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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[RosesShouldBeInTins]

I love to have a day in 'sorting things out'! And what that means, is getting out a big pile of games that we've had over the years....so kerplunk, a jigsaw, card games, cluedo etc and we sort through to see if there is anything they have grown out of. We always have a nice day when we do that because they like to get stuff out that they haven't played with for a long time and I actually think kids often like an excuse to play with things that might be perceived as being too young for them.

And it's a free day!

[smithsurvey14]

My 6 year old likes nothing better in the dry weather than to go for a cycle while I jog along trying to keep up. On wet days he asks for a "pyjama day" and likes to have a baking session, play on his tablet or Wii, build Lego, play with his cars or use his imagination and draw me a cartoon strip. We might throw in an organized event at the local library but this only costs 50p so on the whole his holidays are pretty cheap. My 17 year old on the other hand is either in bed or out spending her own money to entertain herself.

[Laflouder]

We love to spend time outside in the holidays but it can sometimes be difficult to drag the kids out for a walk, especially if the weather is not so great. To overcome any reluctance we sell it to them as a den building adventure- we wrap up warm, take a rug, tarp and string, and pack a picnic (a small camp stove and a couple of tins of soup is popular when it's cold). If we walk in the woods then it is always easy to build a basic den roof with a tarp then the kids stay busy (and warm) collecting branches and ferns for the walls. No longer a boring walk, but an exciting adventure!!

[cathisherwood]

Getting outside usually works for mine - especially if water is involved - beaches or streams to splash in and trees to climb. If they need added interest take a treasure hunt list - include things like coloured leaves, moss and fircones etc that they can craft with when they get home - making fairy gardens on old plates or tinfoil/plastic trays is a good activity. Always take some dry clothes because they do love to get wet!

[rholo]

We just try to have a balance of down time, time with friends and family and plenty of time outside. I have a 'rainy day surprise box' with stuff I've picked up from charity shops and the sales for when we need a change and the weather is bad. I try to plan one outing that is a bit special and also use the time for activities that we don't have the time for during term time. I am lucky though, in that my partner is a teacher and I am a SAHP, I think I would find the holidays tougher otherwise.

I have to try and fit some time in for me to be on my own as well. I can sometimes find it hard to adjust to suddenly having my partner and daughter here every day.

[FurryTurnip]

There are often free or very cheap orienteering courses or events which we do. My son loves the adventure of carrying the little dibber and it's a great way of getting him out for a walk or run with a distraction!

[muminthecity]

In the winter, when we start to get a bit stir crazy after being stuck indoors, DD and I like to go for an evening bike ride, just before the sun sets. We come home just before dark and make hot chocolate with marshmallows to warm us up and watch a DVD together. This was our weekly Saturday night routine for ages, right up until mid December when Christmas preparations/family visits took over. I'm hoping we'll get back to it soon.

[Boobiebalfie]

We tend to do things that take a couple of days to do.The favourite is a treasure hunt ,on day 1 we will make a treasure map of a local park or nature reserve and stain with tea or coffee.
Day two we will go to shops like b&m,each dc will choose treasure to buy and hide,
Day three we will make things for a picnic to take (bake cakes/biscuites)
Pasta salads ect.
Day four we go to the park or nature reserve each hiding some treasure and marking x on the map to be foundin the hunt,then picnic lunch.
Younger and older dcs love doing all this my oldest is 8yrs youngest 18months.
We have even made maps for the house and family's members homes when the weather is rubbish.
I find doing something small each day that leads to s bigger event keeps the happy and breaks the day up and is also keeps the cost down in The longer summer hold that always seen so expensive.

[thewaitresses]

In addition to consulting guru MN for holiday ideas make use of local social media. The best example in my town came from a discussion about 'best local day trips to take by train'. The response was phenomenal and ranged from little known beauty spots for picnicking to super swimming pools with slides and activities a stones throw from another area's station. Use local knowledge to unearth some hidden gems!

[flamingtoaster]

First, to avoid the dreaded "I'm bored" statements create a jar with various chores on folded bits of paper, one of which has to be taken and the task completed if the words are uttered!

Getting the DC to entertain themselves for part of each day is a good strategy to encourage creativity (just make sure there is no mischief for idle hands around). On rainy days a picnic on the lounge floor is fun - particularly if combined with making a "den". We are lucky to live just round the corner from the park so a daily walk if not going anywhere else is always possible - always something interesting to see or friends to bump in to. Simple pleasures like baking, painting, dancing and singing along to favourite music - or just watching a favourite DVD have always been popular and don't cost much even if you turn the lounge into a cinema with seats in rows and supply popcorn!

[Rosie3636]

What we love most about the holidays is that there's no routine for us - my boys love to explore so taking them outdoors whether it's the local woods or beach - with a little guidance they always have so much fun !!

[123julie321]

I'm very lucky as my DC are very self-contained and hardly ever get bored! DD loooooves colouring in and entertaining herself with crafty bits and bobs, which can get a bit messy but I just let her take control of the play room and don't worry about the mess too much as she enjoys it. She also is an impressive little reader.

I'm also lucky because DS and DD get along so well together - they love playing board games, watching TV or making up games together in the living room which is really cute, it can keep them entertained for hours! I usually find baking is a fun task that everyone loves and we can whip up some yummy creative treats together.

DD and DS mostly play outside with their neighbourhood friends over the holidays when the weather is good, running around and building forts - they're always up to some big adventure from one day to the next!

[Daytona79]

If it's indoor days, crafts are good

Outdoors nothing beats a romp through the Forrest. My son loves doing that.

[kaysla]

We raid the recycling bins: Newspaper makes firelighters for our neighbours. strong plastic bottles are cut to make scoops for gardeners and pet owners. Washing pod tubs and ice cream tubs are painted for holders to take jewellery, stationery and DIY small items. My D has a great time and the neighbours love our holidays.

[Babycarmen]

Because the weather has been a bit rubbish I've been using the opportunity to get them more involved in chores around the house. If I hear one mutter of "I'm bored" then the dishwasher gets emptied, recycling gets put out or beds get changed. I think the extra responsibility will do them good because right now they get off too easy!

[Chelsea26]

Sometimes the simple things keep them entertained the longest - I bought a huge bucket of chalk from Poundland last summer and they played for ages - drawing on the patio but then taking turns to do a treasure hunt with one closing his eye and the other marking 10 crosses somewhere in the garden. I've stocked up on chalk now!

A good one for younger kids is to get them to 'paint the fence'! bucket of water and a paintbrush kept them amused for ages! Mine have cottoned on now though!

[LilQueenie]

To me its about the parent having a relaxed and flexible attitude which can be difficult at times for most of us. Always have to hand a puddle suit or snowsuit then weather is never an issue. A forest walk, where you can collect fruit, is great exercise and you can always bake with what you find on return. Local libraries, museums and art galleries have things on for kids too and they are free. Board games are also a must for the days when you want to stay in and rest a little. Above all have a to do list of what you would like to do then check it out each week. You will never be bored. It works for us. In fact its so long its becoming a challenge to tick it all off.

[gemmie797]

I let the kids invite their friends over and we make an assault course in the back garden. Plenty of water, crawling under and over nets and generally getting messy. Usually followed by an all out water fight it's all good!

[Daphne01]

Being aunt/great aunt this really isn't an issue. I have toys, colouring things, footballs etc for them to play with when they arrive :)

[ThemisA]

We keep a book/scrap book with ideas which we collect from the internet, library, books, magazines etc. I also have a large suitcase full of new (or second hand) toys/art activities/books which we bring out on really miserable days.

We go for walks and take turns making up a story handing the baton (a cuddly toy) to the next person when we have run out of ideas and they continue the story.

I choose a place to visit and the children have to research how we will get there and then plan a picnic.

I sometimes give them a load of sheets, blankets, boxes, broom handle, string and tell them to make a giant den..
For older children I get them to research on-line a science experiment, an art activity, a nature challenge etc.

[alabaster002]

Just say "Hello bored!" - soon changes their attitude........

[barbsbarbs]

we do lots and lots of crafty things,, nature walks, home cinema

[winterpark]

We are big fans of board games, we have alot and we like to play charades :)

[cwalliss82]

It depends on the weather. If it is dry, then we wrap up warm and get outdoors going on walks and bug hunting. It the weather is rubbish then playdough is a favorite at the moment.

[wjanice121]

I always have a ready supply of games, and coloring books and puzzles. You can pick them up really cheaply from £1 stores etc.