What to do....What to do???

[StartingOver]

Because hubby works weekends, it's just me and the kids at home (ages 13 and 7). Because I work FT outside the home, my Saturdays are consumed w/cleaning, errands, grocery shopping etc.....

I need ideas on what I can do with the kids on these loooonnnggg weekends. Sometimes my oldest will go to a friends house and hang out, but if there is no one around (I never realized how many people go out of town on the weekends..) he wants to sit in front of the TV or play video game all day long.

My 7 yr old constantly wants something to do......I hear all the time "I'm bored, I have nothing to do." "Let's go do something." I can't get them to understand that I am not their playmate. They need to find stuff on their own to do.

About once a month, we splurge and we go to our $3 theater...but really, I can only handle seeing so many movies. Obviously, I'm not very creative, as this as my totally stumped.

Those of you w/kids.....how do they entertain themselves without the TV or video game being their "best friend."

All suggestions greatly appreciated.

[Its_Donna]

I work outside the home 40 hrs a week M-F and what I do so I can have the weekends for me and the family is do a household chore every night thru the week. I will clean bathrooms one night, sweep and mop the next night, dust the next night, etc. That really helps me stay on top of things and gives me most of my weekends for fun stuff or just relaxing.

[Jaded]

I agree with getting things done during the week, and also, if the kids are old enough (and 7 is surely old enough), bribe them by making them help you with chores during the week in exchange for an outing on the weekend. Something as simple as packing a picnic lunch and going to a park will be enough for them. My sons used to love those times!

What they really want is YOU. My mom used to let me sit on a stool in the kitchen when she was cooking and cleaning. I was allowed to stay if I stayed on the stool. I learned to cook that way. Just sort of through osmosis, I guess.

[missyali]

One hour on Saturday & one on Sunday is all my house gets. Then I try and maintain during the week. My kids are younger, my daughter picks things that are fun to do; hiking, apple/berry picking, parks and library programs are always fun and free. We have lots of farms that do seasonal activities for families. Museums are free and fun. Check out gocitykids.com for activites in your area. Hope this was helpful!

[geckoace]

maybe something they can get involved in like making and racing pine cars (against each other) or some project that they could work on together. do you need a birdhouse or a fence painted?

[amecoy75002]

My dh has worked every saturday and lots of nights since I met him 27 years ago, so I have always had the kids by my self on Saturday I also cleaned my house at night during the week so my Saturdays were available for the kiddos. I would also do some deep cleaning on Sunday when dh watched the kids for me.

Some of the things that we did over the years -

*visit library and join reading group
*Picnic - pack a lunch of crackers, cheese, lunch meat, water, fruit, etc and include cool table cloth found at thrift store.
*We explored all of the parks in our city as well as the surrounding cities.
*I read every upcoming announcement in newspaper and flyers and went to everything free or almost free - concerts in the park, visit the fire-station day, fairs and festivals, nature walks, museum shows and lectures
*we made chalk and drew countless roads, train tracks, pictures and stories on the sidewalks
*a large bottle of bubble solution can make a very inexpensive long lasting adventure
*Play in the rain - watch Singing in the Rain and learn the steps and do them in the rain while singing! Very cool
*dig in the garden and study the worms
*neighborhood water balloon fights
*Board Games! Clue, Life, Battleship, monopoly, chess, checkers, the list is endless. Our "linen Closet" is filled to the brim with all kinds of games. Pick them up at yard sales etc.
*one of my kiddos favorite things was to build a fort in the living room with chairs, card tables, blankets, pillows, etc. Best was when we let them sleep in the fort at night
*volunteer with your kids - sr centers / church / library / animal shelter / shelter, etc
*teach your kids to cook!
*make a book about your life and illustrate it with art
*melt old candles and make sand casting candles
*Learn origami

The list goes on and on. Email me if you need more ideas!