Hi,

Just wondering what everyone else does at weekend with the children.
We have 4, youngest 20months oldest 13yrs apart from swimming ,shopping in town,cinema.
How many actually go out in the car as a family for the day and where do you go other than places like Alton towers.
Trying to get more ideas with mine we like going for days out its just comming up with ideas where to go.
Do you as a family go out once amonth say to a theme park and the rest of the weekends stay close to home??

Briony:-)

Mine are older now and like to do their own thing but we used to go to visit castles, childrens farms, country walks, the woods , National Trust Sites with the "old houses" , the beach and coastal walks and ten pin bowling etc .  :)
They also used to enjoy things like strawberry picking and the maize mazes that are scattered around - they're really good fun :D

we do agility - everyone can do it then, we have shows nearly every weekend, our son loves coming with us to them all, especially the larger ones where they have play areas or when they are held at the different park venues its nice too!

chel

Hi,

Thanks for the replies,we do do a fair amount of dog shows sometimes we have all the children with us sometimes  the children are at Grandparents.
Generally,we do the ordinary things like bowling,swimming ,cinema.
I suppose times have changed as when I was growing up we didn't go to theme parks etc we went to the beach or garden centres.
most days out seem to cost an absolute fortune if you go to Alton towers.I can't believe parents take their children to such places every weekend you would need to be the bank of England.
I suppose part of my problem is the varying ages of the children, 20 months,7,9 and 13yrs.
I don't know  about anyone elses children but when I suggest we go to the zoo,or National Trust places there is long faces and nobody in their classes does this ,typical response.

Briony:-)

Hmmm I used to drag mum and dad to the shows...lol...I was determind to see lots of doggies....and scream my head off at 3 years old because I wasn't allowed in the ring!!!!!!

The hands on childrens farms are good - where they can touch and feed the animals

Hi,

The 2 youngest will enjoy the farms:-)

Hi,

The children are very good when it comes to dog shows actually,they all go to Beavers,cubs and guides and go away and do the various activities with those,13 yr  gave the ballet up 2 yr ago after she been doing it since 3.
So I dont feel they don't get enough.They have friends over for sleep overs etc.
It just seems today children have got have a wild and exciting weekend most weekends that seems to cost a fortune.

Briony:-)

It is a bit different for us as OH works shifts so we don't always have weekends like other families.  But when we do have days together to be fair we don't try and do too much, my eldest (5) is happy drawing, playing footie or tennis in the garden, we have a great country park with huge wooden play area round the corner and ducks to feed, in the hot weather we get the big pool out and put the slide in it.  For trips out we have annual membership for Thorpe Park/Chessington which are just up the road, indoor soft play for bad weather, and zoo's/farms for trips out with friends, and of course picnics (still a bit hard with a puppy who is still trying (not vey hard!) to grasp the idea that food on the ground might not be for him!
OH has just bought a tents to take son away for weekends, anywhere there is water will suit him!!!
I agree with Briony, kids should have to amuse themselves sometimes, I know we had to - a lot!!!

I have no children myself buts here are my suggestions strawberry picking, picnics,trip to the beach, tenpin bowling, ice skating, zoo, places like cadbury world,eureka,imax. You could also take it in turns with asking each child what they want to do, and agree to do something of their choice each weekend.

Michelle :)

Hi,

I guess that was it I suppose we did  tend to amuse ourselves more when we were younger I was one of 6 so there was always someone to play with.
We've been strawberry picking we picked 19lb worth most in the freezer for winter.
We have never been to Wicksteed park so we will give that a go.
Each time the children come to a dog show we always take a picnic and try to stop off where we can onthe way to visit places etc but these have to be dog friendly of course.
Its finding thing to do which doesn't cost a huge fortune each weekend.I nearly died at the cost of entry for Alton towers for family of 6.
We find centre parcs hugely expensive ,sounds silly but for alittle extra better value at Keycamp in Brittany for a few days.
However we are buying a tent so we can put it in the back of the trailer and perhaps go down to Cornwall etc.

Briony:-)

We get a book called Lets go with the children it give a list of things to do with the children from free places to day trips in London. All profit goes to Great Ormond Street Hospital. It covers Herts, Beds ans Bucks but I presume there are books for other areas. I got mine from W.H. Smith.
Mary 

What about Suncentres so they can all splash about and play in the water :)

Briony, for the same price as Center Parcs in England for 4 nights, we are going to a Holland Center Parcs for 7 nights, VIP accommodation, incl. ferries!!!

Hi,

The last 3 replies sound excellent.

Briony:-)

We've got a holiday home on the Norfolk coast which is only about an hours drive from us, so we head off there quite a bit, we back onto a River as Hubby loves his fishing, we are fronted by the beach so Dogs love the runs and always plenty of friends for my 11yr old and things for her to do that hardly cost anything.  This weekend we are off to the Nene Embankment to Tacklemania as the daughter wants to meet Matt Hayes (fisherman!), she's getting into fishing just as much as her dad of late!  Last weekend they went on their own just overnight so it was lovely being here alone! 

If you live anywhere near Nottingham, Home Pier Pont is a good place for all the family. You can go cycling, canoeing, windsurfing, all sorts etc. We went over to friends for lunch and went there on Sunday afternoon. The canoeing is good to watch, they have a water track thing with built in rapids. Then we went to buggy land (also in pier pont) the kids loved riding these trike things and rode round like maniacs.
We also like to go for picnics if it's sunny. The dogs enjoy a run around and eat all the leftovers when we've finished.
Next weekend we are going fishing down the local lake and the weekend after (11th) we're going to Market Bosworth Show. It's great there. There's a funfair, beer tents, all sorts of stalls and huge tents where you can buy anything from farm produce to hand made crafts. Also farm animals that kids can pet, show jumping, dog show, ferrets to look at and fun lure coursing (they allow any dog to have a go) Well worth a visit if your in the area (Leicestershire)

I used to love going to castles and museums when I was little.  I loved Warwick castle and Science museums where you get to have a go on experiments etc.  Most weekends, we would travel somewhere, we went to some great places in Wales, just for walks and picnics sometimes. That's why I'm so excited about the arrival of my sisters baby as I'll be able to start going back to all the places I loved when I was younger! :D

We took OH's little girl (10) to the science museum in london (cos its free ;) ) me and OH had a great time winding wheels to make kettles work and stuff like that, his little girl found it quite boring and said it was just like a school trip

Hi,

Harriet do you have the address of the Show in Leicestershire?

Thanks,

Briony

Hi Briony! We live not far away from Market Bosworth, so 'just know' how to get there. Have no idea of which A roads to take but hubs will. Will ask him when he gets back and let you know. In the meantime have a look on this link, it tells you all about the show. Hope you do come!! Can guarantee you and family will have a lovely day (weather permitting) :-)

http://www.hinckleyandbosworthonline.org.uk/pp/event/eventdetail.asp?id=10733

Thanks Harriet,

Briony:-)

Hi Briony! From Junction 21 of M1 follow signs for A47 to Hinckley.
Travel along until you reach Desford Crossroads,
Turn Right onto B582 towards Desford. Follow road until you reach Newbold Verdon.
Take 1st left after Newbold Verdon onto B585 towards Market Bosworth. Cross a staggered junction and staying on the B585, carry on into Market Bosworth.
Enjoy your day!! :D