How children really like to spend their free time + win a fun family day out

Most Friday nights go something like this:

Me: “What do you fancy doing this weekend?”

Belle, sighing heavily: “Nothing.”

Me: “You don’t fancy a fun outing somewhere?”

Belle: “No. I just want to watch TV.”

Hmmm.

That’s no fun is it? I mean, she is 13, and she’s meant to hate me I know, but come on, it’s the weekend! What generally happens though is that we drag her out, she sulks for about the first twenty minutes, and then it’s like the clouds in her head part, and she starts to have fun. Once she gets over that idea that she has to have a miserable time, to make a point, she’s brilliant company and we have a lovely time.

Mini golf is one of her favourites, and she loves a spot of dressing up, but she even lets me take her to places like Gnome World. She’s a good sport.

family days out

family days out

family days out

She’s prove then of the results of recent research from Southeastern, which found that three quarters of kids under 12 say they’d rather spend time with family than play computer games and 87% would choose a day out with family over watching their favourite TV programmes. When asked what the best thing was about family days out, 45% of under 12s said it was spending time with their family. 17% said it was seeing something new, 16% said it was the sweets and treats and for 9% it’s about learning something. The sweets are definitely a big part of it for Belle.

Here’s a little video from Southeastern about how families like to spend their days together:

Theme parks, the beach and zoos are the top three places that the kids in the Southeastern survey wanted to visit, and they are definitely amongst Belle’s favourites. She loves the cinema too, (chiefly I suspect for the popcorn), and generally anything where we get to spend time together. She loves crafty things, like painting ceramics, and physical stuff like swimming and high ropes.

Can you spot her on this ride at Thorpe Park? Note that I am behind the camera…

family days out

family days out

Win one of two fantastic family day out packages with Southeastern

If you love a great family day out, check out this competition from Southeastern. It’s only running until Tuesday 15th March, so you’ll have to hurry! There are two really cool prizes up for grabs – a year’s family membership to the ZSL London Zoo and a year’s access to Dreamland Margate. Both prizes come with a Coast and Country picnic basket and £75 voucher for Ottolenghi and one day return travel for a family of four.

Pretty nice right? Enter now here.

What’s your idea of a perfect family day out?

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4 Comments

  1. 14 March, 2016 / 3:38 pm

    This is really making me feel like i need a bit more outdoor time! I think for me it would be fun on a beach or by the water, actually when we went to france i loved just hanging outdoors enjoying the sun x

  2. 14 March, 2016 / 4:47 pm

    I will be so sad when the kids no longer want to come on family days out! By the time I was a teen I would have rather had my arm cut off than spend a day with my mum but I’m really hoping my kids will be different! x

  3. 14 March, 2016 / 9:30 pm

    I LOVE family fun days out, but sometimes struggle for ideas. I’m starting to compile a Pinterest board though so we always have something to do together :) It’s getting so much easier now mine are 3 and 5, much better to drag them out the front door than before. I reckon I might even get some National Trust properties done this summer!

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