What to do with the kids on rainy days in the school hols - we need your ideas!

[rachel(mumsnet)]

Scottish schools are breaking up for the summer hols from Monday and BBC Radio Scotland have asked us to us come up with some ideas of what to do with the kids.

It's cold and wet in Scotland right now and, for many parents, the idea of eight or nine school-less weeks is challenging. Can you help? It's not so much about where to go, but more things to do in the house and out and about; How to survive even if the weather prevents you from hitting the beach or local paddling pool...

Post your ideas and tips here and big thanks in advance for your help.
MNHQ

And we made up an indoor treasure hunt for both children last weekend, they loved it. 15 clues, all leading to chocolate at the end.

My children also like it when we all play a game together, something like (interminable, I'm afraid) Ludo.

Treasure hunts, making treasure maps (rip the edges of the paper, scrumple it up, unfold, soak in tea for an hour, leave to dry - makes great parchment!). Spend a day making all those craft things that are under the bed! Make a film using playmobil/brio/lego - the child can narrate and move the figures, adult just films, then watch the film with popcorn! (This is ds1's favourite thing to do!). Local museum, swimming, train ride - go for a short ride on local train, assuming it is an interesting route, or bus trip round town. Brass rubbing at local church. Write books - ds1 loves me to staple about 6 pieces of A4 paper together into a 'book' - he then writes and illustrates a story.

can we pool ideas for older children (ie 8+) especially those who are less keen on crafts and like more physical stuff (ie boys )

When I am feeling very enthusiastic, we have had theme days ie Eygyptian, where we read some horrible hstories stuff, do some hyroglyphic messages (code), make paper, dance like idiots to walk like an egyptian!, look up some vaguely themed recipe and cook it etc.

we have themed days too. dd brings home ideas from nursery. we look into different cultures and try to dress up like that cultre/draw pictures/research thier religion and cook foods from that country! she finds it all facsinating

DVDs = but do it like you're really at the pictures, re-arrange the chairs etc, someone be an usher, someone take money etc...

Indoor play centre!

I find slipping a friendly 18 year old a few quid to babysit/play with them solves a lot of problems .

The absolute best investment for summer is a gret waterproof and shoes (crocs cut it in summer, waterproof, washable and throwaway if you skip the named brands).

Then you can do pretty much what you wanted anyway, bar sunbathing.

We are making up 'entertainment bags' full of things to give the boys. Website addresses, scrapbooks, glue, coluring books, a reading book, and anything we see really thats A) syutable, and B) cheap.
I think I will be adding cress seeds this week as we'll be in the garden centre anyhow.

And I will be booking in a lazy day each week where they have to pretty much entertain themselves so DH and I can get things done, have a break etc- keep tempers from being frazzled.

Water pistols can be great in the rain.... no reason to worry about being wet!

Life size portrait. use either a LARGE piece of card. or lining paper..(joined together if needed). drwa round Dc's and let them cut up old clothes and cloths to dress their portraits.

squishy balloons.. fill balloons with flour and tie them up... ( this is messy!)

washing liquid and glycerene (sp) using different objects to see what/ who can make the biggest bubbles (outside)

barefoot puddle jumping in the garden.

snail collecting.. (good for the garden too!)
survival training ( good ole ray meres)..Dc's (pretending) have been shipwrecked and only have a few items to make a bivvy to stay dry in the garden!

hunt the coins.. choccy coins hidden all over the house.

also- for when TV really is needed- we've already starte to record episodes of suitable programmes that they don't normally watch (brainiacs as its on a bit late for them): at least it's better than resorting to endless mindless cbbc!

If you're stuck for easy-ish craft ideas, Kids Craft Weekly has lots of good ones. Look at all the back issues of the newsletters, which are all arranged around various themes.

Home cinema.

Get them to pick a movie that you will all watch (it can be helpful to do a swap with a friend for something that they haven't watched)

They then need to make the tickets and paint pictures for the adverts. You then need to make some popcorn.

Invite the friends round (quid pro quo!)

Draw the curtains and have a home cinema.

Take them swimming, many local authorities have free swimming for school kids in the summer hols.

Library

Puddle jumping

Local art galeries and museums often do activity days

Oh yes, if it's raining, DS particularly loves going on 'a muddy walk', where we jump in all the mud, and get as dirty as possible (wearing waterproofs).

Have a toy 'clear-out' - children will magically latch onto some long-forgotton manky old toddler toy which has been gathering dust for years and leap upon it and play with it all day

Also have a baking day. Even if all you have is some rich tea biscuits and some icing and decorations or sweeties, they will enjoy it.

We have set up a campsite in the living room with blanket tunnels and are having a picnic.

We can't get away on holiday so we do fly fishing in the field (no hook)

Picking strawberries and rasps.

Making butterfly gardens.

Dough people or things.

Plaster of paris and pasta pictures.

Baking

Lots of walks with the pram

Mini beast hunts and lots of paddling in burns.

Yesterday afternoon was spent looking for trolls and elves down by the river

gentleotter - will you do all those things in the rain? Strawberry picking?

We are outside all the time (on a farm) so yes.
The baby is in a plastic pram pod thingy and all cozy.
It is nice out in the rain.

I admire your spirit! I try and embrace the rain, but as I have to walk so much in it, the thrill has palled after 10 years...

Birthday parties for favourite toys go down well here.

Also mass painting sessions - so you join in too. It's nice for children to see adults painting for enjoyment

Wii/playstation/x-box/internet, raincoat, wellies and umberella and shove them out the door.

Rub them with shampoo and then lock the buggers in the garden till they are clean

Then give them chocolate.

ah WMMC - I see you have read my parenting book!

I have a tall-sided paddling pool that I fill with warm water and put in the conservatory on rainy days. They play in it for hours and hours and they absolutely knackered themselves out.

I don't do treasure hunts and stuff though. I think it's important that they are able to spend hours PLAYING without intervention.

(I use this justification to relieve any looming guilt over being a lazy parent.)

oh I set up a tent too, good one

They love the tent indoors

Picnic in tent, throw in some teddies, they are happy for ages

pyjama party - pjs, duvets, treats in the middle of the day.

Lining paper is great - draw around them and let them paint/draw themselves as they are, as aliens, as clowns etc etc

Also use lining paper to draw big landscapes for a play scene. If they are into dinosaurs, then a background of moutains and trees, or if cars a city, or a fairy garden -that kind of thing.

Let them get in the bath and play.

check with the local council for any activities laid on. Ours do weekly sports programmes and are really affordable. Same with local libraries and museums.

Check if you can visit your local firestation (a personal favourite of mine )