Holiday Activities for the kids: share with Lidl your top tips - vouchers to be won NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

The team at Lidl know how hard it can be to entertain your children during the school holidays, whether that’s the cold February half term, the longer Easter hols or the never ending Summer break. So we’re keen to hear all the activities you do with your children to stop them from uttering those dreaded words… ‘I’m bored…’

So, what’s your saving grace? Do you try and get them outside for for a kickabout in the park or a game of rounders with friends? Or - if the weather’s not playing ball - do you have some ideas for keeping kids occupied when they’re stuck indoors. Maybe you have some Easter-related food you make together, or arts and crafts tricks? And above all that, how do you stick to a budget and keep costs down?

Add your top tips and plans of action to this thread and you’ll be entered into a prize draw where 5 winners will each get £50 to spend in Lidl.

Thanks
MNHQ
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[Elliepurpleflower]

This Christmas holidays we have spent loads of time visiting friends, watching Christmas films, cycling to the park, doing crafts, baking, playing with new toys and playing in the garden. They haven't been bored!

[ButterflyOfFreedom]

If it's dry (or even just drizzling) we get outside- park, woods, on bikes or scooters, garden, just for a walk to the shops.... The fresh air and exercise does us all good!

Inside activities include drawing / colouring, playing board games, jigsaws, reading books, play doh, baking, hide & seek, playing with toys such as lego...

We also enjoy day trips out to the museum, zoo and wildlife park.

[FlukeSkyeRunner]

Get them outside as much as possible. Indoor activities - lots of craft stuff fir them to do, books to read and getting involved in baking etc. Also a bit of boredom is a good thing - I don't fill all their time with activities, they need to find their own things to do independently.

[LittleMoonbuggy]

I try to plan a couple of proper days out to attractions, then the remaining days make a list of things to do and pick a couple for each day, eg baking, walks, bike rides, watch a film, play board game.

Then they just do what they like the rest of the time and don't get too bored. Kids need a bit of downtime anyway.

[Powergower]

My plan of action is to airways get them out for fresh air or a walk. If it's terrible weather w stay in and bake/cook , watch TV and chat. Nothing better than a good old fashioned chat about what's happening with everyone. I find my kids need a lot of downtime so don't plan things for every day, sometimes just having a relaxed day at home is all the activity we need.

[Rosehips]

go outside even if it's miserable weather it gets some energy out of them and you'll appreciate being stuck in the (warm) house with them

[tooneedyme]

We spend alot of time outdoors at the park or walking in the woods. Board games are favourites too and I get them involved in cooking. We like activity books and ds (4) is into make believe. Movie nights are popoular in the holidays.

[BradleyPooper]

We live 10 miles from the largest food bank in the USA, they need 600 volunteers a day and you can volunteer from age 6. We do a few 3 hour shifts every school holiday, sorting food items or assembling packs, the mood is upbeat, music is loud and it's a fantastic thing to do( and free!)

[HattietheManatee]

I like planning activities but find on holidays and weekends the kids really want to stay at home and play with their toys. They have long days during term time so they're really tired.

Boredom busters are rarely needed, but we try and get them out every day, if only to the park across the road. Drawing, sticker books, colouring in things from the Internet, stories, making dens, baking, a new magazine with a toy, silly selfies, hide and seek (where you hide a favourite toy), dried bean sorting, play dough... the kids have enjoyed all of these and they are easy to do.

We have a couple of bigger things planned for each break (e.g. Theatre or museum)

[Trolleybus1]

remove electronic games and ipads, let the fun begin

[annandale]

Love Feelingsmurfy's post, that's inspiring.

For bored children up to a certain age there's nothing like water - long bath, a sink full of water and lots of random plastic pots, splashing in puddles, running through a hose, filling a paddling pool with jugs.

For secondary school age, water can still play a role, as they become able to have a bath on their own and even voluntarily, and swimming in any river or pond you can find. At this age I find you need to disguise craft activities by finding a purpose - ds spent a surprising amount of time making and packing microwave fudge for Christmas presents, and will draw birthday cards for people. Building up a stock of card games that you know by heart is good as you can have the cards out and be playing before they have time to decide they would rather sulk. Whist, Poker and Klobiosh have all gone down well at times.

[CheeseEMouse]

Getting outside - so investing in decent waterproof trousers and coats then we can get out and use some of the parks nearby. Seems to stop the children going stir crazy!

[littleme96]

If the weather is nice we'll head out on a dog walk to the park or go geocaching - walking isn't seen as boring if they are on a hunt for "treasure".

When at home, we don't try to plan too much. Sometimes we all just need some down time when we just watch a DVD or play with Lego. If the weather is bad, we'll do some simple baking or play card games/board games. Quite often kids just want a bit of time and attention and once we have all played a game together, they are happier to go off and amuse themselves afterwards.

Usually we will plan a day out on one of the days, but don't put too much pressure on ourselves to do something expensive or amazing.

[bigarse1]

we do everything we can think of! with 3 small children, 2 are disabled it takes a lot of thinking about. we tend to do the park or beach in the morning when they have the energy, or swimming if another adult is around and then in the afternoon we do tie dye, paining, make our own playdough, paddling pool, sticking, cutting, long baths with foam soap, making our own pizza, fruit kebab or decorating gingerbread men. lots of reading and writing and the odd dvd when I can talk them in to it x

[DinosaursRoar]

I do make them leave the house for a short while everyday, they get hideous without fresh air. Normally I try to arrange play dates for every other day, I like a plan for at least a couple of hours daily.

National trust membership has been a fabulous gift from PIL, there's usually something going on at our local ones in the holidays for those days without a plan.

[gamerwidow]

My dd(6) loves being outside. Anywhere she can run about will do, it doesn't need facilities.
Also she loves it if I play 'pretend' with her so getting all the food out of cupboards to play shops or getting her teddies down to play schools is always a hit.

[misshoohaa]

I rotate toys, so put things in the loft for a few months and then bring them back out, that way they are fresh and keep them entertained.
We often go tree climbing with the camping stove, and make hot chocolate and bacon sandwiches, and crabbing - the kids love crabbing.
Lots of fresh air and non structured time outside helps keep the holidays affordable, and the kids entertained.,

[Anononoo]

We go on trips. Always on the look out for castles we have not visited o pr loved visiting, or parks, or forests. We go to museums and galleries. We have membership if the local zoo, so that is always a good trip and English Heritage card, Otherwise, we do things at home, cooking, crafts....but oftentimes the blighters just loll about on devices.

[iwanttoridemybicycle]

We go to the park, the beach, go on walks and bike rides. Anything to keep them off the gadgets! 2 of mine go off with their friends now as old enough.

[RubyWinterstorm]

Kids these days don'tsaythey are bored, ever.

Kids these days have 24/7 entertainment at their finger tips through pods, pads, xboxes, wii, phones etc!

So it is a challenge to get them off their devices!

I like taking them outdoors for some good old fashioned fresh air , a walk and a winter picnic.

All you need is a thermos flask with hot choc and some sanwiches and a park/wood/beach

[myrealfairy]

I like to use my wall planner with the children to have a skeleton plan of what we will be doing. By getting them to be involved in the planning side of things they are more willing to participate more in getting ready and helping out with making it happen. As they are getting older (8&11) they have their helping out tasks to do aswell; help with shopping, clearing dishes, tidying their room etc. Then we have our fun stuff, football, walks, crafts and having friends round. Planning is the key and flexibility to shake things up a bit if opportunities come around. Mainy - myrealfairy.com

[Slowdownsally]

We're quite happy with scooting, walking outdoors in most weathers and luckily live next to a big Heathland we visit almost daily.

Indoors, there's craft projects and DS has just become interested in creating scrapbooks and making his own picture books.

Always try to have a treat day to the theatre or cinema.

We've enjoyed some lovely lazy mornings this holiday and a couple of pajama days with TV and board games.

[StickChildNumberTwo]

We seem to acquire craft kits/sticker books/colouring sets at a faster rate than we use them, so the holidays are a great time to catch up with some of those. It's also a chance to sit down together and watch a film or two.

[CheeseAtFourpence]

I try to vary the activities - walk the dog (hunting for gruffalos as we go), craft activities, playing in the garden (even just chucking her Barbies out encourages different play), visiting the library (lots!) and a couple of visits to attractions.

[Sammyislost]

If we're stuck indoors, We always have one of those cake making kits in the cupboard. The simple ones where you add eggs and water. It's fun to make, and then while the cakes are cooking and cooling, we draw some designs on paper of ideas for when we decorate the cakes. Fun and easy, and not too much washing up!