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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Lots of trips to the local park. My son is still quite young so gets tired easily so needs lots of breaks. He loves just being outside and parks offer a really good way of tiring him out and it's free. My local park has a free splash pad which is perfect for warmer days. We love going out to lunch or dinner and he has a big appetite so eating out always puts him in a good mood.

Some time entertaining themselves and some family days out. I think some rituals/traditions are important. For us meeting up with the same family at the beach and barbecuing together.

Meeting up with friends somewhere outdoors usually works well. Kids can bundle around playing and running around, whilst adults can sit and keep an eye on where all the kids are, but still have a conversation. Food can be eaten as a picnic with no stress about spillages or mess.

They both go to school holiday clubs while im working which tires them out for the day!

My oldest son suddenly has a love for creepy crawlies so we quite often walk to our local park. There’s a footpath on the way where we usually find lots of caterpillars ( for those who want a tip, they’re often found in curled up nettle leaves!) He’s also obsessed with snails and wood louse! We’re made lots of bug hotels which are in our dining room window!! It’s great because for once what he loves best is free! Our local park is great too. It has a small playground lots of grassy hills for rolly poleying down and paths for scooting on. I just have to remember to bring some bribery with me to help persuade them to leave!!

As we live near both the beach and the broads we go for lots of walks and picnics at these locations and then love take trips to country parks as they have something for everyone

So i have a 9 year old and a 3 year old so the age gap is really showing now with things like day trips out. However my eldest is very motherly so is always happy to help with younger day trips out. I always try find places to suit both of them such as farm parks, country parks with walks and playgrounds. We play games to keep it interesting such as counting how many slugs we can find but my son will need to find black ones and my daughter brown ones for example. And sometimes i let me eldest take a friend with her so they have each other and i can concentrate on the younger one. But on weekends when daddy is home too me and my eldest always have some us time such as coffee shop treat, cinema or simply a walk up the hills just us two talking nonsense :D

I have three girls, 2 1/2, 9 and 11 so it can be tricky keeping them all happy! Getting out when we can is definitely a winner. I've found that the eldest one likes to revisit places from when she was younger and having the youngest around helps her join in with things that she might not have otherwise, like soft play and playgrounds that she's now getting a bit too cool for school for!

Farms and zoos are good for children (and adults!) of any age and theme parks often cater for lots of ages too.

For home activities, baking is good as well as arts and crafts.

Cinema, a wee train trip somewhere new, a walk with a picnic. On rainier days lots of books, drawing together which is always a laugh, out to jump in puddles and run off some energy. They are 7 and almost 4, and fun to be around (for the most part!) so we look forward to holidays when none of us have work or school responsibilities.

I try and find activities they both enjoy, sometimes with variations to suit their age. Above all going out for the day works best. Parks, beaches, amusement park, farm park. So much easier to be out and about without the distraction of home.

they loved to go for walks around the local parks and woods :)

Picnics!
So, we can all make something to take and share on the picnic, such as sandwiches for younger ones and cakes/ bakes for older ones.
We take different skill items, kites, skipping ropes, bubbles, and a ball - everyone is catered for, without missing out.
I'm also aware that the older ones sometimes just want time out, so that's cool, as long as we are all part of the same experience, I don't mind older one's sitting out and reading.....

I have four children; 10, 9, 6 and 2 so like all families, its all about the budget.

Kids AM at the Odeon is always a good bet. Sometimes a movie at home when popcorn is on offer at the supermarket.

Also this half-term we have been planting seeds in the garden.

We do quite simple things during the weeks' holiday and generally it is low key but fun. Indoor picnics, board games and footie in the garden.

my children are aged 19, 18 and 4 so its difficult to find something they will all enjoy together. The older two are occupied with the cinema or theme parks whereas the youngest is happy to spend time in the park, or playing out in the garden if its nice

Zoo, beach, picnics, I take their friends with us!!!

I try to get different age groups together so that they can all choose each other's activities to do.

it is not half term where we live, Dcs are studying and just finishing exams at the moment and are returning to school to begin the new school year next week

DD15 - just back from Pizza express and cinema and brought a posse here
Hmm noisier than usual....
Festival at weekend - tickets and food o pay for but 3 days of entertainment with a couple of her friends

By spending as much time in the great outdoors

I only have the one child due to endometriosis complications and my age, but when I get him together with my niece and nephew we go to the beach, or to the local park and they love it, keeps them all happy!

Playing outside is easiest

We have a range of "sunny/rainy days out" and activities we pick from, and yes, baking and eating out are on the list!

I start making a list of ideas through the year, attractions or parks that other local parents have mentioned, or things dcs have said their friends have done.

The garden is a winner with all of ours, or the park. I have a toddler and older kids 6-9 so often I’ll take youngest in the playground and the older ones play football just nearby.

Theme parks like Drayton manor are also good. I’ll be taking youngest to Thomas land and older ones will go on the bigger rides with their dad. Others like Paultons / Peppa Pig work in the same way

Museums often have a variety of trails which can be adapted to different ages or else I just help my younger child more and let the older one be more independent and complete one by herself. Similarly craft activities can be done the same way.

They all enjoy walks/picnics in the park, going to the beach and swimming.