We’re halfway through the school holidays here, and with only three weeks to go the small ones are starting to get bored.
The way that they act when we decide to have a day in, you’d think they never got to do anything fun and exciting and we haven’t done anything at all for the past few weeks.
NO, I’m not going out every day with you. Some days, like today, we’re going to stay in as it’s ***** it down with rain out there.
So far this holidays, we’ve been for a day trip to York and acted like a tourist, been to the park, Diggerland theme park, Eureka Children’s Museum in Halifax, been to Whitby for a day at the beach, and a trip to the soft play centre for them to let off steam plus a hundred other things I’ve forgotten.
So yes, today, we’re staying in. Until I find a great big money tree in the garden that’s spouting five pound notes in place of the leaves, we’re going to sometimes have days of sitting in and not doing much.
What’s so wrong with ‘being bored’ anyway? Why should we feel like we have to spend every moment of every day filling their time for them and ‘doing’ things with them?
They can get left to their own playing devices today. Use that thing called your imagination, it’s a great little thing, and best of all it’s FREE.
Anyone would think they’ve forgotten how to use it, or don’t possess one the way they’ve been going on today.
After a morning full of either taking it in turns on the computer or watching telly, I’ve decided enough is enough and turned the lot off.
They’ve got a room full of toys and books. They’re not hard done by. I’m just refusing to give them ideas what to do today.
If they use that imagination of theirs, who knows what they’ll end up doing?
I used to love using my imagination when small. Cardboard boxes can become things like ships.
Right now, they’ve dug out the Play Doh craft box and are busy crafting a Sunday roast out of it.
So far, they’ve made a plate, roast beef, teeny tiny peas, Yorkshire puddings and are now making the knife and fork to go with it.
See they CAN amuse themselves when they have to…. 
I think all kids need some bored time. It defo feeds their imagination. Lego is the filler for bored time in our house at the moment
Sounds like you are not too far from me based on your days out. You could bring them to Hull, there are loads of fab free museums. Granny has taken the Kid to the Streetlife Museum today, it will be about the 10th time he has been, he loves it there.
Enjoy the rest of the hols.
Louise
x
Thanks, will try to!
Haven’t been to Hull yet this hols, but have been to The Deep for a day out before – that’s a good day out!
Don’t know Hull much beyond that though, will have to find out what else there is there!
I have the opposite with my kids, they hate it when I say we are going out! I get cries of ‘do we HAVE to?’ basically they want to be be able to stay in their pj’s all day and just watch tv, or play in their rooms or read. Don’t get me wrong I still get the ‘what can I do, I’m bored’! But just threaten to throw out their toys as they have a playroom full and like I said they don’t like it when I suggest they go out.
Hope the rest of the hols go well.
I sound like one of your children! I was never bothered about going out and as my parents had a shop to run I didn’t get many trips arranged for me during the school holidays anyway. Fortunately, as I’ve said on this blog before, I had too much imagination to ever get bored.
My best childhood memories are of messing about in family gardens out of the eye of adults and the papers today report the findings of a survey of kids who say they’d rather play in the garden than go on pricey days out. So you’re doing your kids a favour…
I think you’re spot on. Six weeks holiday is a ridiculously long time in a child’s eyes and it’s impossible to entertain them every single day. It’s also very expensive. This is only another reason why summer holidays should be cut down to 4 weeks maximum, in my opinion. It’s like some kids aren’t allowed to get bored because their parents’ worst nightmare would be for them to go back to school and say they didn’t do anything in the holidays. This sets a precedence and means a “who did the most in the holidays” competition starts. It’s all wrong. It does kids the world of good to use their imagination, and getting bored is all part of growing up – it means they have no choice but to think for themselves and not rely on others to do all the entertaining.
CJ x
I think children can surprise us when they are left to their own devices. They have the most amazing ideas sometimes.