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

Bob Harris · 26-06-2019 04:22PM

Get them smartphones OP.

BENDYBINN · 26-06-2019 04:23PM

Glebee wrote: »

Send them to the bog to foot turf...

Thinning turnips is another option.......

seamus · 26-06-2019 04:27PM

Gerry G wrote: »

Myself and my wife both work, luckily enough we are on shifts so it works out a bit better but my jaysus the summers are long when we have a generation of kids who don't know how to entertain themselves anymore and a generation of parents too afraid to allow their kids to roam freely as we used to

You'd still have to be at home though even if you let them "roam freely". I never remember a situation where I was allowed out to go play with my mates and there was nobody at home. From 12/13 years of age, sure. At 10? Nah.

BeerWolf · 26-06-2019 04:29PM

Working at the airport SUCKS during Summer

Infernal Racket · 26-06-2019 04:30PM

spurshero wrote: »

You would wander why some people have kids . They seem to want everybody bar themselves to mind them.

Do you have kids?

Infernal Racket · 26-06-2019 04:30PM

Bob Harris wrote: »

Get them smartphones OP.

Wash your mouth out

spurshero · 26-06-2019 04:32PM

Gerry G wrote: »

Do you have kids?

Yes.

Sardonicat · 26-06-2019 04:33PM

Can you send theme to spend time with the cousins for a week or two then return the favour when yourself or the other half have some time off?

Alternatively, when one if you is home during the day, send them out to play. Regular check back in times and ask permission if going to hang out in friends house. You know, just like we did and survived!

biko · 26-06-2019 04:33PM

Coláiste Lurgan

corner of hells · 26-06-2019 04:39PM

super_furry wrote: »

How do families with two working parents cope?

I trained the dog to mind them , all was fine until one evening the three year old cocked his leg to piss up against the door.

LirW · 26-06-2019 04:44PM

Thank frick Lufthansa brings my son to all the family across Europe, he has good craic and I have it quiet.

is_that_so · 26-06-2019 04:48PM

Gerry G wrote: »

Now this is the kind of thing in talking about. They're 10 (boy) and 8 (girl)

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/

is_that_so · 26-06-2019 04:51PM

biko wrote: »

Coláiste Lurgan

In my time you went there to speak English! 10 is the youngest Irish colleges take.

kowloon · 26-06-2019 04:52PM

Deebles McBeebles wrote: »

Get 2 treadmills and hook them up to your mains electricity. 1 banana per hour should do them as they pay you back for your years of hard work.

Two really seems like more of a hobby scale endeavour, I plan to power the nation with banks of rowing machines and a few of the older kids manning the whip and the big drum to keep the pace.

Infernal Racket · 26-06-2019 05:08PM

spurshero wrote: »

Yes.

Tell me what you do so?

Infernal Racket · 26-06-2019 05:11PM

Sardonicat wrote: »

Can you send theme to spend time with the cousins for a week or two then return the favour when yourself or the other half have some time off?

Alternatively, when one if you is home during the day, send them out to play. Regular check back in times and ask permission if going to hang out in friends house. You know, just like we did and survived!

No cousins living in Ireland I'm afraid. I used to love going to my cousins back in the day. I live in the countryside surrounded by farmers so it's not the safest place for a 10 and 8 year old to roam freely

ednwireland · 26-06-2019 05:14PM

theteal wrote: »

I was going to say, cutting turf. That's what we did. Great times!

not very eco friendly though, chimney sweep ?

BeerWolf wrote: »

Working at the airport SUCKS during Summer

been delayed 27 hours for your flight (last summer) sucks even more

honeybear · 26-06-2019 05:26PM

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

26-06-2019 06:00PM

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?

Sardonicat · 26-06-2019 06:04PM

Gerry G wrote: »

No cousins living in Ireland I'm afraid. I used to love going to my cousins back in the day. I live in the countryside surrounded by farmers so it's not the safest place for a 10 and 8 year old to roam freely

Ah, I see where you're coming from. Tis a pity about the cousins. Looking back, I think that's how my mother's generation got a bit of break! Basically we'd all sorta go round the family houses and do a stint hosting til summer was over . How much land have you round the house? Is there no way they can go for romps across the fields? You can give them a little bit of freedom surely? Perhaps less than they think you're giving. Despite recent awful court cases your kids really aren't in any more danger than you or I were. Sometimes we've got to do what our parents did: boot us out and ignore the whinging about being bored and there being nothing to do.

The cousins and I used to love making dens and cubby houses in sheds or even a ditch. Necessity being the mother of invention and all that. I'm not saying don't get them involved in organised stuff by any means but a couple of hours a week in the great outdoors using their imaginations and entertaining themselves (with you or Mrs knowing where they are and what they're at obviously ) would be fantastic for them and you if you could pull it off safely !

Nikki Sixx · 26-06-2019 06:07PM

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

Dravokivich · 26-06-2019 06:11PM

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.

26-06-2019 06:16PM

Bob Harris wrote: »

Get them smartphones OP.

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

Infernal Racket · 26-06-2019 06:23PM

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 · 26-06-2019 06:25PM

Nikki Sixx wrote: »

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

Sad isn't it?

biko · 26-06-2019 06:28PM

Is there a swim camp nearby?

Edgware · 26-06-2019 06:33PM

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

Edgware · 26-06-2019 06:49PM

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 · 26-06-2019 06:51PM

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 · 26-06-2019 06:52PM

Problem solved:

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

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