Mumsnet users share ways to keep their children of different ages entertained during half term with PizzaExpress

[EllieMumsnet]

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It’s half term and both you and your DC deserve some family time before the last leg of the summer term begins. If you have children of different ages, you know it can be difficult to find activities that entertain both. PizzaExpress would love find out the ways you bridge the age gap with activities that keep the children entertained, letting them express themselves.

Here’s what PizzaExpress has to say: “We love welcoming families into our restaurants and understand how precious time together is. Our goal is to make the time at PizzaExpress as enjoyable as possible, which includes not only delicious pizza but also fun & creative activities for Piccolos of all ages and the whole family to get involved in. What is it that makes it tick and ensures well-behaved children all round?”

Do you get them in the kitchen helping you create new dishes for the family? Perhaps you take family trips out that cater for all ages or go for a meal out in a family-friendly restaurant? Or maybe you have different variations of the same activity such as a colouring book for your younger DC and free-style painting for your older DC?

Whatever your ways to keep your DC of different ages entertained during the half term, post on the thread below and you will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ

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We have the extremes, one is late teens so now does her own thing, little one is 1 so everything is amazing to her 24/7! :)

For dd17 I try not to plan too much. It can be unpredictable what type of mood she will be in on the day! I usually plan in a visit to the cinema, shopping and a trip to pizza express.

Anything food related works - movie night with popcorn, picnic lunch at the park, ice cream at the beach following an afternoon of making sandcastles (or more recently, Hogwarts!), cinema followed by pizza.

Mine also like playing games outside together. Hide and seek is always good, as is swingball and those velcro catch games. Board games for when it is raining.

I have a one year old, a 7 year old and a 9 year old and I find it hard to do things altogether. Soft play is still an option but difficult to keep an eye on all 3 as they head in different directions. A walk in a wood is good if it’s buggy friendly or a nature hunt.

Olivia loves playing in the garden but also loves to help with the gardening. She’s a budding Charlie Dimmock, she follows the gardeners around asking questions and has her own little patch of garden and pots which she plants each season. We have giant outdoor games for her to play too which we can bring inside if the weather isn’t good and our local park always has lots going on at half term for the kids

We make sure to do something that each of them wants to do

Playing in the garden. Paddling pool out , lots of toys and music. We usually have salad and chicken or burgers which they love :)

I find that you have to vary the things that you do. If possible i try to ensure that there is one main activity a day. This could be a day out, going to the park, a museum trip, etc.
If its raining then it could be board games (which have to be managed or they can turn into arguments), going to the cinema, or buying and watching a film together.

crafts are a good way to keep them entertained

let each child be the golden one for a day or half day, choosing the film, game, snacks, best seat etc. but make sure each has a turn

My children are now older , but I shall soon be after ideas for grandchildren.

we live near the beach so it's a cheap and convenient way to entertain as long as it's dry!

the beach or swimming always a winner for both ages

send them off to their grandparents is a godon

Bike rides and walks to feed the ducks down at the canal. Fun for all ages they love it! Always something new to see and talk about

We try and do things they all like - we go for walks, to the beach, to the library, etc. My eldest loves swimming so we sometimes drop her off at the sports centre and go off for a nice walk with the dog before collecting her later.

A trip to the local park with our cricket/badminton set and a picnic is great for all ages.

County parks & National trust sites with kids play areas - there's often enough of a variation in play equipment to cover the range of DC ages

when the weather is nice we make sure outside as much as possible, walks, nature trails, picnics etc, when indoors lots of craft ideas, books to read and board games,

Cinema is the best option followed by something to eat. The way to pique teenagers' interest is through their stomachs!

Mine are still young enough that the park is pretty much the favourite place to go still. They are 1, 4 and 5. A great day for them in half term would be - kids club cinema (v. cheap, and me and baby can have a nap ) swimming, something to eat (cheap sandwich from boots plus other picnic stuff) and walk home via a park. All would be happy with that.

I always scour our local fb pages and ask other parents about events xx

Luckily we only have the one, but it's still hard finding things for her to do, especially as there aren't siblings to entertain each other.

Walks in nature reserves, a cinema trip, parks with equipment for both xx

Try and find activies that all ages enjoy. Swimming, park or theme parks seem to be a big hit.