What are you doing with your end of year 7 dc all summer ?

[Lilaclily]

Are you allowing them to be attached to their smart phones at all times

I have no clue what to do with ds

His younger sister will be having play dates going on her bike / scooter etc

Ds will probably go into town a couple of times to meet friends

They're both going to grandparents for a week

I don't have much cash so a cinema visit is possible probably twice

He no longer wants to go to the park

These are suggestions from another thread :

a week's drama camp;
a PGL camp;
Go Ape (or something similar)
any of the indoor trampoline 'parks' that seem to be popping up everywhere
bowling
ice-skating
roller-skating
theme park
theatre
skateboarding
learn a new sport - old enough for something like squash?
pottery session
cookery school
day trip on the train (much more exciting than going in the car)
trip to the seaside

But all cost money

Cycling
Geocaching
Going out with friends
Swimming

Pokemon Go

DD last year hung out with friends parks and beach - sometime here with a video - not a lot for them to do really!

Mine will hang out with her mates and have the odd trip to the cinema

My yr7 DS tends to play football in the park with mates, he also likes to go to town and get a milkshake.

Our local sports centre does cheap squash and tennis courts in the holidays. Can't remember how much but something like £2-3 for the hour if someone playing is under 18.

We also have a few days out planned but they are more expensive.

In reality I will have to work a fair bit, am home based but it does mean he and his older brother will have to amuse themselves. I want them to relax and chill but will also want them to step up a bit and help out in the house.

The thing is they tend to meet mates in town and then need cash
None live close enough to just meet at the park
For example bus fare is £2.70 to town & back

Dd doesn't want anything organised although we will be on holiday for a fortnight. She will read, draw, be on her laptop,mooch round with friends, probably go to cinema and bowling and maybe into town. If the heatwave comes as promised she will hide in her room with the curtains closed as she hates the sun.

DH does Pokemon Go with DSs. :)

I take DSs on long walks ,3-8 hrs. I have 2 DSs who role play the whole walk, older one is 12yo. Not cost free. I bring plenty of snacks. I buy Ice cream, chips, sometimes a bus ride for part of the distance, or parking charges. But long walks = pretty cheap days out overall. DS gets free swimming with his lessons, so we'll do that today (just me to pay for). We might shoe-horn in a beach visit, too.

Mine's going to summer camp for one fi al year. She's too young to be left on her on from 8-6. Only for 3 weeks tbough. Other than I'm expecting her to read, homework, practise instrument, watch movies, hang out with friends, join us on days out, and play on her phone. And help out round the house. Not a bad life for a 12 year old I think.

If the fare is £2.70 return then is the distance cycle-able? I know we always cycle into town and the return bus fare is much more than that. Mainly because bus fares are crazy here rather than any great distance.

Does he like minecraft? Google diy minecraft summercamp for ideas. Maybe you could host for him and his friends for one day a week and the other parents might return the favour on other days.

Can you afford to allocate him a summer budget, however small and then discuss with him how best to spend it. Even if it's only the cost of the two cinema trips plus a few bus fares, if he realised that's the total available then he might get more keen on park trips.

Thanks some really good ideas here !

DD is spending some time with friends either here, at their house or meeting up to go swimming, beach or park. I also expect her to help out at home a lot more in the holidays doing things like laundry, cleaning her room and helping with meals. She has an allowance which makes things easier for everyone. She knows can't afford to live in Starbucks for the holidays but the occasional treat is ok

He breaks up tmw & we go on hols on the weekend so well just be going to barbers/getting last minute bits. He may see a friend if he wants & prob hunt endless Pokemon. When we get back it's more friend-seeing, we'll have a couple of days out with his 14-yr old sis and see more friends! We're also going to the theatre and I have to sort out his room with him. I'm back at work a week before him (I work TTO) and I've arranged various play dates & sleepovers for him as he wont want to be 'home alone' much, or be left with his sister as they will prob maim each other!!

My DD has a great circle of friends. I usually take her to the next village for the afternoon and she plays football with the boys. Few £ in her pocket for sweets and a drink and she is happy. Or she will go for a walk with 2 close friends in this village. She may pop into town or on a rainy day she will happily watch a film.

We dont really have plans to go soending other than DH taking her and the others to a football match. Plus were going away in 2 weeks so trying to save some ££

My dd who is year 7
Shopping
Ice skating
Trampoline place
Out to the field for a kick about
She does go on her phone snap chat etc
She's been drawing
And I got the key board out and she's teaching her self a tune and doing really well