but if anyone could recommend anything… weekend clubs, low cost activities or just generally how you fill your weekends at home without going crazy? Please share 🙏 I do think it’s partly my fault I need to push out of my comfort zone I just can’t predict how my youngest is going to behave and unless I met up with a friend (most of which are off doing their own family stuff) I don’t have anyone that can go out with me for support xx

Could you get puddlesuits or other weather appropriate clothing for them on vinted so outdoor activities are not weather dependent?

We used to go to a lot of national trust places when DS was younger, if you have membership then entry is free each time you go and they often have good playgrounds which are reasonably enclosed and away from traffic. Ditto country parks? There are a few of those near us that have free entry and amazing playgrounds. Hard work when the weather is crap though. Saturday morning cheap cinema - £2.50 a person for kids films? There are often deals on things like trampoline parks for early morning sessions for the younger ones to bounce out some energy. Weekends are tough when you are the sole source of entertainment-it does get easier x

If you can get an OS map for your local area that shows the footpaths and bridleways then there are often back entrances into NT properties as well if you cant afford membership. There are second hand maps on ebay, or maybe at your local library. Also great for finding new walks.

A trip to the local library once a fortnight to borrow new books.

Follow local community organisations on Instagram. Then other suggestions come up too, and many share stories from other organisations. There can be a lot of free stuff on, you just have to know about it!

My youngest is autistic and used to have meltdowns where he would run off (inc into traffic), so I was always scared to take him out without backup. My eldest is very social and energetic so it was a difficult balancing act!

We got really really good at indoor obstacle courses: get some cheap plastic hoops, they have to jump or step from one to the next, get gonge stepping stones, small soft play pieces/cushions, get them to carry a ball in different ways (under their chin, between their knees etc) and deliver it to a basket at the end of the course. For the older child you can draw maps and write out instructions.

Also lots of games like floor is lava, there are dance along videos for kids on YouTube, or try yoga for kids.

My son is almost 3. We spend a lot of time at the park on his balance bike as long as it's dry enough. Today there were rain showers here and there so he wore his puddlesuit.

That's his absolute favourite activity but other things we like to do are:

Go to the local reservoir and feed the ducks. The reservoir is large enough for a good walk around.

We go to the library to return books and borrow new ones and spend some time there reading/colouring/playing with their Lego.

Swimming.

A visit to the local farm park- we have an annual pass.

We live by the water so we often go to the beach.

I have a car so we do bigger trips too and take drives to museums/aquariums/various attractions/visit family, but I prefer just staying local and making the most of the simple things we have on our doorstep. I make sure to get out for as long as possible in the morning (more enjoyable as the weather starts to get nicer) and then spend the afternoon at home.

Libraries are great, not just for books, but they also have all sorts for kids now! Ours always has crafts, jigsaw puzzles, Lego, soft toys, and play tent out, and often does other organised activities too. It's only a tiny local rural one, so worth checking yours out!

I’m often alone at weekend with my 2 (4 and 1) and know what you mean about dreading it sometimes too! I try to keep weekends to free activities as I spend money on soft plays/playgroups during the week. Which obviously weather dependent! Managed to get out to a (long) walk around the block earlier. Luckily mine still love jumping in puddles and picking up sticks…! Then they played with their toys and we put some music on.

Scooting/biking at nearby duck pond, feed the ducks. Library trip and do all activities they offer. Playgrounds that I know have a proper fence and gate. Down to the beach and let them run wild then when v cold, warm them up with a thermos of hot chocolate. Find nearest community type woodland, go make dens, take our make believe tea set and pretend that we have been left in the wild to fend for ourselves (DDs 7 &4 get really into this 😂). Make scones - they take ages to rub in the flour and butter - the kitchen is a mess but it’s a good 30 min activity before we roll out and use the cutter, so I don’t mind. Take coloured chalks outside and draw all over the paving stones/pavement/park tarmac.

What lovely comments thank you all so much for taking the time to respond! I’ve had a chat with my eldest about having a nightly theme so games, movies, crafts, baking, PlayStation, homework and then the garden when the weather gets nicer. I just feel like one of those shouty Mums at the minute and have such a short fuse. I want their childhood to be filled with lots of lovely memories I’m going to pull out the contense of my garden in the week and find their bikes, scooters and whatever else is lurking in there 🙈 I’ve found a local market that’s on in the morning I’m going to take them… my eldest gets £2 pocket money per week and she’s saved up £14.00 if she would like to buy something.

Garage**

Spend an evening filling your phone calendar with free activities
You'll find free or cheap activities on Eventbrite, library, museum, art galleries, theatres, summer fayres, heritage days, cinema, look for things like Science festivals too.

Then I'd make a routine for weekends without anything on. Make a good weather routine and poor weather routine, with items at hand for either. Having a routine gives the children structure which they like and takes the stress from you. My mum remembers her family's weekend routine fondly 60+ years later.

A typical weekend when DD was that age would be walk down the high street, visit the charity shops and DD would buy a new toy for a £ or two, pick up some lunch normally french stick and ham etc, ingredients for cake making later, library and check out books, walk home via the park. Get home and have lunch, bake cakes. Read library books, decorate cakes.
Sunday, beach walk, play at beach park get home and warmed up, movie, board games, generally a chill day
General activities Items I always had on hand for lulls would be things like
Decorate biscuits - Rich tea, icing sugar and icing pens (DD still loves this as a quick activity as a teen)
Ingredients for salt dough
Wet weather gear and flasks
Paints/pens and a big roll of lining paper

Sounds like a lovely plan OP. It's easier as the weather improves. I've been struggling, January was especially hard with the constant cold rain. Feeling cheerier now that there are more dry days and the park is filling with daffodils and crocuses.

I echo a PP about making a list of activities. I have one in my notes app with little emoji icons for ☀️ dry weather and ☔️ wet weather days. I also add a 🚗 if it's somewhere not local or a day trip.

My mind goes blank and I refer to it a lot to plan something for the next day. Everything is on there from big days out to our local library and swimming pool. I add to it as I find new things.

Oh also join your local Facebook community group for local events. We have a community group and a separate community parents group. Great for finding out about free events.

I totally get the weekend-dread as well and need to have things planned.

Can recommend Junior Park Run if you have one locally (I think you could do it once your youngest turns 4). It's 2km and marshalled by usually very cheery volunteers. We always come last but it burns some early morning energy and gets us out.

I used to look out for free activities, churches quite often do things, ones near us do 'messy church' which involved crafts and free drinks/cakes. I'm not remotely religious but it filled some time.

Swimming, garden centres, indoor play centres, meeting friends with their kids somewhere, bike rides, nature/beach walk.

I also joined a local wildlife watch group which did various activities for kids on weekends.

Some of these comments are really well meaning but have missed the fact that your 3 year old has special needs, and isn’t safe in a lot of those environments.

come on over to the special needs board, you’ll find a lot of more specific advice!

Id also look for special needs events in your area, it’s been a godsend for us being able to take youngest to events that are suitable for him, with other parents who understand, and they let his older brother come too. Usually free.

We went for a ‘lovely’ 1hr 15m walk in total to our local park 3yr old was too tired to walk back eldest went on her scooter. On the way their eldest went over the handlebars and looked like she’d had a couple of rounds with Mike Tyson! At swimming youngest skipped up and down fell under the changing bench and decided to wee herself then when we got home and bathed whilst I was putting the dinner in the oven got herself out of the bath using her step and dived head first down the stairs I’m forever grateful our house has a corner staircase so her feet was at the top body in middle two steps and hands on 4th step down… I’m ready to put them to bed now 🤣🤣

oh and after the fall pulled all the rose petals off my flowers on the table… I bloody hope she gets accepted for DLA so I can use some of the money to occupy her/ use services available. Thanks everyone xx