Things to do with the kids- on a TIGHT budget?

moogiegirl

Today the kids (9,8 & 4) and I painted some plant pots then planted some bulbs in them, which they all seemed to love. We have theme days, like 'ducks', so we go feed the ducks at the park, make duck biscuits, then do something crafty like drawing or paper maiche etc. Also sometimes we have 'princess' days were we all put make up on each other etc, (which is my son Harrys' favourite!)

halight

Tack the kids car cleaning for the day, It will were them out and also earn you a few quid into the bargin, Its not a bad deal!

cleggie

Moogiegirl- problem for us with the planting is that by the time we have bought all the pots/compost/ bulbs etc. i would imagine it turns out to be expensive (unless you have all that stuff anyway)?

Halight- i love the idea of car washing (and more keen on them earning money lol) but we live in a city centre and nobody would allow kids near their porecious cars! Also there is a car wash around the corner for £5!

Baking sounds like a good idea though, as both the kids love doing that. I reckon they can help me with dinner everynight and learnt to cook at the same time (who said child labour!!???).

mandragora_2

Extended schools service, Plymouth area are listing 180 events this week across all ages/interests - have a browse!

http://plymouthparentpartnership.org.uk/index.php?p=401&pn=1&m=02&y=2011&weather=Weather&cost=Cost&age_group=Age

If it's like our area in Devon, and if your children are on free school meals, you may already have 'Don't stop me now' cards for your kids, if not ASK!!! It releases £300 of funding for each of your children to take part in events. Even if you're not on FSM the extended schools' co-ordinators are tasked with providing good quality, reasonably priced/free activities in their area.

Finally, today's Western Morning News has some 2 for 1 coupons and 'free child entry' coupons for local attractions - would a friend or neighbour have a copy you could scrounge?

Pink.

Hi cleggie,

As your thread has dropped down the Old Style board I've moved it over to the families board where you may get some more ideas,

Pink

scottishchick27

Try geocaching http://gagb.co.uk/
If you have a sat nav or can borrow one it's great fun to try and find the 'treasure'. Some of them may be in walking distance of your house or if you have a car, a lot of them may be local to you.

bluenoseam

Might be a good idea to teach them something as well, if you live near the hills/moors then try find a proper map of your local area & teach them how to read a map while you walk, at the same time see if you can't find some bugs & stuff, take pictures & try to identify them later at home - lets be fair creepie crawlies might freak adults out, but c'mon we all know kids are up for that kind of stuff. Might just be me, but as a kid i always prefered stuff which i saw to have some reason to it (well, besides kicking a ball around!) and something like that can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be - an old jam jar (with holes in the lid so the poor beasties can breathe!) and you're sorted.

cleggie

Pink-winged wrote: »

Hi cleggie,

As your thread has dropped down the Old Style board I've moved it over to the families board where you may get some more ideas,

Pink

Thanks P-W

scottishchick27 wrote: »

Try geocaching http://gagb.co.uk/
If you have a sat nav or can borrow one it's great fun to try and find the 'treasure'. Some of them may be in walking distance of your house or if you have a car, a lot of them may be local to you.

Brilliant idea, thanks so much for this, didn't even know it existed!!

bluenoseam wrote: »

Might be a good idea to teach them something as well, if you live near the hills/moors then try find a proper map of your local area & teach them how to read a map while you walk, at the same time see if you can't find some bugs & stuff, take pictures & try to identify them later at home - lets be fair creepie crawlies might freak adults out, but c'mon we all know kids are up for that kind of stuff. Might just be me, but as a kid i always prefered stuff which i saw to have some reason to it (well, besides kicking a ball around!) and something like that can be as cheap or as expensive as you want it to be - an old jam jar (with holes in the lid so the poor beasties can breathe!) and you're sorted.

Lol, what a fab idea....but i dont know how to read a map hahaha, but we could learn together i guess!

I LOVE the bug idea, i am a tomboy anyway, so its a good job i had sons, not daughters!!

Thanks for all the help you guys!

cleggie

mandragora wrote: »

Extended schools service, Plymouth area are listing 180 events this week across all ages/interests - have a browse!

http://plymouthparentpartnership.org.uk/index.php?p=401&pn=1&m=02&y=2011&weather=Weather&cost=Cost&age_group=Age

If it's like our area in Devon, and if your children are on free school meals, you may already have 'Don't stop me now' cards for your kids, if not ASK!!! It releases £300 of funding for each of your children to take part in events. Even if you're not on FSM the extended schools' co-ordinators are tasked with providing good quality, reasonably priced/free activities in their area.

Finally, today's Western Morning News has some 2 for 1 coupons and 'free child entry' coupons for local attractions - would a friend or neighbour have a copy you could scrounge?

Thanks SO much for this!! Fab!

mirrorimage0

soryhaventtime to read through but have you tried geocaching me and y boys do it who are 11 and 8 andthey love it, you basically get some co ordintes near you and go off on atreasure hunt its great, but we tend to take a picnic