WEEKEND HORROR

[DadToAson]

As the name suggests ii is as I work 5 days and I want to stay home and my other half want to get out .She says its frustrating and annoying being stuck at home nevertheless our child want to do so. I am not able to brainstorm anywhere to go and I always suggest the usual places we go. Especially its winter its hard to find a place to visit.
I was wondering whether anybody out there have the same problem and where to look for places to go and enjoy as a family.
this is getting a weekend row to entertain our child. Many of you would suggest go to library or park. But if to go beyond that what could I do
HELP ME.......SOS

Suggest a local forest/river/lake/park walk for about 3pm

By then it will be late enough for teatime and darkness to be imminent and you can all go home fairly quickly with everyone happy

How old is your child?

National Trust places if young (wrap up warmly), cinema if older.

Depends on age of child and available funds.

There are trampoline parks, soft plays, roller skating, laser quests ,climbing walls ,scooter parks and even the cinema that cost.

Geocaching to make walks more interesting or indoor bake offs and carpet picnics for a cheaper option.

9+ and glued to Screens.... TV, Our Phones,Laptop/comp, tablet.
No family time activity.

Get the hoop app and see if anything appeals. I'm afraid there's no days off being a parent.

Eurostar to Paris?

I am currently at a trampoline centre with my DD (12) and her friend , tomorrow we are walking a couple of miles around the local lake for some fresh air . There is loads of things to do with a little effort

Thanks for all your ideas and 3pm go out is a good idea...Not stoppedallday.
hoops is exploring right now.
great moms

any more ideas welcome

Swimming pool
Library then cafe
Local gallery/museum
Bike ride

Me and my young lad build sculptures in the garden out of things we lift out of skips. Oh, and we graffiti huge bedsheets in the summer with spray cans. Tomorrow we are going to have a bonfire with sparklers. Next weekend we will probably walk to the pub, have a drink and some crisps. We walked along the canal towpath in the autumn and cadged a lift in a barge. Sometimes we get dressed up in fancy dress and nonchalantly walk around the local town acting normal and drawing stares. It's fun.

SleepingTiger I need a like button for you!

Dcs are better out and about if possible. It makes us all feel better to go outside at some point, especially in the winter. We often make a list of stuff we'd like to do, if we feel uninspired, we have plenty of ideas. Local papers etc. often have events, recommended cafes etc.

We do:
swimming (annual membership)
soft play (£4/child)
local zoo (season tickets)
local arboretum (season tickets, nice tea shop)
local NT place (membership, OK teashop)
nature reserve (free)
riverside walk (free)
decopatch/pottery (~£10/visit)
wander into out town/village centre, coffee shop and spend pocket money

Google dayoutwiththekids

Museums were a lifesaver on cold days with young children.
Children are happy to potter. wander (lead the parents) often special zones for children
Usually with good cafes too- homemade soup.bread for lunch. We would visit our favourite museum twice a month during the winter months.

SleepingTiger,

You sound great

OP,

This might be useful to you: www.dayoutwiththekids.co.uk/

X post, Banty !

Well, our default is the beach - we live right on the coast. Winter is my favourite time to walk along. I popped out this morning for a walk, listening to a podcast and then this afternoon with dh and the kids. Loved it.

We are going to play a new board game in a bit.

Tomorrow, a woodland walk if it's cloudy. Or a walk into our wee town and a wander round the charity shops.

I bloody love weekends.

I love going tonour local softplay type of place because they have coffee and cakes and I get a bit of time to relax too.
Anything similar near you? Or is your son too young?

OP you have my sympathy. Luckily it's just DD and I and normally she is as exhausted after a week at school and after school club as I am from work. Once activities are over on Saturday morning it's jammies on and quiet afternoon and evening at home. I feel really resentful when invited out or we have social commitments!

I'm not sure how you and your wife are going to find a good balance... perhaps lunch at one of those bruster fare places where the kids can play whilst you have lunch and read the paper?

Depending where you are and the age of your child. If you are near Surrey/Hampshire/Berkshire you can get a merlin annual pass. Where I am, I have legoland, Chessington and Thorpe Park all within 40 minutes drive. Added to that all the stuff they do in London.

Otherwise,
Farms,
Pick your own
Lakes

If you are on facebook join a local group and ask. I have a lady who posts a blog post once a week, of things to do with the family.

Find out if there any books set in your area, read them and then seek out the locations mentioned.

Explore any iron age forts, ancient tracks, battle sites, disused railways that are now footpaths, etc in your area.

Find out about any famous local people in times past, visit places connected to them, also any local industries or crafts that are no longer carried out but you might still find indications of them.

Make some kites and go out and fly them.

Visit local farmers markets, art shows, brass band concerts.

SleepingTiger that's the sort of things my friends and I did as students. Sadly my children would find it too embarrassing now.

My preferences these days are soft play, swimming or local play park.

We get out every weekend day as DH needs fresh air, working in office all week. We :

• stroll to library, do errands, coffee and cake as reward
• flask of hot choc to woods, various round here, some with play areas too
• walk round local lake/reservoir
• local museums (free!) and possibly more coffee/snack

National trust are great too. We are off to one tomorrow for two/three hours then back for a roast. As its winter we probably only do the above for two hours, three at most, as its so cold, but your DW will feel better for just that amount of time outside.

• in summer try 'Kids week' for cheapo theatre tickets
• bus ride or short train journey is good entertainment for little children and not too ££
• get creative outside : pavement chalks if weather's ok or toddlers can paint walls/floor with water (keeps them busy for hours and at least you're outside)

Also, in bad weather, cinema or local pool for a swim. Although to be honest I have resported to the park with little ones as we just had cabin fever, in all weathers - just wrap up appropriately and offer nice biscuits and a drink as incentive! And take football, tennis ball, hoola hoop, stomp rocket, etc. Certainly don't feel bad for not visiting a theme park each week, etc. not many people do that and there's loads to do for free.