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From and on behalf of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC)
Entertaining kids on a budget
Wondering how to keep your kids entertained over the long summer holidays? The good news is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has some tips to help you and your family enjoy the summer holidays without breaking the bank.Work out a budget
Work out how much you can afford to spend on activities and set a weekly budget to help you. The CCPC’s holiday at home budget planner can help you work out how much you can afford to spend.Check out local activities and events
There are lots of attractions that your family can enjoy, many of which are free. Visit your local library and encourage your children to take home some books. Many libraries hold events such as story time, readathons, book clubs and arts and crafts days; just ask the staff if they have any events coming up. Libraries are also a great place for kids to spend a few hours in, with plenty of books and computers to keep them busy – perfect for a rainy day.Check to see if your local swimming pool offers free or reduced-fee swimming during the school holidays. A trip to the local swimming pool can be a great way to entertain children if you don’t have the opportunity (or the weather!) to go to the beach.
A trip to the cinema is always a treat for the whole family. Many cinemas offer kids clubs with tickets at reduced prices.
Museums and galleries are great as many of them are free. They have new exhibitions and events running throughout the summer as well as special events catering for children and families during the school holidays. The Office of Public Works is offering free admission to all of their managed Heritage Sites during the summer.
Teach your children about money when out and about
A good way to teach your child about money is to involve them in planning a family day out during the summer. Get them involved in choosing where to go. Try to limit the choice to two or three different places. Give them the total amount you have available to spend and discuss the pros and cons of each. Discuss the cost involved and the importance of deciding what is most important to them. When on the trip give each child a small amount of money to budget and spend on themselves.Stay at home
On some days, you may decide to stay at home, but that doesn’t mean your family has to be bored. You could spend some time playing a favourite game or reading a story with your children.Challenge the kids to come up with some ways to enjoy themselves without spending money beforehand to make sure you stay within your budget.
Have a duvet day; let the kids choose a couple of favourite films, make some popcorn and settle down to relax together. You could even let the kids build a den to play in; all they need are some sheets or blankets and some cardboard boxes or chairs to prop them up!
Teach your kids how to cook; help them pick a simple, low-cost receipe, go shopping for ingredients and cook something together that you can all enjoy eating afterwards.
Pull out those library books, board games and jigsaw puzzles and spend some time playing. Traditional games can be great fun when the whole family gets involved.
Encourage your children to put on a play or a magic show. Let them use some old clothes for fancy dress; a few simple props and a bit of imagination is all they need. If you have a camera, you can even film it to look back on in years to come.
Have an arts and crafts day. You could create a scrapbook together using family photos or pictures from magazines of things each child is interested in. Buy a few packets of seeds and let the kids plant them and watch them grow. Help them create a treasure map and then set up a treasure hunt around the house and garden. Or even just cover your table with an old sheet and set the kids up with paper and paints or colouring pencils.
Enjoy the outdoors
Sunny days are great for simple activities like hopscotch and football, and these all can be done as close to home as your back garden. Or have a picnic; a small change from the routine like taking your lunch to eat outside on a blanket will seem like a novelty to children and doesn’t cost anything extra.Kites are great for a windy day and they can be bought very cheaply. If you’re feeling very creative, you and the kids can even have a go at making one yourselves!
If the weather allows, take a trip to the beach. Most Irish people are lucky enough to live within driving distance of the Irish coastline. There are lots of blue flag beaches which are clean and safe for your children to play and swim in.
Take time to enjoy our beautiful countryside. Coillte have details of plenty of family-friendly activities around the country, such as camping, walking and cycling trails. We also have six national parks in Ireland which are free to enter and open all year round. Encourage your kids to watch out for the wide variety of wildlife spotted in the national parks. Turn it into a competition to keep them interested, with a treat for the person who spots the most!
Ireland has a long history of folklore, and lots of woods around the country host fairy trails. Spotting the hidden fairy houses is great fun for kids and it’s totally free.
For something a bit closer to home, bring the kids to your local playground. It’s a free and easy way to keep them entertained, get a bit of exercise and fresh air and let them meet other children.
And don’t forget; child Leap Card holders can travel free for two weeks from the 25 of July to the 7 of August.
Visit the CCPC’s website for more money saving tips and ideas for things to do when spending summer at home.The Library
My 2 did summer stars with the library last year but we had to push them a little, this year they asked to do it and we’ve been to the library 4 times already, they’re ploughing through the books – am absolutely delighted to see them both loving reading. With my 9yr old it was about finding something she liked reading to get her moving, my 7yr old on other hand will read anything.
If it’s dry they walk to the library so again they walk down, have a browse, walk back and off course ready a few pages 😉The library is fab, we love popping in there
We are going to Airfield estate next week, its a fab spot for a day out. Pack a picnic, grab a coffee over there and let the kids run wild!!
Today our girls made a den in their bedroom because it was raining. Yep, I’ll admit it got a little bit messy but they were so happy and played contentedly for a few hours that the mess seemed like it was not relevant!! every little bit of peace we can grab on rainy days is much appreciated!!!
I had a cardboard house that you colour in I bought years ago and forgot about – got it out other day and they spent hours colouring it – I’m sure I bought it smyths on the 2 for € 20 promotion
Then Monday they took it out front and had a "summer club" my 9yr old was in charge of the older kids and my 7yr old the younger ones – they had a side each where all kids wrote their names and had a colour, they had lemonade bottle full of juice and plastic cups for their pals and I mean hourssssssssssssssss ouf entertainment
house is still standing and still got plenty to be coloured in so it’s in lean too for the next "club"
I’d love to see a pic of that munchin, sounds brill
that’s a great idea
Our girls made a den outside with large golf umbrellas last week when it was sunny and the indoor den yesterday when it was raining. Children have such great imaginations – when we let them use them!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Colour-Your-O … SwvU5XNanN
it’s something like this one – I looked on smyths & argos but can’t find it – probably not stocked anymore as it was about 3yrs ago I bought it
We’ve got family pass for 2 adults & 2 children, (For either Fri 14th /Sat15th /Sun16th April) to go to Wooly Ward’s Farm Easter Family Fun event!
To be in to win, like their FB page and then leave your name on here or on our FB page. See: https://www.facebook.com/mumstown.irela … =3&theater
Good luck everyone!! 🙂
Arc Cinema have Kids Club every morning during the Easter break at 11am. The movie is ‘The Lego Movie’ and its €3.50 per child.
They also have a brilliant family deal;
Admission for 2 adults & 2 children (or 1 adult and 3 children)
Kids meals for the children and popcorn & drinks for the adults
And the whole lot is €39. Its a good saver and its nice to know exactly how much you are going to spend.Boss Baby, Smurfs, Fast & Furious 8 and of course, Beauty & The Beast are all running too.
Happy movie watching!
Easter competition…..with Mumstown Ireland and Funtasia Theme Parks via our FB page: https://www.facebook.com/mumstown.irela … 0921576046
• Win! Waterpark Family Splash Pass for 2 adults & 2 children – Pirate’s Cove Waterpark,3 Activities, Plus €20.00 Meal voucher. Buy this great deal online and save up to 32% check out http://www.funtasia.ie/waterpark-packages/
• Win! Funtasia Fairground Bettystown Family Funfair Pass for 2 adults & 2 children – Package includes 60 ride token, Bowling Or Play Area Plus €20.00 meal voucher check out our great online deals http://www.funtasia.ie/funtasia-bettys…/fairground-packages/Like & Share via the FB link above and leave your name to be in to win!!!
Glasnevin Cemetery launches "Dead Interesting" tour
Come take a Guided Tour at Glasnevin, it’s Dead Interesting!Glasnevin Cemetery Museum
Since 1832, more than 1.5 million people have been interred in Glasnevin. Located just 2.5km from Dublin’s city centre, Glasnevin Cemetery covers 124 acres of glorious parkland with plenty to appreciate – perfect for those interested in exploring the legacies of Ireland’s heroes.
A hauntingly gorgeous Victorian Garden cemetery each guide is passionate about sharing their love of heritage and history, telling the stories of Ireland’s complex and fascinating history through daily walking tours turning a learning experience into a period of magic with a careful balance of passion, sensitivity and even fun.
EGG-CITED for Easter?
Get in the Easter spirit with Dealz this Thursday, 13th April as Dealz stores at Swords, Omni, Blanchardstown, Bray, Gorey, Wexford High St, Waterford, Killarney Deer Park, Galway SC & Athlone host a fun filled day of in-store activity to keep your little ones entertained.
The first 50 kids into stores on the day will receive FREE chocolates. Face painters will be on hand from 1PM – 3PM to paint your little ones as bouncy bunnies or adorable chicks. And you can also give back on the day, with all proceeds going to Dealz charity partner, Make A Wish.
See more at – http://www.dealz.ie/
Easter Saturday : FREE Egghunt in Smyth Stores!
Easter Sunday : Egg hunt, Easter bonnet competition…in Sage & Stone – Duleek
Easter at Oldbridge also running events.
Easter Monday : Free activities in Oldbridge including Wools Farm.Also Sonairte in Laytown are running activities all week.
Plenty to do for all the familySummer hols are fast approaching so add any day out ideas here!
We love things that are:
FREE!
Good for being on a budget
Creative and fun for little ones!Tayto Park officially opens ‘The Viking Voyage at The Park, Irelands largest flume ride. The attraction, with full Viking theming, is Ireland’s largest water ride and cost €8million to complete. Construction on the ride began last July with over 50 builders and engineers working on the attraction every day.
The centre of the ride is a mountain standing 60ft high and over 500 trees have been planted to recreate the Irish landscape from 1,000 years ago. The super flume track is 700m and takes 5 minutes to complete with the ride reaching speeds of 60kph.
To create a truly authentic experience, Tayto Park employed Viking experts from Sweden and theming contractors who have work in Disneyland and on Game of Thrones, to work on the project. The ride takes you on a journey from an ancient Viking town to Celtic Ireland and delves into true Viking history with replica ring forts, round towers and a monastery.
Viking Voyage facts
· 1.7 million litres of water, 5000 bundles of straw, over 10,000 tonnes of concrete and 500 tonnes of steel
· The construction team used Viking building methods including wattle fencing, Viking ships, currachs and thatch built in the methods from 1,000 years ago.
· Make your way through a full Viking village complete with 6 replica Viking ships throughout the ride
· There are 3 drops in total and the largest is 12 metres and one is a backwards drop
· There are 12 Viking boats on the ride at any one time with six people per boat
· The ride will take 720 people per hourTayto Park opened for it’s seventh season last April and The Viking Voyage at the Park is now open to the public. For more information and opening times, please visit http://www.taytopark.ie.
Prices 2017
For the first time, guests can pre-book online at http://www.taytopark.ie and save €2 on their entry and wristband.
Online Price Pay on Arrival
Park Entry & All Day Wristband €28.00 €30.00
Adult / Child 3+ Years – Park Entry €15.00 €15.00
Child Under 3 years old – Park Entry €0.00 €0.00
Special Needs Adult/Child & Carer €12.00 €12.00WEBSITE: http://www.taytopark.ie
FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/pages/TaytoPark/184031211637871?fref=ts
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