Great Free Things to Do With The Kids Hunt

savingqueen

My 3 year old loves playing with water so try the following very simple free ideas (please remember not to leave unsupervised obviously):

a bath!!! lots of toys - homemade like empty squirty bottles, jugs etc as well as usual boats etc and a pot of bubbles. a good excuse to chat to a friend on the phone, do your nails, scrub the loo, whatever at the same time

"painting" fence, wall, patio etc with old brushes and water. keeps my son occupied for ages and no mess or cost

washing up - fill an old icecream tub with slighty soapy water and give them a clean cheapy washing up brush and things like small plastic items or even just teaspoons to wash. they will make a huge mess so be prepared!

if they have a sibling/friend - let them squirt each other with old squirty bottles or similar in the garden or park

good old paddling pool

washing plastic toys, dolls etc

watering the garden with little watering cans

puddle splashing (plenty of puddles this summer)

sooz

'Free Time' on at Somerset House starting tomorrow for 4 days.

Looks fun

moocowsmum

I'm sorry if this has already been posted!
Local cinemas do a cinema club in the holidays. Poole Empire cinema at Tower Park is showing Curse of the Were Rabbit @11am 7 days a week for £1 all tickets.
Mr Bean's [EMAIL="holiday@11.10am"]holiday @11.10am[/EMAIL] 7 days a week for £1 all tickets. Enjoy!

luby-lou

FREE SWIMMING LESSONS IN STOCKPORT!

My friend has booked this on my daughter's behalf but free swimming lessons for an hour a day for 4 days, week commencing 30 July or week commencing 13 August, 4 years +. Don't know if there are still places but its organised by Stockport Sports Trust. Sorry no links but I'm sure you could phone the council or Avondale Recreation Centre for more details. Think its to help train new swimming teachers.

chathe

Hi all,

For anyone living in or near London, the BBC Proms (as in Last Night of the Proms) do loads of free or cheap events for families during the summer holidays. If you're up for a bit of culture that is!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/proms/2007/familyconcerts/

Chathe x

rjdjcd

For those living locally (within the National Forest) 'Conkers' is a great day out for the smaller children. Grab an annual pass which is not much more than the price of a single visit.

rjdjcd

Trentam Gardens is good for walks around the lake or in the woods. It is free if you do not visit the Italian Gardens, the Monkey Park, the Shops or the garden centre.

jabritza

-Moors Valley Country Park free entry without car.
-New Forest walks and exploration
the beach...
-open top bus from Hengistbury to Sandbanks (less than a fiver so nearly free and worth it)
- Dorset explorer ticket on bus for the day
-Cycling - get yourself a bike trailer for the kids and your off..... on the
offroad cycle ways, with map of routes from local council...
-Castleman cycleway from Ringwood to Poole - also saves paying parking at Moors Valley
-Cycle the beach front from Sandbanks to Mudeford
-Cycle from Upton House to Poole
-Take a tour Avon Heath Country Park
Upton House Poole
-Tour the many Bournemouth play areas
eg Littledown to Kings Park to Shelly Park to Fishermans Walk Clifftop Park
Virtually off road circulat tour via beachfront to, Meyrick Park, Cemetry, Queens Park, Littledown Park, Tuckton-Iford Meadows back to beachfront
Upton to Wimborne
Sandbanks to Corfe off road

Walks..
the central gardens, sail paper boats in the bourne stream
the many Chines
Hengistbury head and return on the Noddy train
Park at Whitecliff (free parking) walk into Poole oldtown along harbour front park
Hurst Castle walk watching yachts and boats pass by
Wick to Hengistbury


Visit Russel Coates Museum with childrens area by cafe
Badbury Rings walks, picnic, kiteflying

Go for a paddle in
Littledown Park
Christchurch park
Middle Chine sea front (so I am told)
Redhill Park

Feed the ducks at
Coy Pond
Littledown park
Queens Park
Poole Park

Go to the many free events locally usually at the weekend, see the Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch event guides.

have a great summer

Rachel021967

Love the ideas. My kids used to like going to a Pick Your Own Farm. Plenty of fresh air and fruit and vegetables for usually slightly cheaper than the supermarket.

viviennehayes

I do a website as a hobby giving hundreds of ideas for places to visit in North West England - www.funforall.co.uk I don't charge for entries so if you have any favourite ones that I haven't included let me know and I will add them to the website.