Mumsnet users share with Sky Cinema how they keep their children entertained during the summer holidays

[EllieMumsnet]

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Keeping your children entertained throughout the summer holidays can be a bit of a challenge, there's only so many play-dates and fun day trips a parent can bear to go on. Tell us how you keep your children entertained and what your chill-out pastimes are over the summer holidays.

Perhaps you find that arts and crafts or mini science experiments help keep your DC occupied for a while? Do you clear the kitchen table, sit down to an afternoon of LEGO building and create a world that rivals LEGO Ninjago? Maybe you're roped into tea parties with a gazillion teddies, Buzz Lightyear, Woody and the gang; or you're persuaded to act out your world-famous rendition of 'Shake it off' a la Rosita in Sing as part of a front room talent show?

"When you need some down time after a busy summer's day, Sky Cinema has tons of unmissable family movies, available on demand, ready whenever you are this summer. With over 1,000 movies to choose from including the new Lego Ninjago Movie, Cars 3, Despicable Me 3 there will always be a movie to suit any mood."

However you entertain your children during the summer holidays, post them on the thread and everyone 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 mainly play outside. We live on a green, no roads, so we get out the footballs and goal, a badminton set, skipping rope, frisbee and let them play. Other children who live on the green also come out to play. We also enjoy indoor games like Game Of Life, Cluedo and Uno. Sometimes when the sun has got too much we will retreat inside for an afternoon movie and then come out again later when it's cooler.

We are saving for our holiday next year, so have to think cheap. I asked my ds to make a list of things he wants to do, and surprisingly no extravagant days out were mentioned. They just love spending time with mum and dad baking, parks,picnics,swimming learning to ride his bike without stabilizers were among what was mentioned. So note to self, children don't actually expect or mention Alton Towers and the likes, if you just stop what you are doing occasionally (like the housework and the mobile ) and listen and involve yourself in their world.

Going to the zoo, beach, park, cinema, play dates with friends!

luckily my kids rarely man they are bored, we do alot of baking and arts and crafts and walking in the holidays

Take games and picnic to the park

We have lots of day trips plan so they have something new to look forward to.

The list is endless...look for free events, go for walks,play in the garden, have some quiet time also

Sunny days - playing in the garden, picnic outside, visit local zoos/farms, outdoor events, the beach...

Rainy days - face painting and fancy dress, arts and crafts, movie days curled up on the sofa x

I am lucky that the local community put on a lot of clubs and events on during the holidays to keep DC entertained.

I try to keep a bit of structure to the day. So after breakfast is reading. Then play outside till lunch. After lunch is an indoor activity like puzzles, games, Lego, arts and crafts, playing on the computer or activity book. Then playing out again before tea. After tea its usually a movie and then bedtime.

I also schedule in a weekly park trip and a fun outing somewhere too.

We do lots of different things, but also factor in time for them to play with their toys as they don't get much chance during term times. Over the summer we go for expensive day trips to theme parks a couple of times but lots of cheaper/free trips out to National Trust places/beaches/parks etc. Also play dates a few times with friends. We have a couple of late nights planned too with local firework displays. This is also the time we will get jigsaw puzzles and lego out if we are home all day. We don't try to keep them occupied all the time as it is good for them to find their own entertainment also.

WE like to go on long days out in the countryside but I also believe that children should be allowed to be bored so that they can create their own activities.

Walking
Family visits
Play areas
Craft days
Days out

Much easier when the weather is warm and sunny. Lots of trips to the beach and park and a holiday in the middle.

As they want a lot of entertaining, cheapness is the watchword. We used to do walks thought forests looking for dinosaurs (!) and along beaches (again, we have dinosaur footprints and fossils near us) ; museum visits (mainly free and often quite exciting, such as going down a real coal mine, or visiting ancient buildings in a large park) ; and buying a season ticket to visit local castles (and making them interesting through interpretation). Thankfully the weather was better in those days than it is now!

Theme Parks
Adventure Play Ground
Parks
Beach
Family Wii games
Board Games
Cooking

Compile a list of free (or nearly free!) activities & let her choose
Jigsaws, art & games for rainy days

Great weather helps. We go to the local park, play games and then round the day of with family films to watch

Video games , Cinema, TV shows, books, Museum visits and Visit Family

So much easier, and cheaper, the younger they are. Once they get to be teenagers, everything they want to do costs a fortune - go ape, cinema, water parks, theme parks!

I am juggling a new-born and a two year old that runs away from me, so I can't risk taking him out and about when it's just me by myself. I take him on playdates to friends' homes. This works really well, as my toddler plays contentedly with their children, whilst I have a catch-up with my friends. This summer has been great, as the weather has been terrific and all the children I know have enjoyed splashing about in their paddling pools. When I have my husband's reinforcement at the weekends, we have enjoyed trips to aquariums and local farms/zoos.

Got to get outdoors at every opportunity otherwise cabin fever kicks in! Picnics, walks, poking around in rivers, climbing on rocks, making obstacle courses, rope swings etc! Any chance to get kids together to keep themselves entertained is great!

If there's a film on at local cinema we will do that. Another day could be a trip to beach. Most days the table is covered with art equipment,, paints colouring pens and plenty of paper. Also the kids love to get the Lego box out.

Lots of trips out, Natural Trust, RHS, woods, beach, playground ETC!

I try to make sure we have a mixture of family activities as well as activities with friends . Along with that we have things to do outside and in. These include making salt dough as well simple cooking. .....colouring, building and making items from natural objects.
We often have the paddling pool out and the sand pit and invite friends round. We go on bike rides and visit the cinema as a treat.