Occupying kids during Easter hols

Orchid

Hi all

My partner's 2 kids (age 10 - girl & 13 - boy) will be staying with us, along with their cousins (age 10 and 14 - both boys) for a week over the holidays.

For those with children, what activities do you have planned to keep the little people happy over the hols? I'm touting for ideas

So far the request list from the kids (and of course, there is no consensus) have included swimming everyday, go-carting, paintballing and the cinema. Doing all this (and of course they will have more suggestions ) would cost a fair packet!

One idea hubby & I are discussing is giving them a set budget for the week for them to decide how to spend it to occupy themselves (we will provide taxi service & participate if allowed!). This would help them to appreciate money and budgeting. However, we cannot agree on the right amount to give them (and cash is not exactly flowing in abundance). So what do you think is an acceptable figure?


* Oh I do not have kids myself so new to all this!

Sarahsaver

Over this weekend mine will be playing in the garden, planting seeds and plants, making easter baskets and eating the contents;), cooking, visiting friends, bike rides and trips to the park.
As the kids you have in mind are a bit older why dont you give them a budget but dont give them the actual money, more like 'vouchers' and they have to decide how thay are spent.
Look out for 2-4-1 vouchers in the local papers.
Have 'spending' and non spending days, or even see if they can MAKE some money! Gardening, car washing...

Savvy_Sue

I think Sarah's given good advice here. As for setting the budget: they will blow as much as you allow them, so be modest. I can't say what's 'reasonable' - if you can't afford it, don't pretend you can. With 4 children it would be easy peasy to spend £100 per day, but not necessary! Especially with your stepchildren, please try not to become the ones who shell out for exciting treats all the time.

Also don't forget to allow for 'treats' like ice creams etc. Picnics save a fortune over burgers! What I've sometimes done is give £1 per day for treats: if they don't spend it they get to keep half the change ... BUT they have to earn it: help with washing up, cooking etc. Otherwise you will be too exhausted to enjoy their visit! Oh, and if they don't like your food, get them to help choose and cook.

Maybe they can each choose an activity on one day, so Fred chooses Monday, Freda on Tuesday, George on Wednesday and Tom on Thursday. Friday the grownups choose. Set the budget for each day: if Fred underspends maybe George can overspend.

Or if your budget will run to it, do one big expensive thing like a theme park or go-karting or paintballing on the last day and keep the other activities modest. The problem there might be if they can't decide which big thing they want to do - you may be OK if the girl is a tomboy!

Giving children time is important. Maybe the boys want to play footie in the park with their dad/uncle while you and your stepdaughter go shopping.

If you have Orange phones then Wednesday is 2for1 at the cinema, text 241 to 241. You'll need 3 different phones to get you all in!

Oh, and if you look at your local council's tourism website you may get ideas for where you can go locally that doesn't cost a fortune.

Best of luck: we've just moved into the 3 teenage boys phase, lots of grunting ... I think you're very brave.

Ticklemouse

My DS1, aged 5 is already at the age where he wants to go places that involve spending money! His idea for this easter was to go abroad for 2 weeks!! However, as it's a rainy day here, I packed them into wellies and old clothes and we all went puddle jumping in the fields and woods. Considering he didn't want to go, he loved it and we didn't spend a penny. Even older kids like mud-larking/puddle jumping or climbing trees.

Tomorrow, we might go to see Thomas the Tank Engine, but I haven't priced it up yet, or found where it is. That'll be our expensive treat. Easter Monday we roll eggs - hard boiled painted ones or creme eggs. Lots of fresh air and excercise before the onslaught on sugar.

Orchid

Sarahsaver - thanks for your advice. I've just looked in my local papers for voucher and found one we could definitely use.

Savvy_Sue - you are so right when you say we need to be careful that we do not buy the exciting treats all the time. I like the idea of combining opportunities for them to earn money and ensuring that everyone has an equal go at choosing what to do. Unfortunately, none of us have Orange so cannot take advantage of the cinema offer. Oh, the grunting stage has not quite started but I am sure that will come LOL

Ticklemouse - gosh at 5 your little one already has refined tastes! yikes. mud-larking/puddle jumping? Knowing our kids, I'm not so sure they will go for that but no harm in asking. As you say it is free [grin]

Thanks everyone for you advice..really given me something to work one

zzzLazyDaisy

Hi, check out your local cinemas - ours does a £2 ticket for showings starting before 12 noon (although getting 4 teenagers out of bed and moving before lunchtime might be a bit optimistic.........) :rolleyes: If you do go to the cinema, take cans of coke / bags of sweets with you, you'll spend a fortune if you shell out cinema prices.

Also, have a look at the notice board at your local library, they often carry info for things going on in the area, especially during school holidays.

A pack of cards and a bag of loose change (for betting with !) can while away a few hours.

And don't forget the old standby - towards the end of the week, when the novelty is wearing off a bit, let them choose a DVD, gets some bottles of fizzy, bags of pop-corn, etc in from the supermarket, shut them in a room on their own and let them stay up late. Take the opportunity to treat yourself to a glass of vino.... you may need it by then....

Good luck! :beer:

Glad

my 2 [11 &12] have been to the local skate/rollerblade warehouse today with a few pals, cost £5 each for 3 hrs,
of course they also sell snacks etc there at inflated prices but my 2 decided to be little moneysavers and took along their own squash and a box of grapes and orange segments ,
so not a bad otlay for one days entertainment,

yesterday son decided to teach himself breaking & entering, and managed to get away with a BOSE which he wanted £50 for,

kids hey :rolleyes:

Savvy_Sue

zzzLazyDaisy wrote:

A pack of cards and a bag of loose change (for betting with !) can while away a few hours.

Ah yes, the joys of poker ... Can also be played with matchsticks or monopoly money, of course.

We have just got back from the in-laws. Uncle took the lads to Quasar on Saturday morning (laser games), rest of us chickened out. But the afternoon was spent playing Diplomacy. Youngest is deeply wounded that his father betrayed him ... Monopoly has also been popular. M-in-L and I tend to bow out of these activities but you may need to give your stepdaughter moral support!

Even if they don't immediately leap at the chance of playing board games, if you get them out they often enjoy them. Especially the 'longer' games that there just isn't time for during term-time. But at least one grown up needs to join in, I find, or it ends in tears ...

And there are the simple things like swimming - not necessarily cheap but simple! Also bowling. Check out when these things are cheapest, they do have 'peak' and 'off-peak' hours and it can make a big difference.

If you don't think puddle jumping is on, it's still worth finding a park with big play equipment, sort of assault courses, if there's one near you. Good for letting off steam.

jellyhead

our leisure centre is council run (but not cheap) and does a holiday thing where you leave over 8's. they take packed lunches or can do half a day. or is there a waterworld near you (a swimming pool with slides, rapids, etc?) as they can spend several hours in there.

Orchid

zzzLazyDaisy - good idea about checking out the local cinemas & library. The only problem I can foresee is that the half term holidays in my local borough is different to the dates for my step-kids and so there may not be any special deals. I will check though. Not sure about the gambling idea though The DVD lock-in is a brill idea - we definitely will be doing that one LoL

glad - I can see that 2 younger ones wanting to trying the skating - the older boys may not though but I will suggest it. yikes - Sorry to hear about your son's new form of entertainment. He'll be back at school soon

Savvy_Sue - the kids love Quasar and the younger ones really love the boardgames too. Bowling is a good one. And I have already suggested to hubby about going to the local park and at the very minimum doing football, weather permitting.

jellyhead - I hadn't thought of the leisure centre but I will give them a call also.

Thanks everyone, even more things for me to chase up

Savvy_Sue

Remembered when I was miles away from the computer that last year there was a great long thread thread on the Holidays board about days out. And have just dived over to Travel, Trips and Holidays and found the Days Out section. Which has got to be worth a look. Don't know if the post I'm thinking about is buried in the main bit or whether it got moved into the Days Out bit. Maybe someone with more brain or who's had more sleep than me in the last few days who knows the one I'm thinking about can find it for you ... zzzzz