The loooong school holiday. How to keep the kids entertained

[chickenslegs]

School broke up for summer hols on Monday. Back to school on 14 May - that's nearly 10 weeks.

Just heard yesterday that summer school and summer camp are both cancelled due to COVID-19.

So, how to keep the kids entertained/occupied/out of trouble for 66 days?

 

Ideas - especially things that don't cost a fortune or put us at risk of the lurgy - are welcome. Here are a couple of mine ...

 

We live in Bang Saray and will be taking our 8-year-old to Ko Samet for a few days on the beach, maybe Ko Chang too. We also have 2 water parks nearby*, and it's not far to Nong Nooch gardens. That's about 6-10 days filled.

 

There's a nice little park/playground near the beach in Bang Saray, and another in Ban Amper.

 

* The Cartoon Network water park has an offer for Thais and residents until 10 March - 390 baht + vat for a ticket. Tickets can be used until July.

https://www.cartoonnetworkamazone.com/e-commerce/en/steps/1?promotion_id=93

[Gracas]

What about giving them some home schooling for the 10 weeks.

Will get them caught up, keep them occupied and they will look forward to going back to school.

[EVENKEEL]

I'm in the same boat with an 8 yr old. We live in a high traffic area, so bike riding is out, beach is 1/2 km away but can't do that everyday, community swimming pool closed for renovation, no school friends in immediate area. Her mother takes her over to school friends homes in quieter neighborhoods to ride bikes and play. She was first raised in Isaan where her mother takes her back for Songkran, there she can run wild with kids and play all day.

 

With the Virus around making trips to the malls in Pattaya is sort of out for now.

[Kwasaki]

10 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

So, how to keep the kids entertained/occupied/out of trouble for 66 days?

Leave em with family. ????

[soalbundy]

If you mean gainfully entertained that is a problem. Usually they will entertain themselves with iphones or computers playing games 24/7

[EVENKEEL]

27 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

If you mean gainfully entertained that is a problem. Usually they will entertain themselves with iphones or computers playing games 24/7

Entertainment without all above mentioned.

[ThaidDown]

Entertained ???

Send them to work on a building site.

Tell them that bricklaying is 'grown ups Lego'

 

 

[4MyEgo]

4 kids and our plan is to self prison, I mean we have a big enough house with enough space that everyone isn't in each others faces and it's a well isolated house so it's cool throughout the day and night.

 

The kids have access to TV's, NetFlix, a computer, iPad, tablet and toys so they can self entertain, the boys who are older will help mum and dad around the house when required on top of their daily chores which will carry one regardless of school holidays, e.g. an hour here and there, call it routine if you like. We will also interact with games to play with them and or watch some movies together, like families should, I mean can't be iPads, mobiles and the like all the time.

 

We will also be buying a largish pool for the girls as we have a large undercover area that they can be shaded from the sun, boys can also play table tennis under that area if they choose, we will venture out for a picnic for the day here and there as we know some really nice parks with water and shade, cinema locally at a Big C is another option, and a day here and there at a swimming pool fun park with slides for all, every now and again, that's about it. 

 

 

 

 

[4MyEgo]

1 hour ago, Kwasaki said:

Leave em with family. ????

I would rather let them play in a pig pen, at least they would come home clean ????

 

[Vacuum]

Household chores 4 hours/day should keep them occupied.

Edited March 8, 2020 by Vacuum

[Jane Dough]

It's a long time alright, and much trepidation in my household with near four year old and seven year old.

 

Week one, Mrs R went with youngest to wedding in village. left me with 7 year old for seven days. Did a lot of swimming (condo pool) trip out to friend's lake, ex missus. Tried to spend about an hour each day on some activitiy like drawing or making something. A bit of reading. Trips out to eat. Shopping giving the kid lots of responsibilities. definitely introducing more chores at home which she enjoys. She has improved cleaning and washing up skills this week, mum will be surprised. Take the trash out, collect the water from the machine, she enjoys it. Netflix, YouTube cartoons - more than during school time but attempts to limit. Tablet before bed about one hour. Today made a box for cookies and cooked them ourselves. We'll do more day trips when Mrs R and littlest one return this week - water park, a few days in Cha-Am, maybe Pattaya as it's so quiet. End of March they will decamp to Loei - I will last about a week then come back to Bangkok and be alone for a month. They get gran and granddad, village life with cousins, a few days in the village school. Sonkgran in the village. Final push when they come back to Bangkok end of April until term starts.

 

Far, far too long and here too the summer school cancelled that would have been one out for 20 days. My only hope is that come early/mid May they actually do go back. Elements of nightmare but hey, we had the kids, love them dearly and must do our best as responsible parents!

 

Rooster

[chickenslegs]

6 minutes ago, Jane Dough said:

My only hope is that come early/mid May they actually do go back.

I never thought about the possibility that the school may not re-open in May.

????

 

 

[bkk6060]

I would set them in front of the TV and buy about 100 cartoon CDs.

Put them to bed early and start drinking.

Good luck.

[elgenon]

Some of the time could be spent volunteering to help the less fortunate. Gives them perspective. And teaches responsibility. And teaches them about life, which they don't learn in school.

[Logosone]

Excellent thread, just what was needed!

 

Two kids, 3 and 9. Here's some of what we do or plan to do:

 

1. Visit to Tiger World, a tourist attraction where the kids can pet tiger cubs. Massively expensive, but as a treat.

 

2. Trex, an outside water park. kids love that. But again costs a bit, though not as much as  Tiger world.

 

3. Elephant sanctuary. Again, a weekly treat due to the cost.

 

4. Swimming pool, thankfully we have one and it's a god send, the kids love to swim. It easily kills an hour or two

 

5. Baking! The older one loves to bake cakes or cookies !

 

6. Cinema, when finally, finally, something is worth watching

 

7. Soft play, while I work out, they'll watch the kids but charge 660 Baht. Bring socks.

 

8. I take my older one on a ride on the motorcycle. She likes that.

 

9. Yes, I put on miraculous cartoons, their favourite, on the PS4 and both love that

 

10. Make friends with neighbours. That way I secured a play date with a nice family with five expat children. Went to play mini golf, but just meeting in a cafe with a playground works

 

11. Cycling is a daily ritual for the older one

 

12. We went to Art in Paradise, they love that!

 

13. Planning to go to Chiang Mai Zoo

 

14. I'm planning to teach the 9 year old Art, theory and practice. She likes it and doesn't learn it enough

 

15. I hope to continue Thai lessons for her, using a Youtube channel

 

16. I want to teach her to catch a ball, being a girl that's her achilles heel.

 

17. The little one loves water bubbles in the garden.

 

18. The older one has to practice piano every day.

 

19. We went to a horse riding place for one day, and they prepared a pony for both the older and younger one. Cost was negligible

 

20. I plan to teach the older one about geography, just fun general things. Again, not really covered in school.

 

 

[chickenslegs]

Some great ideas Logosone, thanks!

 

At the moment we are making "slime" from instructions found on youtube. Later we'll be baking banana cakes.

 

We all like the cinema, but there never seems to be many kids movies.

 

Pony riding - we've done that on holidays in the UK and I will look around to see if there's anything locally.

[4MyEgo]

54 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

I never thought about the possibility that the school may not re-open in May.

????

 

 

We have also agreed if the numbers rise and it's out there in our areas, we will hold the kids for a year, even more regardless.

[Orton Rd]

Mobile phones, that's all they are interested in

[Krataiboy]

52 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

Some great ideas Logosone, thanks!

 

At the moment we are making "slime" from instructions found on youtube. Later we'll be baking banana cakes.

 

We all like the cinema, but there never seems to be many kids movies.

 

Pony riding - we've done that on holidays in the UK and I will look around to see if there's anything locally.

We all like the cinema, but there never seems to be many kids movies.

 

Really? These days Hollywood seems to churn out nothing but predictable peurile action movies, barely watchable if you have a mental age of over ten.

[eddie61]

Take them cycling around wat yansangwararam, with a picnic under one of the salas there (mostly cycle path) .

Or cycle in the Sattahip navy camp near navy golf course to hat sai kaew beach.. virtually no traffic. Lunch can be picnic at beach.

Teach them to paddle board or windsurf at amara water sports.

get them to do a sailing course with navy or royal Varuna yacht club.

go for a picnic at khaochamao np, waterfall.

Edited March 8, 2020 by eddie61
Spelling

[curious297]

I think i'll be taking my and neighbours kids to Ice Arena in Boat Lagoon for some ice skating. It's great fun for the kids, very cheap, easy parking and i'll be sipping a cold one while i watch them ????

[Logosone]

2 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Some great ideas Logosone, thanks!

 

At the moment we are making "slime" from instructions found on youtube. Later we'll be baking banana cakes.

 

We all like the cinema, but there never seems to be many kids movies.

 

Pony riding - we've done that on holidays in the UK and I will look around to see if there's anything locally.

 

Nice idea. Here's another one from youtube:

 

Show them Lia Kim videos. Lia Kim is one of the best dancers in the world. If you're lucky they'll catch the dancing bug and will want to practice the moves from the Lia Kim videos. Great for coordination and exercise.

 

My older one really responds to Lia Kim, because she's cool and uses contemporary music which she likes.

[Logosone]

2 minutes ago, curious297 said:

I think i'll be taking my and neighbours kids to Ice Arena in Boat Lagoon for some ice skating. It's great fun for the kids, very cheap, easy parking and i'll be sipping a cold one while i watch them ????

That's an excellent idea, I should check out the ice rink in Central Festival here in CM as well. Will look them up now.

[sammieuk1]

On the bright side you don't live in Chiang Mai spare a thought for us now tablet and TV marooned souls????

[4MyEgo]

2 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

Mobile phones, that's all they are interested in

I believe one of the boys soon to turn 16 has currently gone off using his mobile as he got a rude shock yesterday evening, you see he confessed to his mum after she wanted to know why he wanted her to send 5,000 baht to his "girlfriend" via a wallet, it appears he is being blackmailed.

 

Story goes like this, the idiot thought it would be good to toss off on his mobile while he watched this woman do the same and was recorded by this "woman" (27) that he met online or something like that, and she said if he didn't send her the money she would release it on the web.

 

His mum goes online and says to this person, upload that video of a minor and I will go to the police, I have your instagram account and your photo, and your messages blackmailing him. Haven't heard anything from her since.

 

When I was shown the photos of the "girl", I said to my wife can't you both tell the difference between a woman and a ladyboy, suffice to say, why he was being blackmailed. 

 

When will these kids grow a brain, and some people here on TVF reading some of my previous posts thought that I was being a control freak because I have rules in the house, i.e. no talking at the dining table while eating, one hour a day on mobiles, well mum, you want to give them unlimited use of mobile phones during school holidays, well, you got served didn't you, banning him from using his mobile for the next two months could have been avoided I think ?

 

[DJ54]

Two boys 8,11 ish stay at our house in the village most the time during school along with their Grandma and Grandpa....

 

My vote send them to Bangkok with their parents....  last year Songkran parents here 2 days, Year prior 3 days.......

 

I seriously need a break from them as well it would give their 

parents quality time and enjoy the time daily as I have.. painful 

[Logosone]

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

I believe one of the boys soon to turn 16 has currently gone off using his mobile as he got a rude shock yesterday evening, you see he confessed to his mum after she wanted to know why he wanted her to send 5,000 baht to his "girlfriend" via a wallet, it appears he is being blackmailed.

 

Story goes like this, the idiot thought it would be good to toss off on his mobile while he watched this woman do the same and was recorded by this "woman" (27) that he met online or something like that, and she said if he didn't send her the money she would release it on the web.

 

His mum goes online and says to this person, upload that video of a minor and I will go to the police, I have your instagram account and your photo, and your messages blackmailing him. Haven't heard anything from her since.

 

When I was shown the photos of the "girl", I said to my wife can't you both tell the difference between a woman and a ladyboy, suffice to say, why he was being blackmailed. 

 

When will these kids grow a brain, and some people here on TVF reading some of my previous posts thought that I was being a control freak because I have rules in the house, i.e. no talking at the dining table while eating, one hour a day on mobiles, well mum, you want to give them unlimited use of mobile phones during school holidays, well, you got served didn't you, banning him from using his mobile for the next two months could have been avoided I think ?

 

 

Masturbating with ladyboys online does pass the time I guess, but thanks for highlighting the hidden dangers.

 

I guess the 'no talking at the dining table' rule was easy to enforce after that discovery.

 

My oh my.

[4MyEgo]

32 minutes ago, Logosone said:

 

Masturbating with ladyboys online does pass the time I guess, but thanks for highlighting the hidden dangers.

 

I guess the 'no talking at the dining table' rule was easy to enforce after that discovery.

 

My oh my.

The no talking at the dining table rule has always been easy to enforce, something you don't take a liking too, doesn't bother me, you don't live here, so I don't have to hear you....bye

[zhounan]

Nintendo Switch  > Animal crossing

Playstation 4 > Final Fantasy 7 Remake

[chickenslegs]

1 hour ago, 4MyEgo said:

His mum goes online and says to this person, upload that video of a minor and I will go to the police, I have your instagram account and your photo, and your messages blackmailing him. Haven't heard anything from her since.

That's quite a shocking story.

I'm not too good with phones/pads etc., but is there a way to prevent porn access/pop-ups?

 

Also, maybe you should go to the police with this. Who knows how many other kids are being blackmailed. Hard to imagine the terrible angst they are going through.