Things to do with my 10 year old daughter

Hewie29

Hi all

I need a few ideas for things to do with my 10 year old daugther in the holidays and at weekends.

We live in a small town in the south and live on a nice little close, with a few other children around.

The problem is that my daugthers best friend, who lived on our close has moved, before this they were always together and I never really had to worry about keeping my daughter busy, they always found lots of things to do and were very happy in each others company. The other children on our close are either a few years younger or older and while my daugther is happy to play its not quite the same and she will quite often come in as she is bored.

I have very little imagination and also work full time, I have a couple of days off now and I'm a little stuck for things to do.

I also have a 14 year son, who really does not want to do much with us, but I don't like leaving him in the house for too long on his own.
Also I then feel guilty that I am spending time and money on my daugther and not my son.

I do like crafting myself, but as soon as I get my crafting things out my daughter runs a mile, so making things seems to be out of the question.

We like cooking, but there are only so many things you can cook without them getting wasted.

We don't have too much spare money so things need to be cheap and cheerful, she is quite mature for her age, so the park on her own doesn't hold much appeal.

I do try to get her friends around, but they are not always free.

Sorry to ramble, but any ideas will be really helpful.

Thanks in advance to any replies.

kingfisherblue

Cycling, swimming, bowling (LA bowl has special offers on weekdays, including during holidays), library (ours has a young person's reading group).

Free or cheap museums - we live near Liverpool and my kids love the World Museum, which has free entry, so it only costs the train fare to get there.

Country walks are free - some children like to listen for different sounds (not just birds), take photos of wildlife, etc.

In the evenings, is there a local Guide unit? Things have moved on and it is not old fashioned as some people believe. It is a good way for your daughter to spend time with other girls off her age group. She will make new friends and try new activities. Her maturity is likely to be beneficial in guiding as well. It's also very inexpensive, as all leaders are volunteers (around £2 a week for an hour and a half).

https://www.girlguiding.org.uk

There may also be other local groups that could be suitable - ask at your local library or community centre, or look on your council's website (although our council website tends to be limited in terms of what is available). Our community centre offers dancing, drama, computer club, various sports.

Hewie29

Thanks for the ideas, she was in the Brownies but got bored, but will see if she'd be interested in Girl Guides. We do have a museum but its tiny and have done it to death.

Have been looking at getting myself a bike so we can go out together, (could do with getting fit).

Our plan today is to make some ice creams and a cake and then later when its cooled down is for me to walk and her to take her scooter.

She has a friend just turned up out of the blue so shes happy, and if the friend stays then we will all amke ice creams.

kingfisherblue

You could point out to her that in Guides she will be treated more as an adult. Also, different leaders provide different activities. My daughter loved Brownies but didn't like Guides - she then became a Young Leader in Brownies and is now an adult leader.

Hope she has had a good day x

dreambirdie

i used to love getting brought to the local library to pick some books. could be an idea? or if she likes cooking, instead of making food, you could make some homemade face masks etc and have a little pampering session.

lostinrates

what about cooking a lovely meal for your son to join in and eat with you for supper? Agree with walks.

Js_Other_Half

If you join mumsnet or netmums there may be information on the local boards about what is availably locally?

scottishchick27

I see someone has suggested guides but have you thought about cubs or scouts? My daughter is nine and goes to cubs and she loves it, so much more fun for her than guides.

Hewie29

Thanks for the replies.

We are looking into guides, have sent an email to them and just waiting to hear back. My daughter seems quite interested.

Thanks for the idea about making our own facemasks, will look into that.

I am going to look at drama and trampoling clubs as she is interested in both these. I really want her to feel that she is doing something and that she feels belonged somewhere. My son has football and he plays in the winter months and helps out on saturday mornings for primary school age children and loves it, I want something like that for her.

Trouble I have with her is that she will start something, we get all the uniform and kit and then she decides she no longer wants to carry on, and I'm left with the kit.

Going to take a walk uo to the leisure centre later to see what they have got to offer.

kingfisherblue

Before buying Guide uniform, let your daughter attend for about four weeks to see if she likes it. Scouts is a good idea too (she is too old for Cubs) - my daughter wouldn't have thanked me for asking her about Scouting, but my 13 year old niece loves it. Some people (including leaders) are under the impression that you cannot be a member of both guiding and scouting, but you can. They are two different organisations.

Our local council have just produced their quarterly newsletter, which includes a selection of activities in the town. Does your council do this?

LJM

my youngest goes to cubs and loves it but my 10 year old and youngest both do dance class but i would say from a mum of a 10 year old the type of things we like to do are walking/cycling we love to cook spend time with friends i tend to have them here and they play on usal wii do make overs etc we use the beach alot and go swimming there are so many things that are cheap or free to entertain them