help me plan a lovely weekend with ds

[yawningmonster]

Facts
*Dh will be away hunting leaving me and ds alone once again
*holiday period has been a very difficult one for ds but he has had some real breakthroughs in regards to behavior and development alongside some truly hellish days
*I am 24 weeks pregnant and have m.e.
*We are running short on money so I can't plan anything too extravagant
*The weather is likely to be either complete crap or excessively hot
*Ds has had bouts of absolute refusal to leave the house (even to go outside) this holidays so need back ups if we plan outdoor things

So far the ideas for outdoors include
Saturday: Walk in the woods followed by a picnic
Sunday: Miniture trains (only 2$ a ride fairly local)
Indoors
Saturday: Movie day (set up snack booth and ticket booth and hire some dvds so snuggle in front of)
Sunday: Pool party (using bath) wear togs, have music on, put in pool toys like floaty rings, bubbles, food colouring in bath, party food on a picnic blanket on floor

what do you think, any other ideas?
Ds is never allowed tv before 3pm so I think the movie day is likely to be a hit though it will take quite alot of reinforcing that it is a special one off event. He has been wanting a pool party for a while since he saw it on a blues clues episode. He wouldn't cope with a real party with people so this was the best I could come up with.

Have already done the beach, park, feeding ducks, swimming, hide and seek, board games, building, playdough etc to absolute death these holidays so wanting something a bit different but not so different ds wouldn't cope with it.

How old is your DS? IF weather is warm, a paddling pool with some jugs to pour water and bubbles is my DS's idea of heaven (2 and a half). The movie day sounds lovely but if he's young he may not be able to focus for too long so would put out some toys for him to play with.

My DS also loves doing arts and crafts stuff - sticking shiny bits of paper on to card and glitter and making cards for loved ones (maybe one to welcome home daddy?)

Or you could try "cooking" with DS - maybe chocolate rice crispie cakes?

Am sure you'll have a lovely time together.

he is 4 thanks dinky, mainly thinking of bath idea if ds decides he is on an inside day. Have done quite alot of arts and crafts with him but he has a very low frustration level and if the pieces don't look the way he wants them he doesn't cope very well. Also cook most days with him but thanks for answering and the ideas.

ds loves going on bus journeys. not particualrly long ones, just to neighbouring district to eat a bun or something. although sometimes we go into central london. not ideal for you if there is no air conditioning but cheap and reasonably undemanding.

thanks fishie, ds does love to go on buses too and I have ummed and ahhed about taking him these holidays as there is about a 50/50 chance of something setting him off and I don't know if I could manage him on a bus when I am pregnant and he is kicking off. I have in the past had to ask a driver to pull over and heave him off a bus and try to give him a calming cuddle on the side of the road (which took 35mins) and then had to convince him to walk to the next bus stop so we could actually go home. Otherwise a great idea.

Build a den with clothes horses, chairs, blankets etc. You can do this indoors and out.

You could be post man, have a teddy bears picnic inside and any other scenarios you can think of (cleaning?)

Jigsaws? Clasping at straws because you didn't mention them.

You do sound like you have tried most things.

Any friends and family who could come and visit?

hi niecie thanks could incorporate teddybears picnic with pool party and maybe deliver invitations to all the soft toys via postman ideas. Jigsaws um lets just say prob won't include them. Regards friends and family he is struggling with other people these holidays which I think has sparked the not wanting to leave the house business. We did get together with some very tolerant friends today and mostly it went ok though ds had a tree circling episode that his friend struggled to tolerate ( every single tree we came to had to be walked around in a circle)

any other ideas? thanks

Forgive me for being nosy, but does your DS have a diagnosed (or diagnosable) problem or is he just having a difficult time of it at the moment?

It might make a difference to what people can suggest. If there is somebody with a child who has similar problems they might have an idea that works well for them.

Don't answer if you don't think it is relevant.