Activities/Making etc for 2 Nieces

GreenNinja

Hi all,

Need some advice, am having my 2 nieces to stay for a weekend, one is 11 and the other is 8. They are used to living a frugal lifestyle, my sis should be on this board! and are easily pleased.

Last time the eldest came to stay I was married and living comfortably and could afford to take her out, friday night we had dvd and pringles and I did her make up and hair which she liked. Saturday went shopping and I took her to TGIs for lunch then took her to the pictures.

Since being divorced and living alone on tight budget I have not had the money to do this kind of thing, especially as this time I will have both girls. I can probably run to one treat for both of them but otherwise need to think of things to do. Making stuff possibly?

Any ideas, I don't have kids myself so am no expert on this!

Many thanks X

Storm

If the weather's nice how about a picnic in the New Forest or something? Check your local tourist information office too to see if there's any free events going on.

If the weather's bad how about doing some home baking? Simple fairy cakes or biscuits don't cost much, and you could always spend a £1 on the little tubes of coloured icing (or make your own) for decorating them.

I used to love treasure hunts whenever we visited particular family friends - they'd hide clues around the house & garden with riddles etc, and the actual 'treasure' can be something very small.

If you know anyone with kids around the same ages why don't you see if you can borrow a couple of films too?

GreenNinja

Thanks Storm, I like that treasure hunt idea a lot. My sis hid mini creme eggs for them in the park at easter when they came over to mine and they really enjoyed that.
Maybe leave clues around the house etc leading them to find the treasure?

Pink.

Hi GreenNinja,

At that age they usually like to help in the kitchen, what about making pizza, baking etc?

There are lots of ideas on these older threads from the Families board that might help:

Occupying kids during Easter hols

Cheap but grown up things to do with 6yo in summer hols

And also this thread from Old Style:

Old Style Summer Holiday Activities

Pink

GardenMillie

I always bake with kids when I have some staying (they all seem to love chocolate corn flake cakes). Plus I get a few books from the library to read a bedtime story and an activities one. Last time my friends twins stayed they made a "nature picture" with things we found in the garden and some spare string! It took them ages and they loved it.

How about painting the girls toenails - that's always a fun girly thing to do.

Have a great time!:D

Gingernutmeg

Could you maybe still do their hair and make up? Young girls love this and it needn't cost a lot of money. Like GardenMillie said, you could do their nails and toenails, maybe do a face pack and then use a little bit of your make up on them, like mascara, some blusher and lipstick? For the hair you could try different sytle, lots of plaits, ponytails etc.

I used to run a Girl Guide unit and cooking and baking was ALWAYS popular - so many girls never did anything like that at home. Buns and sweets are fun, or what about maybe cooking dinner together one evening. You could maybe have a theme, say a Mexican night (tacos things aren't too expensive) or homemade pizza, which they get to top however they like.

Crafts can be expensive but what about something like friendship bracelets? They only need a few skeins of embroidery silk and young girls LOVE making those (they're also fairly time consuming ).

bigmuffins

Last time my nephew and niece visited we made minature gardens with them:
Get a small fruit crate - free from market/greengrocer
Line with newspaper and fill with soil or if you are feeling flush/have some to hand, compost!
Make a path with some gravel/stones picked from garden! Make a mini pond with small plastic tub/lid and fill with old shells (we had some from beach trip)
sow seeds (can get a few packets cheaply from wilkinsons or somewhere if don't have any already) in patterns.
I also dug up some small plants from garden: alpine strawberries, alyssum, violas and sowed some coriander seeds from my spice stash!
Add a few small animal figures if liked or any other figures/toys!
They loved doing it and my nephew took his home with him, waters it and watches to see how it is growing every day!

Can also get cheap dvd hire from local library - ours does a 2 for 1 night so even better value! Max cost is £2.50 for 2 dvds! Make lots of popcorn at home and have yourselves a film night all cosy at home!

Have a fashion show - let them raid your closet and dress up/make up and do a show!

Go to the park with a picnic that they can help make/cook :money:
Go swimming - check out cheap deals at your local pool, better still if you have a gym with pool handy, ask if you can have a free trial day! Our local Esporta gym is always handing out leaflets offering free trials! Ask and you could have a lovely day, using all the facilities - pool, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room etc for free! (don't give them your mobile no though as they then keep sending you text offers!) You don't have to join at the end of it - just say you will think about it and come back to them. Or say no! :money:

Go to museums, parks - lots to do and see! Take a picnic with you.
If children want ice-creams, buy from supermarket.
Go to shops, try on lots of stuff and ask for free samples at beauty counters - my two girls love it (I don't spend anything and they end up with lots of little free samples!) :money:

Hope that gives you some moneysaving ideas! Kids like your attention and time best of all!
Cheers!:beer:

GreenNinja

Thanks so much everybody for such brilliant ideas! I am noting them all down as we speak!

The only one I don't think I will be doing for sure is letting them dress up in my clothes, LOL.

Many thanks again. :j

the_cat

hi

If you haven't already taken advantage of all the postal DVD free trials, why not subscribe to one at just the right time and have a 'cinema night' for free.
Well almost free - you supply the popcorn!

Also if you have a Clubcard/Nectar card, the days out vouchers are very good value - another free day out!

HTH