A Frugal School Holiday

gratefulforhelp_2

Go on your county council website/ring them and ask about learning community activities - your learning community may have a programme of subsidised activities eg go karting, forest school, climbing et.c.

YORKSHIRELASS

red_devil wrote: »

kids shouldnt expect to be taken out all the time and go out eating. Be a good idea to explain that you havent got the money. havent they got any friends they can have round or go to.

Yes this is true, and they do have friends they can go around to. They also get on well and will do stuff together. They are also very aware that money is tight and rarely ask for anything. But I as I have said already I want to spend some quality time with them.

The idea of the thread was to share ideas with others about cheap, fun things to do, especially with slightly older kids. Whats wrong with wanting to entertain your kids? I am not going to be going out with them every day or spending every minute at home with them - we would drive each other mad! I do love my kids though and enjoy going out with them, cant see anything wrong with that.

j9faulk

God I wish I lived somewhere near some of you £1 for a morning of play that's fantastic. I've not seen anything anywhere near that cheap for me down in Bournemouth. Never even got the usual council booklet with information on what's about this year so I'm not sure that one exists. If anyone has any info please pass it on it will be greatfully received!

YORKSHIRELASS

Hi

Thanks for the suggestions - great ideas. I like the idea of making a list of things we would like to do and fitting it onto a rough planner. I like to have a plan!

Looking around for free or low cost stuff locally - most of it is aimed at little ones and there seems to be a real lack of stuff for the over 10s. I guess at this age most kids are off playing with their friends and dont want to do organised activities.

There are some sports activities run by the council but they cost around £6 or £7 a session, thats £12 or £14 if they both want to do it. Similarly local sports club are doing activity days but they are £10 or £12 a day each.

RAS

Most parks have free tennis courts, often a free multi-use court (footie and basketball) and some (Woodhouse Moor in Leeds for example) have free bike ramps.

Check out the rangers - leeds here http://www.facebook.com/leedsparks or ywt http://www.ywt.org.uk/whats_on.php

For food perhaps take hotdogs in a thermos and rolls and sauces and have a hot picnic?

mrcow

AMF Bowling are doing a offer for a family of 4 to bowl for £9 if before 6pm. (or £14 for 2 games)

Or £4.95 each for bowling, hot dog and drink with extra games at just £2 each.

http://www.amfbowling.co.uk/AMF-Bowling-The-Experience/Eat-Drink-and-Bowl-With-Our-fantastic-Kids-Offer!_1.htm

Zoetoes

Dustykitten wrote: »

Some bowling places do cheap games if you go between 9 and 10 in the morning.

Geocaching is fun and free and there are bound to be some near you.

Make a hole in the centre of the lawn and play clock golf (you can often pick up clubs in the charity shop really cheaply)

Camping in the garden can be fun - my 9 year old is out there now with 2 friends and there is a local firework display on at a wedding venue so they have a free display they are enjoying.

Well I've never heard of Geocaching or clock golf! I've just looked at the Geocaching link and my 10 year old will love this!

Now what is clock golf........:o

Literally just going round like a clock hitting the ball into the hole?

Birdy12

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

Hi

Looking around for free or low cost stuff locally - most of it is aimed at little ones and there seems to be a real lack of stuff for the over 10s. I guess at this age most kids are off playing with their friends and dont want to do organised activities.

I'm with you on this, particularly when it comes to council run stuff, very few courses offered for the 11+.

Camping in the garden sounds good! My DS's already had a couple of pals for a sleepover but might suggest a garden camp for the next one.

I also second the movie night with pals round, rented (or borrowed) DVD and popcorn.

My local council produces a local pamphlet which contains a cheap family swim voucher for £5. I'm going to use them for my DS or DD to go with their pals as it's cheaper than paying singularly.

I know the library, in terms of longevity, doesn't provide the most exciting entertainment but my area are running a scheme this summer - read some books, prove you have by talking about them and receive some stickers and a medal at the end, DD likes this.

I'm only a train ride from London and I've been told there are some free festivals going on over the holdays. My pal went to Vintage Fair at Southbank and said it was brilliant with things to makey-do and, with a packed lunch, doesn't have to cost anything more than the train fare.

Sorry, know I'm going on but just thought of another thing (for me as well actually!) - if you're with Orange, then you can get 241 cinema tickets on Wednesdays.

OP, do you have any family that might let your kids have a sleepover at theirs, change of 4 walls an' all that?

Spendless

YORKSHIRELASS wrote: »

Hi!

Looking around for free or low cost stuff locally - most of it is aimed at little ones and there seems to be a real lack of stuff for the over 10s. I guess at this age most kids are off playing with their friends and dont want to do organised activities.

There are some sports activities run by the council but they cost around £6 or £7 a session, thats £12 or £14 if they both want to do it. Similarly local sports club are doing activity days but they are £10 or £12 a day each.

Funding cuts have hit a lot of these areas too. I'm using the sports club activitiy days for whilst I'm at work this year! Have you tried googling your local football/rugby etc teams to see if anything is running via them instead of the council?

Spendless

Re, camping in the garden. My son and his mate spent hours making a tent with 'natural resources' the way they'd been taught to in Scouts with long brances and string and tarpulin they found around the house. They then slept in it that night. I have a secure garden on each side and DH slept downstairs so he could hear them if they came in which they did at 4.30am when it started raining.