How to…Deal with the ‘I’m bored mum’ this Easter

By the end of the week it will be the start of the Easter holidays and around two to three weeks of quality ‘I’m bored mum’ time. Here are some free to cheap ideas about how to tackle this horror time.

Scrapbook. By the horrors a little scrapbook and glue stick and get them to creatively make a record of all the things they see and do over the break.

Go Swimming. This is free for children, pregnant women and the over 60s in Bristol.

Visit the seaside. Weston-Super-Mare is not far from Bristol. It may be blustery, but a bracing walk on the beach collecting the most basic shells the sea has to offer will entertain children.

Go to the park. Boring for the parents after the millionth time but kids never tire of swings, bikes and shouting at ducks.

The local library is free. That is, unless you have a large library fine you have been putting off for ten years. Still, use of the facilities are free and there is nothing like the pained look on the faces of serious library users when you traipse in with a gaggle of children.

Baking. You can never go wrong with an Annabel Karmel cake recipe and if your baking skills can’t cope with this, get a just add water cake mix and some Betty Crocker icing. Brightly coloured food dye in the mix and icing can look minging but kids love it.

The countryside. It’s the great South West of England, there is plenty of it to walk in.

Get gardening. Little pots, seeds and bags of soil from the pound shop will fill a couple of hours and they will feel a sense of pride and achievement if they actually get the things to flower. This can even be done indoors.

Sunny day? Get out for a picnic. Can be done cheaply by taking lunch to the nearest park or beauty spot.

Get creative with Easter egg boxes and wrapping. Glue, paint, glitter and cardboard is always popular with the vacuum cleaner on standby.

Check out your local Sure Start Children’s Centre. These really useful places offer all sorts of free adult education and parenting courses as well as free Stay and Play time and PEEP groups for preschoolers.