MSE while entertaining kids

sjc3

I was thinking yesterday that the one area of our budget that isn't too mse at the moment is the amount of money we spend keeping our dd entertained after school and at weekends.

If it is raining my first thoughts are usually to take her to soft-play, swimming, or to the cinema. All becoming more and more expensive

She attends a gym club and goes to ballet lessons. We live in London and take advantage of all the free museums, art galleries etc. But there is only so much of that she will enjoy.

I grew up in Surrey and as I remember it most of my free time was spent doing free activities. How wise my folks were. We spent hours at weekends out and about on bikes, or trekking round Oxshott sandpits. Windy days saw us up Epsom Downs with kites. Rainy days was a great excuse to put the waterproofs on, wellies and go for a walk to splash in all the puddles.

I never went to organised holiday clubs. Spent the summer holidays with all the kids down my road in the woods behind our house, running wild.

Has made me decide to be much more creative with coming up with activities to keep dd busy. Also hope to save lots of cash in the process.

What do you all get up to for free with your kids?

mum2twinsx2

I could have written a similar post myself. MY d/d`s go to ballet once a week and swimming lessons, and with halfterm looming....
Im after ideas too. Theres only so much craft/baking/going for a walk you can do.

sjc3

Am I reading it right, you have two sets of twins :eek:

Oh my gosh, what a handful. Hat off to you, I struggle with one.

I dont know how you do it. Do you find it easier in that they have a little companion and someone to play with so dont need you to play with them so much? Or does it not work that way

Plans_all_plans

We live in a city but are surrounded by countryside so every weekend we go to a different place to walk, scoot along, play football, ride bikes etc. Is there any countryside near to you where you are in London, or are you pretty central?

I'd recommend getting a family and friends railcard http://www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/ so that you can travel around cheaply and get out and about to different places.

Or you can get 2 for 1 into certain attractions if you travel by train http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/promotions/two-for-one-london.html


My DD does ballet and tap (shes 4) but other than that we spend our weekends in the countryside. In terms of after school, I think you should to some extent let her entertain herself. Kids can be over directioned these days in my opinion.

minerva_windsong

As an alternative to the cinema, could you rent a DVD (or buy a couple of cheap ones - so not necessarily free but still cheap!), make up some microwave popcorn, cuddle up under a blanket on the sofa and have a home movie afternoon/evening?

I would also do some of the stuff you did as a kid, like putting on her wellies and waterproofs and going splashing in puddles (in the park if that's your last resort) or going on bike rides if she's old enough to ride a bike and there is somewhere safe to do that, ie with no main roads - the Royal Parks might be good for this if you live near one.

Also, what about baking, drawing, painting, similar creative stuff etc? Dressing up if she's old/young enough? Getting a cheap make-up palette and nail polish (if you're OK with that) and giving each other makeovers etc?

The other thing I would say though, unless she is really young, is to let her entertain herself sometimes. From how your post is worded I'm guessing she's an only child? I have much older sisters who were teenagers when I was little so quite a lot of the time I would keep myself occupied with things like reading books or making up games with my toys. Even when they're quite young they can occupy themselves - I have a three year old nephew who is an only child and my sister thinks nothing of leaving him (within her eyeline) to play with his toys on his own, and it's really sweet hearing him make them 'talk' to each other and making 'vroom vroom' type noises driving his cars over the carpet and things like that. Obviously you don't want to use the telly as a babysitter, and that's a good thing, but equally I think there's no harm in letting her watch some TV or a DVD on occasion as well.

sjc3

Plans_all_plans wrote: »

In terms of after school, I think you should to some extent let her entertain herself. Kids can be over directioned these days in my opinion.

I really do agree with this. She has so many things at home to amuse her; books, puzzles, art and craft stuff yet still complains of boredom. Think we are feeling a bit hemmed in, once the summer gets here we will go out and about more frequently. We are not that far from Hyde Park and Green park so spend alot of our time there at weekends.

We have nintendo wii, ds, pc etc but I try and limit the amount of time she spends doing this as I dont think its good for kids to be absorbed in stuff like that too much.

If I were a better cook I would do some baking with her. Use to love doing that with my nana. As it is I will have to practice a bit on my own first. Haven't made cakes in years and not worlds most gifted cook

sjc3

I also like the microwave popcorn and dvd idea. Thats something I could knock up myself. Am fine using a microwave :rotfl:

Also like the cheap make up and nail polish idea. Might stop her trying out my stuff too, so would save loads having to replace mushed up expensive lipstick etc .

pupsicola

My boys love doing art and craft activities. I just put a splash mat down under the kitchen table and they have spent many happy hours painting, cutting, sticking and glueing. Sadly they are not too into glitter saying its too girly. So I sit with them sometimes and make my own glittery masterpieces.

Plans_all_plans

I was thinking some more about your post and to be honest I feel as though you are entertaining her regularly using things that I would personally consider 'treats'.

I feel that her boredom is stemming from this: if a soft play/cinema is a very regular occurence for her then you risk her losing her imagination/ability to play by herself, as entertainment is being constantly served up through something else. Depending on her age, then you can to some extent change the way you do things relatively painlessly.

Really I would be heading down the route of after school letting her entertain herself (like you say, without the use of too much 'screen time') and at weekends trying to do a more family activity.

Good luck!!

sjc3

Plans_all_plans wrote: »

I was thinking some more about your post and to be honest I feel as though you are entertaining her regularly using things that I would personally consider 'treats'.

I feel that her boredom is stemming from this: if a soft play/cinema is a very regular occurence for her then you risk her losing her imagination/ability to play by herself, as entertainment is being constantly served up through something else. Depending on her age, then you can to some extent change the way you do things relatively painlessly.

Really I would be heading down the route of after school letting her entertain herself (like you say, without the use of too much 'screen time') and at weekends trying to do a more family activity.

Good luck!!

You make some good points. My mum said similar. Actually it was her pointing out that dd gets so many treats that made me review things a bit. She was a much longed for child. We are unable to have another. I want to address how things are and get the balance right so she has a happy, fun-filled childhood but doesn't get spoilt.

I want her to grow up being able to enjoy the little things in life as well as some of the little luxuries. You have all given me some fab ideas, thank you.

Mrs_Arcanum

Helping with cooking is always a winner (messy but fun) and they learn a useful skill.

Reading together. Having a kick around in the park. Also as everyone has said, allow them to entertain themselves. Son used to spend hours playing with his cars & daughter would draw on just about everything. :rotfl:(Still does for that matter).