School summer hols are upon us. What to do now with the kids?

Nikki Sixx

Charge up the IPad I’d imagine would be most parents’ solution to the problem.

Dravokivich

I'm gonna give my lad a stick. With a nail on the end of it. So he'll be well able to fend for himself should the worse come to pass.

Bob Harris

Bob Harris wrote: »

Get them smartphones OP.

iPhones OR Android depending on what the clique they're in are into.

Infernal Racket

honeybear wrote: »

Take them to local GAA matches ... we used to love them, especially the Junior B’s!!!

Yeah, they play hurling and camogie for the local club so again, I have that one covered

Infernal Racket

Nikki Sixx wrote: »

Charge up the IPad I’d imagine would be most parents’ solution to the problem.

Sad isn't it?

biko

Is there a swim camp nearby?

Edgware

If only Jimmy Saville was alive you could write to "Jim'll fix it " for a few ideas

Edgware

biko wrote: »

Is there a swim camp nearby?

I know it would be going through the motions but they could go swimming in Dublin Bay.
Get a built in tan

LirW

mariaalice wrote: »

Could they build a fort in the garden, make up complicated games, reading challenges the library has them over the summer have their friends over and they goto their friends the next week, there is an endless amount of things to do.

How are they going to learn to entertain themselves if they are constantly entertained?

Unfortunately Tusla doesn't like kids under 10 alone at home for 10 hours 5 days a week

Beanntraigheach

Problem solved:

wildwillow

My children were fairly isolated during holidays due to one being ill, with no immune system so mixing with random children was dangerous. Unfortunately said child did not survive childhood cancer but the memories of the last summer still make us smile.

I decided to treat them as equals and gave them opportunities to get involved with everything that was going on. Part of the routine involved care for the sick child and they just got on with it.

There was no pressure to do anything and often hoovering and cleaning was done to a minimum if something more interesting took their fancy.

The atmosphere in the house was holiday time with everyone being involved in the activities of the day. Surprising how mundane tasks like washing and putting clothes on the line can be fun and a learning curve.

Get them involved in running the house.

Set a routine with a rota for preparing breakfast and then room tidy and put on a wash. They are old enough to learn how to cook.

Involve them in a week of shopping, cooking, serving and clearing meals.

Then hand the decisions to them, keeping to a budget to do a few days meals. Let them research recipies and do charts on calorie content and other nutrients and vitmins.

My now adult sons are accomplished cooks with no fear of trying new recipies.

Organise picnics, nature walks, bird spotting, maybe a piece of the garden for quick growing plants such as lettuce, scallions, peas and radishes and some flowers that they can sell to you.

Enable then in their own persuits rather than trying to keep them entertained.

Any smart phone will capture video so they could make a film from their own story or on their surrounds.

Take out old photos and get them to scan them on the computer and then draw a simple family tree, showing grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Get dates of birth and see what wasa front page news that day. Use labelled photos for each person.

Research the type of car or transport grandparents used and get photos off the internet.

Interview grandparents or older neighbours about the old days. Even someone in their sixties will remember using old currency, pounds shillings and pence, and can challenge them to work out simple sums using that old currency.

Might even remember writing with ink and pen and the old irish script.

Keep a written diary each day and add pictures and sketches.

Do a cycle, a walk but with a purpose. Collect wild flowers and dry some.

Set up a safe space to practice football or whatever sport the are interested in.

Use technology to expand their interests, and allow screen time, but not to excess.

Hope that is some help.

tamara25

I’m in the same boat, 1 teenager that is on hols since a month ago & other 2 finishing up Friday. Can anyone recommend some free attractions/activities in Dublin/Meath during the summer for kids?

Blaizes

wildwillow wrote: »

My children were fairly isolated during holidays due to one being ill, with no immune system so mixing with random children was dangerous. Unfortunately said child did not survive childhood cancer but the memories of the last summer still make us smile.

I decided to treat them as equals and gave them opportunities to get involved with everything that was going on. Part of the routine involved care for the sick child and they just got on with it.

There was no pressure to do anything and often hoovering and cleaning was done to a minimum if something more interesting took their fancy.

The atmosphere in the house was holiday time with everyone being involved in the activities of the day. Surprising how mundane tasks like washing and putting clothes on the line can be fun and a learning curve.

Get them involved in running the house.

Set a routine with a rota for preparing breakfast and then room tidy and put on a wash. They are old enough to learn how to cook.

Involve them in a week of shopping, cooking, serving and clearing meals.

Then hand the decisions to them, keeping to a budget to do a few days meals. Let them research recipies and do charts on calorie content and other nutrients and vitmins.

My now adult sons are accomplished cooks with no fear of trying new recipies.

Organise picnics, nature walks, bird spotting, maybe a piece of the garden for quick growing plants such as lettuce, scallions, peas and radishes and some flowers that they can sell to you.

Enable then in their own persuits rather than trying to keep them entertained.

Any smart phone will capture video so they could make a film from their own story or on their surrounds.

Take out old photos and get them to scan them on the computer and then draw a simple family tree, showing grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Get dates of birth and see what wasa front page news that day. Use labelled photos for each person.

Research the type of car or transport grandparents used and get photos off the internet.

Interview grandparents or older neighbours about the old days. Even someone in their sixties will remember using old currency, pounds shillings and pence, and can challenge them to work out simple sums using that old currency.

Might even remember writing with ink and pen and the old irish script.

Keep a written diary each day and add pictures and sketches.

Do a cycle, a walk but with a purpose. Collect wild flowers and dry some.

Set up a safe space to practice football or whatever sport the are interested in.

Use technology to expand their interests, and allow screen time, but not to excess.

Hope that is some help.

Brilliant ideas there !

whisky_galore

Dump them on an island to fight to the death.

Winner gets a 99 cone.

IAMAMORON

Sell them.

Infernal Racket

IAMAMORON wrote: »

Sell them.

U buying?

simongurnick

Just dropped almost 2k on summer camps yesterday. I work from home so technically is a business expense

Infernal Racket

simongurnick wrote: »

Just dropped almost 2k on summer camps yesterday. I work from home so technically is a business expense

2k? How many kids so you have and are the camps in the south of France?

simongurnick

Gerry G wrote: »

2k? How many kids so you have and are the camps in the south of France?

5

Setup a Call Centre staffed by them. My logic here is that in the US, prison inmates are employed to take calls to book holidays - contracted by travel agents.

I recommend they are used for technical support . if abusive callers ring, they give as good as they get.

Collie D

Painting, roof tiling, gutter cleaning, lawn mowing. If they’re any good at it rent them out to the neighbours.

Any complaints or tantrums, present them with a bill for ten years of food, rent and clothes.

mojesius

Is today the last day of school for primary students or is it on Friday?

I plan to bring my toddler to a nice beach tomorrow but will go to a quieter one if schools are off. (Hate crowds)

Thanks

LirW

mojesius wrote: »

Is today the last day of school for primary students or is it on Friday?

I plan to bring my toddler to a nice beach tomorrow but will go to a quieter one if schools are off. (Hate crowds)

Thanks

Mine was done last Friday and next morning at 5.30 am he was on a flight to my sister and fecker is now in Italy because I start working next week.
Then he comes home in 2 weeks and has football camp and a week of chill. Then he goes to Spain to see my mom for 3 weeks.
That kid has seen more of this world than I did at this point.

is_that_so

is_that_so wrote: »

https://www.smythstoys.com/ie/en-ie/outdoor/garden-games-and-accessories/swingball/all-surface-pro-swingball/p/125788 Lots of fun, great to get the aggression out too!

This camp thing.

https://starcamp.ie/kids-summer-camps-ireland-2/

that camp looks like good craic, i'd have loved that

do ye need childminders for after the camps then

Atoms for Peace

Johnathon Swift had a solution.

Abba987

TheDiceMan2020 wrote: »

And people bought into the idea that women could have it all and be happy. A career and kids.

But it's the poor kids that suffer. Raised from birth by nannies, creches, school teachers and then chucked into summer camp.

Parents out working all the time, never have time for their kids. Then they wonder why the kids are all ****ed up with ADHD and Asperger's and 10 different allergies.

Don't agree with the asperegers bit but the rest ..... fxxking feminists. I would love to be at home all the time for my children. I work as little hours as possible but can't afford to give it up

LirW

TheDiceMan2020 wrote: »

And people bought into the idea that women could have it all and be happy. A career and kids.

But it's the poor kids that suffer. Raised from birth by nannies, creches, school teachers and then chucked into summer camp.

Parents out working all the time, never have time for their kids. Then they wonder why the kids are all ****ed up with ADHD and Asperger's and 10 different allergies.

Try harder.
Have you checked lately what life in reasonably busy areas with jobs cost?

Dravokivich

TheDiceMan2020 wrote: »

And people bought into the idea that women could have it all and be happy. A career and kids.

But it's the poor kids that suffer. Raised from birth by nannies, creches, school teachers and then chucked into summer camp.

Parents out working all the time, never have time for their kids. Then they wonder why the kids are all ****ed up with ADHD and Asperger's and 10 different allergies.

This you?

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-RFinO6ndivk/USKM93ZU0dI/AAAAAAAADPQ/2a9HS8oQO3I/s1600/andrew-dice-clay-001.jpg

AndrewJRenko

simongurnick wrote: »

Just dropped almost 2k on summer camps yesterday. I work from home so technically is a business expense

No, it's not a business expense. But thanks for demonstrating how self-employed people play fast and loose with tax rules at the expense of others.

TheDiceMan2020 wrote: »

Parents out working all the time, never have time for their kids. Then they wonder why the kids are all ****ed up with ADHD and Asperger's and 10 different allergies.

So just to be clear - you're saying that working parents are causing ADHD, Asperger's and allergies by - working?

LirW

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

No, it's not a business expense. But thanks for demonstrating how self-employed people play fast and loose with tax rules at the expense of others.



So just to be clear - you're saying that working parents are causing ADHD, Asperger's and allergies by - working?

Explains that work-allergy seems to be inherited in certain clans.

Dravokivich

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

No, it's not a business expense. But thanks for demonstrating how self-employed people play fast and loose with tax rules at the expense of others.



So just to be clear - you're saying that working parents are causing ADHD, Asperger's and allergies by - working?

The first guy is tongue in cheek, the second is just taking the piss.

El_Bee

The little angels are already out late wrecking havoc last night, what parents lets 10-13 year olds out till midnight, what's the though process there?

Edgware

simongurnick wrote: »

5

5 kids !
Better stop that "working from home"

Nikki Sixx

Why do people have kids if they are unwilling/too busy to look after them.

Potential-Monke

Do what lots of other parents do, use technology to distract them so you can get some peace and quiet, and then blame said technology when your kids get addicted to it. That's how to parent in 2019 yeah?

branie2

In this lovely weather, the beach

Nikki Sixx

It sounds like parenting is an alien concept to most parents. When the kid isn’t in school, the childminder’s house, summer camp, what am I supposed to do with them?

ToddyDoody

Gerry G wrote: »

Summer hols again, 2 months of trying to figure out what the hell to do with the kids again. Any tips and ideas for good days out that don't cost a fortune or anything would be even better?

The absolutely cheapest thing I can think of is 'going to the shop'

Have no sweets in the house but give 50 cents to go to the shop at some stage during the day for sweets.

Would that do for 2 months?

Blaizes

ToddyDoody wrote: »

The absolutely cheapest thing I can think of is 'going to the shop'

Have no sweets in the house but give 50 cents to go to the shop at some stage during the day for sweets.

Would that do for 2 months?

Another idea is get them set up a shop at home put loose sweets in bowls give them some loose change small coins one or two cents they price the sweets and sell to each other. Set up a table and put out a toy cash register or give them pen and paper and let the shop keeper add up the cost. Haven’t done it with my kids this summer but you got me thinking am going to set it up later.

branie2

The cinema - great family-friendly films on at the moment

ToddyDoody

Blaizes wrote: »

Another idea is get them set up a shop at home put loose sweets in bowls give them some loose change small coins one or two cents they price the sweets and sell to each other. Set up a table and put out a toy cash register or give them pen and paper and let the shop keeper add up the cost. Haven’t done it with my kids this summer but you got me thinking am going to set it up later.

I did this with the neighbours but with Lego.

You'd have so many parts and pieces and trade them between each other.

I was the mean b*stard who'd hold on to all the money (yellow bricks) and fully built vehicles etc. the trick was to break up a good vehicle every now and sell off the bits to everyone else at a huge mark-up.

Blaizes

ToddyDoody wrote: »

I did this with the neighbours but with Lego.

You'd have so many parts and pieces and trade them between each other.

I was the mean b*stard who'd hold on to all the money (yellow bricks) and fully built vehicles etc. the trick was to break up a good vehicle every now and sell off the bits to everyone else at a huge mark-up.

Little young entrepreneurs LEGO camp!!

Going low tech here and lower cost than drones: buy some cheap kites. In fact Google how to make them if you are patient enough. The kite can't fly off by itself like a drone as it has a line.