What are you doing today with your children? (school summer holidays)

Spendless

Thought I'd start this thread so we can post what we've done with our children during the summer hols and share ideas for days out, picnic recipes, games to play etc, etc, anything really. It might also be helpful to gives ages and sex of children.

I'll start and say I gave in to pester power to see Harry Potter yesterday. It cost around £16. I took my own drinks and sweets in to reduce the expense.
We booked on-line as I'd heard it was selling out but because we'd done so I never gave any thought to arriving early, which meant we were limited in where we sat as there was barely any 3 seats together spare. We moved from our first seats 10 mins into the movie due to the constant talking of teenagers near us and ended up on the front row having to look up.
The film doesn't have many action scenes till towards the end, so my 6yo was getting fed up. My 9yo has has read the books was fine though.

I admit what would have been more sensible was tio stick to my original ideas for yesterday and send eldest to this he joined last month.
Are you 8 - 11? Are you interested in wildlife and the environment? Do you like having fun?

If the answer is Yes, Junior Rangers might be the group for you.
There are lots of interesting and fun activities, from pond dipping and shelter building to games and crafts to fun outings and adventures. The Club meets monthly on Saturday mornings.
You need to be a member to join in the fun but membership is free.

I found it on my council's website. It runs 10am-12 and is free.

and to have gone to Yorkshire wildlife park yesterday evening as it is free entry after 5pm in July and left HP to a rainy day.
http://www.yorkshirewildlifepark.co.uk/


Today we have baked banana bread. I use this recipe

http://www.elise.com/recipes/archives/001465banana_bread.php



What are you doing?

dizziblonde

Schools here don't break up till the middle/end of next week (unless they've put Insets on at the end of the year like my old boss used to)!

skylight

Cinema trips - our does cheap stuff during the holiday/weekends but its not always good stuff!

Treasure hunting - a list of things to find, the younger one gets involved too as I put pictures instead of words. Simple stuff at the big park, so feather, stone, different leaves etc.

Geocaching. They like the search.

Free swimming. Most councils are offering free swimming for under 16s. But I expect that to be busy over the summer.

Have a family railcard?? Cheaper travel and lots of 2for1 offers on entrance fees. (On website)

Spendless

Then think how useful this thread will be dizziblond when yours do break up and you've already got loads of suggestions to the 'muuuuummmmm I'mmmm borrrreeeed';)

Some of the Scottish (and NI I think)schools will be part way through the holidays, but all ideas, suggestions from everyone welcome:)

Janepig

I haven't got much leave over the hols, although I only work Monday Tuesday and Wednesday so I'm off Thursday and Friday anyway. I'm off next Wednesday and the following Wednesday so I guess I'll be taking DD to the cinema on one of those days - Orange Wednesdays!!!! It costs enough to go anyway so I refuse to go on any other day than Wednesday!

We've already had floods of tears from DD (yesterday) that she's missing her friends, although she's full of cold and full of misery at the moment which doesn't help. Luckily her swimming and cheerleading classes continue through the summer so plenty to do there and gymnastics starts back middle of August.

Then I've got a peaceful afternoon to myself (to clean :rolleyes:!!!) because MIL came back from holiday last night and so DH is taking DD and DS up to see her. Oh the silence!!

Jxx

Toonie

I work as a nanny and I'm trying to arrange one trip a week with the kids. I look after a 5 year old and a 3 year old, so there aren't many clubs for them to go to. Luckily, we're in London, so we will be going to the free museums and only have one paid entry trip planned-to London Zoo if they behave themselves throughout the holiday.

I'm also planning a summer project for them so they can each do drawings and we will take pictures of where we go and they can make a scrapbook of their summer holidays.

kjmtidea

I have loads planned, I have 4 children and need to keep them entertained. They will be going to work with Daddy tomorrow morning so that should be interesting! Then cinema, forest, beach, park, museum, arts and crafts, baking etc should keep them entertained.

We have spent the morning chalking the back yard, every brick is a different colour lol.

dizziblonde

Spendless wrote: »

Then think how useful this thread will be dizziblond when yours do break up and you've already got loads of suggestions to the 'muuuuummmmm I'mmmm borrrreeeed';)

I wish I was ever likely to be in that situation - but it appears I'm probably infertile.

Local leisure centre here's got a tonne of courses and stuff on - including kayaks and things in the pool... quite how they're planning on reconcilling the family fun with floats and things along with the lunchtime worker swim they've got timetabled in the same pool at the same time should be amusing to see.

bonty44

I cant' wait till the summer hols start! Roll on Thursday, we have all voted for a pjama day so woe betide anyone who comes knocking to see if the kids are playing out!!!

And on Friday we're going to a (free) Punch and Judy show in the park, huge picnic and we can't wait!!!

SugarSpun

The Guardian website has a list of things you can do with kids during the summer, including - I think it's Odeon having films for kids at £2.50 all day every day.

louise3965

I work from home, so mostly yelling *for gawd sake entertain yourselves* I think