Cheap but grown up things to do with 6yo in summer hols

Spendless · 6 July 2006 at 1:12PM

It's a long story but basically I have got 6yo DS at home 2/3 days each week in the summer hols when 3yo DD is still at nursery. Last school hols he moaned that he was bored without her. I've come with the idea of doing more grown up things on those days to give him some 1 to 1 time with me and it to be a treat for him cos we wouldn't be able to do it if his little sister was there.

So far I've come up with swimming, he is a pretty good swimmer and without his sister being about we don't have to stick to little pool.

I've looked at my tesco clubcard and have £12.50 that I can change for deals (don't shop in Tescos often).

Can't think of anything else. I'm looking at ideas for 8 - 12 days. can't be too expensive as we are all going on our own hols at the end of August.

Nicki · 6 July 2006 at 2:48PM

Are there any organised activities in the area that you could go along to with him? Our local library has events for parent and child during the holidays as do local sports centres and museums - most are free or only pence to join.

How about a trip to an art gallery or a museum? If you get one of the audio tours aimed at children this can be really good fun. I never thought this would be appropriate for my son (who is also 6) until he went to the National Gallery with the school earlier this year, and nagged me to go back with him, and now it is his favourite outing.

Play dates with some of his friends from school - either at your house or theirs?

Cook a meal for the family together or do some baking. Something fun like a stir fry or fajitas, where he could be a bit creative, not just cottage pie or a lasagne.

Football in the park, or if the weather is hot, water pistols in the garden.

Writing a little play or sketch together, which needs you to dress up, which you could then perform for the rest of the family later.

Sorting out old toys and books and taking to car boot sale or selling on ebay or amazon. Any profits could be used for a trip out together to buy new toys or books.

Painting your garden fence together, if you have one or another outdoor easy but fun job.

Fruit picking if you live near any PYO farms. You could then make jam together or use the fruit for your baking.

Hope these help - I'm starting to look forward to the holidays now myself!

Rachie_B · 6 July 2006 at 3:11PM

have a look on https://www.netmums.com for advice on places to go in your area

a lot of councils run play schemes for free so would be fab if you could get him onto one of those ??? they do sport & go on trips etc

troll35 · 6 July 2006 at 5:37PM

If you go back to the national gallery (or somewhere similar) why not take a selection of art materials for your son to do a reproduction of his favourite painting etc. I have taken a mixed group of my minded children (aged 3 to 9)to the main art gallery in Leeds and to the Henry Moore sculpure park near wakefield to do this and they had wonderful days out.

Spendless · 6 July 2006 at 5:58PM

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I've looked at our local museums website and they are doing some activities but only one falls on a day when there is just me and him,but I suppose at least that is something to pencil in for that day.

Rachie- I wish our council did run stuff for free, even if local areas do it, we always miss out cos my village is always considered too affluent to get any funding to run stuff :rolleyes: .

There are holiday playschemes running which he likes going to but I do have to pay. I think I've found the cheapest one in town but it's still too dear for him to go more than a few times in the hols. The leisure centres do offer a leisure day which is not as long a day as and cheaper than playschemes but you have to be 8 before you can attend.

We have no library only a mobile one once a fortnight and the nearest walking to 'proper' library only opens some half-days. there is however another big one a short car drive away but nothing on the councils website advertising activities but there is nothing to stop me going down to the big libraries and having a look to see if they are running anything.

I do have a car, but it is 12 years old and I don't really trust it to go far. I don't mean it's unsafe, it passed its MOT 1st time in May I just don't think it would manage too long a journey. My village has a train station but I need to add the cost of the train fare for both of us to the activity.

ruthyjo · 6 July 2006 at 6:34PM

Our local laser quest place is doing a munchkin thing in the holidays where kids can play up to six games for a flat cost of £6. If you have something like that nearby you could find out what offers they're doing. Six games would take two to three hours I think.

You could go to the cinema on a Wednesday on a 2 for 1 Orange Wednesday. (Orange sim cards can be picked up for a £1 or just get someone with an orange phone to forward you a text if your phone is not on orange). He might enjoy Pirates of the Caribbean or Stormbreaker coming out shortly. These are both big boy but not little girl films I think.

Bowling is another one that my boys like but my little girl gets bored with. Our local bowling alley does £10 for a lane for an hour in the week. Sounds a lot but not really if you split with another couple of boys and their mums.

Our local tennis club does really cheap tennis training in the hols. Cheaper than any council or leisure centre scheme I've seen.

These are all suggestions for treat type things. I think your son will probably be happy to get a few days chill out time too. My lads really appreciate the odd bit of time in front of the ps2 without their younger sister moaning that she wants a go/needs them to help her/is being ignored. They also like to watch the odd dvd that's too grown up for her without her moaning that she's scared/wants to watch Nemo etc. The older he gets the more he'll appreciate that time!

dragonladywendy · 6 July 2006 at 7:33PM

hi

with only one child, but many friend mums with 3 or more children, we sat down together today to try and come up with some cheap options ready for the summer hols. Our ideas may help you, or may not! Do not know where you are in the country so that could hinder things slightly, but here goes nothing.....
1 Bridgenorth Park - free river for paddling, take picnic only cost could be railway that runs thru park.
2 Fletchers Garden Centre - free wooden outdoor adventure playground, free picnic, could be cost for train ride and entrance to animal hospital (approx £3 per person)
3 Cardingmill valley - pay for parking, but then access to free inland seaside!!!!
4 Weston Park - both entrance and train is a fee, but again with picnics and play area being free can't go wrong
5 keep an eye out on cadburysworld, what with their latest health blounder, they may well reduce their tour prices to promote their wares - well you never know!!??
6 Hoo Farm - amazing hands on farm with superb adventure playground - entrance fee, but again take picnic and your away - get free return ticket
7 Wonderland - this is a must for anyone visiting telford - classic nursery rhymes depicted in real life size great day out, great indoor play area, and outdoor childrens fairground rides - gets incredibly busy in summer but again with picnic great day out - just entrance fee usually with free return ticket!
8 Telford Town Park - wow!!!!! this is for any age group and is a must for all visitors - IT IS COMPLETELY FREE and is always worth a picnic and wander round
9 Cosford airfield - AGAIN FREE OF CHARGE and there are demonstrations, experiments, child friendly operations that teach them physics etc cafe is expensive so again picnic cuts costs!
10 art and craft day at a friends house
11 cooking day at friends house
12 playtime at friends house

as you may have gathered, i live in telford shropshire and it is the most amazing child friendly area i have ever had the fortune to live in! with its own local train station that links to birmingham (25 mins away but you'd never know it) it is a wonderful place to visit. If in doubt check out our local webpages https://www.telford.gov.uk or https://www.shropshire.gov.uk
or if you can't make it here plunge into the depths of the internet and get ideas from there (can't go wrong then)

hope these ideas help! wendy

bobsa1 · 6 July 2006 at 7:45PM

What about building a den/playhouse in the garden, can be done for real with wood etc or buy a cheap tent and set it up, have a campfire (barbecue lunch)

Roller skating (local leisure centre) or ice skating

Cinema (orange 2 4 1 is great)

have you a local pond/stream where you could take a net and do a minibeast day?

If you have a video camera get son and a friend to write a play, act it out and you can film it. They can then watch it cinema style with microwave popcorn.

Use one day to buy uniform and have lunch or a drink in a cafe- make it into a treat by him choosing a new pencil case etc. (I have girls and they would love this don't know it it's the same for boys.

Treasure hunt (we live near Hull and they have a walking tour for free, get to know your local area) prize at the end(icecream)

Hope these ideas help

princess_pink · 6 July 2006 at 7:52PM

Can't really add more than the others have. My son enjoys walks in the park with our dog, we take a picnic and we go in search of mini beasts - you could even do this in the garden if you don't have a big park near you. We take some old bread for the ducks as well. We also became tourists in our own town, I got leaflets from the tourist information. We went to the two museums and went for a return journey up the river on the river boat - was only a couple of quid and was thoroughly enjoyable for us both. Most cinemas have a set time where kids can see older films and get in for £1, this is always a treat for my son even if he has the film on DVD! If the weather is bad or you can't get out what about some cookery? Baking biscuits or cakes. Or even make your own play-doh.

bobsa1 · 6 July 2006 at 7:57PM

Just thought does his room need a revamp? plan one day and do it another, could be as simple as a tidy up, move the bed, new quilt cover or could be a repaint. Just an idea

Peakma · 6 July 2006 at 11:12PM

this sites quite good,mention on other places on the site,but I haven't noticed it in this thread yet.
http://www.gosummer.com/
What about making a dam in a stream.
learn some origami.(paper folding)
do some marbe painting,and turn them into cards or gift tags.
Bike ride.
Make a scrap book diary,to remember the time together,let him take some photos to add.
Design a t-shirt(or something else),you could use tie-dye, or computer art or photo- print out on special transfer paper and use iron on.or fabric paints,or even some simple embroidery(kisses or something!)-maybe he could do one for his sister?

Cheap but grown up things to do with 6yo in summer hols

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