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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[cathasach1983]

Little craft projects, plus kinetic sand is a lifesaver - they never seem to tire of playing with it!

[muppet1501]

I do a lot of baking with my daughters or crafts. I have just got amazon video so on a night now we will watch a film to wind down and relax

[bluearmy35]

I love to play board games with my 2 boys to stave off boredom also going for walks by the river is also a good way of getting some fresh air

[hmariez]

Go for a walk or to the local library, anything messy -crafts and music

[xcxcsophiexcxc]

As I child my nan played bored games with me all the time, espescilly monopoly. They're a bit too young for that right now but we play lots of frustration, pig goes pop and operation !!

[vixxx666]

I have a big box of stickers for just such an occasion! The kids stick them on their toy drawers or make a picture or stick them all over themselves and each other!

[nettymay]

I told my two sons "Only Boring people get bored" (they never uttered the words again!)

[Bechoole]

Both always happy to go for a walk along the canal, something different to see each time you go and of course there is always ducks to feed

[Lulabellx1]

I find that we are all so busy during the term time that when the holidays come around, we all feel the need to chill! At least for a couple of days until the energy levels are replenished and the kids have had some ‘home-time’. Then we usually get in contact with old friends and arrange hook up’s in parks/indoor play areas etc. It’s a chance for the Mums and the kids to catch up! x

[NettleTea]

I love the school holidays, Im lucky that the kids are very good at entertaining themselves, even in the cold. We try to ask them to pick at least one thing 'outside' that they would like to do during the shorter breaks, so we know they will feel that they achieved something

[Marg2k8]

My children are older now, but when they were small, we used to make obstacle courses and tents out of blankets and things like that.

[stefalfie11]

I try not to always "entertain" DD as I think a little bit of a bordem is a good thing especially to teach her to entertain herself with playing, reading, drawing etc. We also do a lot of activities together though like baking, walking our labrador, arts and crafts or swimming.

[sbruin1122]

if the kids say they're bored i'll tell them i'll give them homework. Normally we go to the swings :P

[Annimousey]

We do lots of arts and crafts and baking. :)

[mamof3boys]

Have something creative on the go - Lego, a jigsaw, or even a quiz if short of time.

[glennamy]

DD loves to read out loud and storytelling so this is a great activity to do.

[TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey]

I once asked my children what it was they enjoyed most about all the activities I planned and we did in the summer holidays. They said everything they did with me and their dad because we don't spend time 'just us' without having something else to do, like go shopping afterwards.
I think the most memprable things we've done are those things that are slightly out of the ordinary. For example going to the beach really early (like 5am early, not a stretch being with my DCs actually) before other people are there. I took them to the beach to stargaze and look at the moon through a telescope. This Summer we will be going to one of the dark sky sites in Britain to watch the Perseid Meteor shower. We live about 45 minutes away so we'll be going out late.
Anything you don't normally do or only do at a certain time of year seems to get the best responses.

[lhlee62]

It depends on the weather if it's dry we go out on their scooters, we live really close to the local park with loads of ducks, geese and swans to look at.

For the wetter weather I have a big craft box which contains stickers, pens, pencils, paper, glitter, glue just loads of bits and pieces. We also have plenty of play dough with cutters which keeps them entertained for ages. We have been really lucky as we don't tend to hear "I'm bored" in our house as they also tend to entertain themsleves by bickering, fighting and just getting on each other's nerves!! lol

[pennwood]

Walking to the play park usually works well. Indoor art and craft, & reading stories during the really bad weather. Wellies on & outdoors after the rain & if bored let them go to Grannies!

[liz1970]

Used to take them to the park. Also made a game out of cleaning to get them to help me

[purplevamp]

I must be lucky, my kids never say "I'm bored". We go on day trips to the cinema, theme parks, sometimes we just watch a movie with popcorn and drinks.

[rachelmi]

We go out of on our bikes together or a visit to the swimming pool.

[Ikea1234]

Sometimes I actually think children need to be bored, as they then invent their own ways of relieving boredom, and go in search of things to do, rather than expect me to lay on "entertainment" all the time. Sometimes they need a nudge in the right direction to get the creative mind whirring, but very often they have ideas that are just incredible and I would never have hatched myself in a million years!

[jlwells1986]

In our house we love art and crafts. We have boxes full of all sorts of art and craft activities. Therefore anytime theres a rainy day or the kiddies need occupying then art and craft comes out to play :-)

[jt75]

A scavenger hunt in the park or along the beach is always popular.