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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I am of teacher so I get the summer off although there is a lot of prep to do. I tried to do that in the evenings so I can spend as much time as I can with them making memories. We do a variety of things such walking local national park, going to a range of Museums, mine love the Library especially the book trail and activities days. They Play in the garden and have their own herb and veg/ fruit patch they sow wild flowers and I encourage wild life into the garden so they low to spot birds and bees.
We are a very Crafty family we do crafts and upcycling ( well I do and they sort of help) , They love to bake so we have baking days, we paly family Board games. We have family movies and I do allow tablets and tv but I much rather they paled with a box or made a den.

mums net needs a edit button i mean played

Variety is the key kids get bored when things seem mundane. Kids don't need constant entertainment you have to let them use their imagination and create wonders with their toys. A little screen time is harmless keeps the kids quiet and occupied and you time to have a cuppa. Bubbles give hour of endless fun no mess no fuss and giggles of enjoyment. Arts and crafts help create a masterpiece of let them learn vital skills to sew or help you DIY build things together under supervision. Movies nights popcorn under a blanket perfect downtime. Travel doesn't have to be expensive take a bucket spade picnic go for walks collect things in the bucket on the way. Day at the beach. Picnic and football in the park. Have friends over for the day. Have a baking day homemade is always scummy and skills kids can learn. Do the reading challenge at the library spurred on by stickers and a medal. Have free days at a museum historical and different. Of course on rainy days a softplay to burn of energy. Teenagers should have days in sleeping and on the xbox once in a while. Makeup stories and act them out with costumes. There is lots to do you just have to imaginative resourceful always be prepared with snacks.

So far
Weeding
Watering
Power washing patio
Cinema
Walks
Bike rides
Park
Theme park
iPads

And it’s good for them to be bored!

lots of day trips

Four weeks in, and most days walking and down the beach with the dog

Lots of trips to the park, bike rides, video games, arts & crafts, trips to the cinema, theme parks etc.

My children are older now, but we used to go to local parks, build obstacle courses or dens in the garden, go swimming etc.

Holiday club, kids cinema, day trips, arts and crafts, nature walks, play dates 😃

Before the holidays start we all think of things we would like to do and write them down, they have to be realistic (not something like go to America for the weekend) and can't all require money being spent. This gives us a good starting point and we discuss which ones we would like to prioritise

If it's half term then we plan at this point what we will do, if it's more than one week off then we plan for the week ahead and each weekend plan again for the week ahead using the list

I try to make sure we are outside most days at some point, even if it's just a walk to the shop

Activities they suggest might be baking, a day building dens and then a picnic tea inside their den, a sleepover day (with or without friends, blankets and quilts in the living room, films on with popcorn, treat tea like pizza) going to the beach, picnic in the park

We live by the sea so beach trips were regular things when they were small although one hates the feeling of sand between his toes and preferred to wear wellies as there was less chance of a rogue grain of sand sneaking in!

I have made a list of parks to visit during the holidays. We are so lucky in London to have so many open spaces!! Lots with paddling pools which has been a god send in this hot weather

We make a list of activities at the beginning of the hols with lots of variety such as visiting the library, baking biscuits, painting, drawing comics, visiting a zoo/Sea Life centre, learning to map read, learning to read train timetables (including a train trip) etc

Lots of craft activities, playdates and plays in the park

We love the cinema, but I take my kids geocaching for a fun, cheaper alternative

football!

Bike rides
Play dates
Drawing/ writing
An intensive swimming course for one week!
Camping
Library- reading challenge

We are a week into the holidays and have spent most of it at the beach as the weather has been amazing! We have play dates planned and visits to parks and museums. We have a family holiday booked for the last week of the holidays.
I have to work for a couple of weeks so have childcare swaps with friends or the children will go to their grandparents. My ds is also off to camp with scouts next week so that will keep him busy!
We are going to decorate a couple of bedrooms too if we find the time!

We try our best to wear them out - It is all about lots of out door play. We have gotten quite good at setting up obstacle courses. Then getting them to go round multiple times, to improve on their timings! As the day comes to an end we love popping a film on for cuddle time.

We are actually working our way through the Minions/ Despicable Me films as it happens two down two to go!

Other activities... soft play right now, library later, lots of building elaborate train tracks and car circuits and marble runs has been happening too. And yesterday’s fun activity was repeatedly charging out into the rain and running around like lunatics

Mine are a bit older but still not quite at the point of hanging out with friends all the time - it's a bit harder to find things to do (I miss the days of the farm and playground!). As much time with out of school friends and family as possible so my two don't kill each other!

We are camping for a week with friends , at a caravan park for a week and at centre parcs for a week (all with a week off in between which breaks the holiday up nicely). I work 2 days a week so the DC are with each set of grandparents for one day each which is great as they do such varying things with them. On days off we go swimming, hire bikes at a big park about 30 mins away and cycle around the lake, go into London, head to the coast, have a few days lounging at home so they can relax, cinema, youth driving lessons etc.

I love the summer holidays!

I check the local paper and Facebook groups to see what activities are on in the local area and there are normally a really good selection of things to do. I also make sure to have a list of films we can watch on rainy days and also lot's of craft items.

My daughter has a 5 week not 6 week Summer holiday, but with Inset days, it still adds up to a very long and expensive time period to entertain your child/children. I don't feel comfortable with her 'playing out' like I used to....biking down the street and running around neighbours to play...the world seems far less safe nowadays, at least where I live. I'm a lone parent so she hopefully gets a staycation with me and also holiday with Dad. Work is able to offer flexibility, so it still leaves a lot of full days to occupy her. And as she's not a baby anymore a day out can prove more expensive than it used to. I do try for local parks, walk and picnics weather permitting. I also look out via e-mail and social media for local free events - play days, city beaches, library event, leisure centre Summer events, park events, etc and there can be plenty about if you put the effort in and research. I also use supermarket loyalty schemes to pay for a special day out and meals out, or look out for vouchers to discount a treat meal out.

The summer holiday is a tough one as we have to work, so we do a combination of days at home where they loaf around, play in the garden and relax, days at soft play, days at holiday club and then evenings spent doing more unusual things, like evening picnics in a nearby park, chips by the river, outdoor swims, Film in a Field (an outdoor movie watched under blankets in a field with hot dogs) and get togethers with friends and their kids.