OK I'm starting to panic about the summer hols..

[snowboarder]

My 2 yr old currently goes to nursery 2 mornings a week and tumbletots 1 morning. These are all on holiday as from 2 weeks time - ARGH! What to do to keep us both occupied (and that 5m old can tag along to?). Investigating tennis 4 kids sessions. Can't do swimming because of baby. Help. Holiday not until september....august is looming....

[Pickle]

The 1 o'clock clubs generally stay open right through the holidays - Crystal Palace is a good one for the mornings. You could explore some of the other playgrounds in the area (we love the one near Prendergast School, Hilly Fields, which is only a 10 min drive away).

You're welcome round here! Hoping for warm afternoons so we can get the paddling pool out.

I thought I'd be dreading the holidays now that C is at school 5 days, but actually I'm quite looking forward to having time to just mess about with the two of them before my youngest heads off to school in September.

[EDmummy]

You could also try planning one big excursion a week (something to focus on) like the Science Museum (great water play downstairs for small ones), Battersea Park Zoo, a City Farm (Vauxhall or Surrey Quays). A bike ride and picnic in Dulwich park - 5 month old in a sling, 2 year old in the bucket bike? I also used to find breaking my day up into chunks of activity really useful as well. Painting in the morning, lunch, nap or audio book/DVD, then an afternoon visit to the park, home in time for late afternoon routine. The key to chunking it is to not try and fit too much in!

Good luck. It is not easy and you will be excused if it sends you a little bonkers!

[Fuschia]

Can I join the anxious about the holidays club?!

What will keep me sane is company for a varied agenda of parks etc eAch day

[The Nappy Lady]

Me too, me too (hand up jumping up & down).

I will be around on Wednesdays & Fridays.

Shall we have some EDF outings/picnics??

[Ruth_Baldock]

And me. Energetic 19mo old and newborn + no playgroups = mummy may reach for the bottle (of gin, whiskey, tequila...)

[Fuschia]

Good plan

There is

Sandpit

Dulwich park though not very toddler friendly ( except for the little park by firemans alley)

Peckham rye picnic area

Goose green though gets a bit manic

Myatts fields

Dog kennel hill adventure playground possibly

Ruskin paddling pool

Cp one o'c club followed by cp park

Hillyfields pk I found a bit stressful ( two exits, not closeable)

Brockwell pk - no shade

[Ruth_Baldock]

A friend of mine's toddler recently got hand, foot and mouth from the paddling pool at RP, makes me a bit nervous...Playground is excellent though! Myatts field also good IIRC.

[Moos]

Ruskin used to be great, but on the one time we've been this year it was two-thirds empty (of water! stuffed full of kids!) and filthy. Thanks for reminder, will mention to Southwark, hopefully they'll sort it out.

[Belle]

Brock park water play is good and has sand too - some shade from trees round edges and all enclosed.

[The Nappy Lady]

Burgess Park - new toddler playground with sandpit, plus water jets outside & cafe is very good.

[crystal7]

Brockwell and Burgess parks are both great. There's also another playground in Camberwell, off Camberwell Church Street after Camberwell Grove but before the South London Gallery. Sorry to be vague but I walked past it ages ago and thought it looked great!

Some EDF meet ups over the summer hols would be great!

[millie42]

Would love to join in on some EDF meet ups with my two - 5 and nearly 3.

I was planning on doing some of the Pond dipping and nature trail activities at Horniman Museum.

M

[sillywoman]

Moos - Ruskin is Lambeth.

[Fuschia]

Yes thd nature stuff at horniman is good, as is theatre

Marsden wildlife centre is nice too

[Mellors]

Me me!!! baby, 2 year old and 4 year old = mummy on Gin by lunchtime.

Sydenham Wells park also good if water is on.

Crystal Palace 1 o clock (already mentioned) is super as there are things to do even if its raining, its completely toddler/escape proof, you can get tea/snacks easily and its open all day (bar lunch). A massive thumbs up from us.

Beckenham Spa softplay also good if its raining. Much prefer it to Peckham.

[Fuschia]

Little rascals soft play...

[Pickle]

We will be up for meet ups over the holiday period too. Kids are now 4.5 and 3 and love anything that involves being outside, so picnics etc. would be ideal.

[sunbob]

We would enjoy meeting up too. 2.5 yr old plus pg mummy. Any day except Thursday and anything free/low cost. Like the sound of all these activities :)

[curlykaren]

please ladies don't take your kids to ruskin pool, I was there a couple of weeks ago when they turned on two of the corner taps which spewed forth the most toxic, brown, stinky sludge I have ever seen. Unless the pool has been 'deep cleaned' since then I would not consider it safe to play. (There was no sign of any sort of cleaning beyond sweeping sludge into central drain when we were there).

[Fuschia]

Anyone been to Streatham paddling pool?

[snowboarder]

Cool lots of ideas about meeting up - makes me feel better! My current issue also seems to be getting out of the house - baby has a morning nap then feed - out by 10 if lucky and then will snooze on the go around lunchtime, then 2 yr old sleeps after lunch, baby does a tag team nap and has a snooze just as toddler get up. Argh!

For anyone interested - Crystal Palace are doing some week long swim courses towards the mid/end august - I did one with my then 16m old last year and it was good for sthg to do every morning for a week. Can't this year though - shame.

In terms of summer events I like the sound of lollibop. I have a flier for a production of Wind in the Willows and The tiger who came to tea is on in town - what do you think about suitability for a 2.25 yr old?

[snowboarder]

Anyone know whether any of the music groups are doing summer sessions?

[Fuschia]

My bSby won't sleep on the go

Arrgh

[Mrs Whippersnapper]

Whippersnappers are performing our theatre Production of "Anancy and Snake" at the Horniman Museum on 5th Aug 12.30pm and 3.30pm. Free inter-active Caribbean theatrical story telling. We will be in the garden this year as band stand is being refurbished. If the weather is bad we will be inside performing downstairs in the gallery space.

www,whippersnappers.org or go to Horniman website

Mrs Whippersnappers.