Entertain 3 Children for Free (virtually) Over the Summer Holiday!

Birdy12

My 2 are on holiday now (as of today) so I'll be keeping a eye on this thread too!

I'll be taking advantage of the Vue cinema where they have a morning showing of a film which is changed every week. Each child costs £1.70 and, for every paying child, an adult goes free. I think that Showcase Cinemas and Odeon may do a similar same thing.

I may also go to Blockbuster once a week and let mine choose a film as, last year, they had loads you could rent out for 50p for 2 or 3 nights. The PS2 games were pretty cheap to hire as well. This went down well if friends were coming round as I'd lay on hotdogs and popcorn (well, any 'cinema' grub).

Something I've done this year is take advantage of the 4 weeks free DVD hire with Movies Direct through WH Smith. You can have 2 DVD's out at a time. I started my freebie session last week and I can't knock it. You just have to remember to cancel the subscription before the free period ends and make sure that any DVDs are returned before you cancel.

I will also second Tesco Clubcard vouchers and Walkers points. I've just bought some Walkers crisps from Tesco on a 'buy one get one free' offer and have managed, in one go, to accumulate enough points for a family pass to a National Trust place. Not bad for a £2.41 spend - think I'll be getting some more tomorrow!

Fire_Fox

What about a competition amongst the children as to who can plan the best family day out for the family on the least money? They are all old enough to use both the internet and their brains, and you could give one day a week over to a child - so two days out each over the summer holidays. After each day out you all give it points out of ten and at the end of the summer the highest scorer gets a (moneysaving) prize ...

dueyb

Do you have a college near by if so they might offer courses over the hols for free?? Goo d luck

moo2moo

Brit trips are back - theres tons of free and discounted stuff on the website.

boredofbeingathome

Have you seen Martin's new email? Lots of things listed there too.

Intergalactic_Floozie

Long holidays are a nightmare when the weather is poo. I have two sons, one is nearly 13 and the other is 6. The older lad plays out with his mates and will go to their houses, and is old enough to go places with them (we live near indoor football centre, snooker club, ice rink) but it all costs so much money!

Youngest lad doesn't have any friends at home during the day, but he's happy to sit and play ludo, and do drawings, play on the wii etc.. but still wants entertaining

chevalier

How about checking if there are any council run holiday programmes on? Or anything at the university for the older 2?

Am very envious of you living in Plymouth. Went to poly there when it was a poly, and regret leaving 20 odd years ago in some ways.
chev

stressed.mum

My local bowling alley are doing an offer where you buy a family discount card and each game is £2, they also give out cheap tickets at the local schools.

My kids are 16,14,13 and 9and still enjoy trips to the local farm shop which has a small farm to walk around, charity shop challenges - where they get a couple of pounds and have to find the best bargain - sometimes something that will sell on ebay to make more money. Fruit picking and beach trips are good. I plan 2-3 activites a week the other days being spent baking, house cleaning and chilling at home or with their friends

HTH
Stressed xxx

HairyHandofDartmoor

boredofbeingathome wrote: »

Have you any of the Walkers trips vouchers?

I always buy Tesco crisps for cheapness!

Tesco days out vouchers? Always good for one offs and keep an eye on local papers for things which are free.

I'm expecting some Tesco vouchers soon and that should give us a free outing to the National Marine Aquarium!

There are lots of summer fetes about at the moment as well. One of my daughters wanted her own patch of garden when she was younger and created a fairy grotto, my son created a star trek one and thought about a pirate one. Very easy to do and kept them entertained for days waiting and watching and adding bits.

Just got a patio with a wall around back, sadly. I can't seem to interest them in gardening in our tiny patch.

Garden centres with pet centres attached are often a good day out.

Only accessible by car sadly but I agree they are good (except I want to buy all the furry things and bring them home!)

Picnics and a walk.

Yes, we will do lots of these!

Truro is a good day out and there is the free Cornish museum there with Egyptian exhibitions. You could take sandwiches and eat them on the benches nearby. There is an event on in the summer i think it is run by BBC. There are lots of sight seeing there and of course the Cathedral...depends on taste really.

Thanks for this info! I don't know Truro that well so the museum could be a goer.

Have you thought about the National Trust membership or English Heritage? You can have umpteen days out with them and cashback through Quidco, but i would try the free days out membership with walkers or other offers first.

I couldn't get to any of them very easily by public transport, unfortunately.

They will enjoy it whatever you think of, so i wouldn't worry too much and before you know it they will be back at school.

Thanks. I really want to get them out of the house as much as possible, but as long as I can do that then I know they'll have a good summer .

HairyHandofDartmoor

benbenandme wrote: »

depends on your kids I guess, but how about doing something voluntary once a week?

Never thought of that. I could look into that. Don't know if I could find something all 3 were interested in, but it's certainly an idea.