Fun Outings For Mother And Child!

I find nothing more pleasing than taking my children out for the day and spending quality time with them. I look forward to the school holidays, plan our itinerary so that we are always busy, and am always on the lookout for something new and fun to do with them. And, having a pre-schooler, means I get to enjoy term time jaunts too!

Taking trips with the kids isn’t always cheap though, and finding affordable ways of entertaining them for fun times out is key.

I love an annual pass for its money saving quality. Choose a place close to home which is fabulous and brings lots of smiles and invest in a 12 month ticket meaning you can visit whenever you like. We have a few and I plan meticulously when each one is bought so that they don’t all run out at the same time!

And for trips which aren’t regular, a more special day out perhaps? Well, there are ways of making them work for the pocket too! Search around for offers and deals but also, when it comes to Christmas and birthdays it’s worth asking family and friends to give gift cards instead of a present. Works brilliantly for two reasons, less toys to find homes for in the house, and a memory maker to look forward to. If you were to ask for perhaps a Disneyland gift card from a few different people, then together they’d make a substantial difference to your trip!

For free days out in your area, look at local Facebook pages for recommendations of parks and play areas. We live close to the beach and tend to spend a lot if days searching for crabs under rocks, jumping waves and building sand castles. It costs just a picnic and an ice cream for lots of happy, smiling, faces!

Taking a trip to London doesn’t have to be the bug deal it sounds on paper. You really don’t have to book wildly expensive activities and can, in fact, make a whole day out in the capital for FREE! Once you’ve booked your train ticket (potentially the only cost), you will find lots of council subsidised activities which won’t cost a penny. Most of the museums are FREE like The Science Museum which has paid for exhibitions but also ones which are open to all. Then there’s the city farms and parks, fountains and sights which can be seen on foot rather than an open top bus. Most of central London is pretty close together and easier to navigate walking rather than on public transport anyway. We recommend the Princess Diana Memorial Playground, Coram’s Fields, The Drury Lane playground, Mudchute and Hackney City Farms, The Young V&A, The Museum of London Docklands and Somerset House and The Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park for fountains and play areas all costing nothing!

You can also have an inexpensive “day out” at home! Without travelling far from your house you can pick a theme, we like to choose favourite books, and make a whole day based around it. A Teddy Bear’s picnic in your local park for example, make an expedition out of the ordinary and you’ll be surprised at the fun you can have!

So, whether it’s quiet days spent close to home, jaunts to see London on a budget, or big trips to Disneyland using your gift cards, there’s always better ways to save money while doing your favourite things!