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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Help the children to make games. A Cardboard box can be used as a marble alley cut out about 5 arches in the box and write above them values, 10,20,30 etc with the easiest middle one the lowest. roll the marbles to get them trough the arches and keep scores. first one to get 50 is the winner. For older children, get some cocktail sticks put them in a pile randomly and use them as pick up sticks,you have to pick them out without moving any in the pile. give the sticks a colour and give them values and keep score. Children often play for longer when they have made up a game themselves. Teach them card games like rummy which also helps their maths adding skills.

I either take mine out for a walk with the dog or do some baking. We usually have enough ingredients in the cupboards to make jam tarts and it keeps my daughter occupied for ages.

We play games at home, do arts and crafts, baking and take the kids out to places

We always go for a couple of bike rides.
I look out for 'events' locally in advance so have lots of options in mind then we play it by ear each day.

We check the local paper, and usually we will find a local litter-pick! Sounds boring, but is isn't, we all go as a family, and the kids have a great time, they make more friends, and are doing something great for their local area. Even in the rain, it's still good to get them out and about, and it's totally free!

Something outdoors every single day come rain or shine. Divide and conquer - some time with each child (which is much easier if there are two of you parenting obviously).

My daughter has definitely improved as she's got older but being an only child, she does like to "play". We tend to bake or go for a walk in the woods if it's nice. In desperation, I will be forced to play endless Monopoly - something I try to avoid!

We like to bake

Its ok to be bored sometimes, but I had a box with about 100 things in it, and they used to pick out a piece of paper

We get out and about, museums, shops, play centres, ice skating, walking, swimming anything and everything to break up the day. We also like staying over at relatives for a bit of a change of scenery.

We go swimming or go outside to have an adventure or bake cakes or play board games. my son doesnt mind what we do as long as we spend time together, it makes him feel loved and happy.. so he told me, which i find extremely touching

Most times it's a case of sitting down and paying a game or two with them. But if I've already done this for a while and need to get on, then I have to fall back on the threat of sending their, obviously unloved, toys to children who will appreciate them!

I give them a cardboard box to play with and tell them to use their imagination

we walk the dog on the beach, play in the garden they have a swing and slide in the garden as well. They know if they say they are bored I suggest that they do 15 minutes tidying up.

I have no saving grace, my daughter always moans she's bored even when she's surrounded by toys!! The only thing that seems to shut her up is lego

go for long walks

i find encouraging children to entertain themselves through creative play s better than being their entertainment

lots of crafts. cutting up paper and sticking it down can waste away half an hour!

Anything creative and fun, painting, modelling, drawing. It keeps them happy for a long time :)

We try & plan something different to do everyday - all-weather activities wherever possible, to avoid disappointment if it rains! We might have one blow-out day where we'll go to a theme park (if it's within budget) but the rest of the week/s - we'll find low cost or no cost options - play dates, woodland walks, treasure hunts (time to use up those chocolate coins purchased 50% off in the January sales!), art activities, etc. Even when it's raining, we'll still spend some time outside every day to break up the day & get everyone a bit of fresh air in their lungs!

I think during holidays it is best to get a mix of allowing children to do their own thing and entertain themselves, spend some time together in the house doing activities such as baking, tidying, craft etc and then a few planned trips out, weather and time of year dependent.

Over the Christmas holidays this year, I found it more important to make sure my children had some "down time" - they had less than 2 weeks off, with all the Christmas festivities thrown in. There were a number of family/friend gatherings already arranged for the holidays, so I tried to have days where my family were at home, giving the children chance to play with Christmas presents and generally slouch and chill.

Last year we joined the National Trust and I think it is worth every penny. I am disabled, so find it difficult to get out with my children unless my husband or older children are about. However, a number of National Trust properties have mobility scooters, or buggy rides around the grounds, which means that I can go along with my 10 year old and get out in the fresh air. In fact, we visited NT places twice over Christmas, just so we could get out for some exercise and fresh air. In addition, many NT properties have events and crafts arranged for children during the holidays, which makes familiar places even more popular. I pay for National Trust membership monthly and considering membership for one adult and any children under 18 costs £5.75 per month, I find it very good value for entertaining the whole family.

Get outside. Not really a tip just a sanity saver for you and them. Doesn't matter what the weather's doing, we use the all in one puddle suits. In fact my three year old fell face first In the mud this weekend while puddle jumping and this was his favourite part of the whole weekend! Even told his teacher at nursery about it. Fresh air is free, makes everyone feel better and tires them out too 😆

My son loves baking with me so we often do that, we make cupcakes with lots of things sprinkled on top and it gets a tad messy. We are lucky to live near the beach so we often head there for a nice stroll and a picnic on the common opposite, or we head to the cinema/shopping complex nearby and grab a Burger King and watch a film armed with snacks that have cost me a small fortune .. but its nice for a treat every now and again.

A mix of free days and some low cost days really! As the weather gets better there are usually more outdoor options. Childrens centres locally do free events for under 5s so this is perfect to go to twice a week then a trip to the park, wrap up warm! A visit to grandparents then a treat such as the cinema or bowling/ swimming too.

Getting my daughter involved more at home, meal planning and then cooking it and help with the shopping and list. Taking advantage of the free museums and activities in our local area. Always plenty of arts and crafts laying about so we either let imaginations run wild or resort to searching Pinterest.