ENTERTAINING kids during school holidays is expensive.
spend on average £147 during the , according to NerdWallet UK.
But there are ways to lower costs while keeping the over the Easter break.
Don't buy toys, borrow them
Try toys instead of buying new ones.
Mum-of-three Rosey Davidson, a and parenting expert who posts tips at (just_chill_mama), is trying out subscription box, Whirli, in time for the Easter holidays.
The 42-year-old lives in north with her husband, Dan, and their three children, aged 12, eight and three.
Rosey said: “It costs £9.99 a month, and that gives you access to a huge range of the latest .”
If the couple were to buy these items new, over a year, the cost could easily run into hundreds of pounds.
Rosey added: “As the kids develop so fast, it’s easy for toys to become redundant pretty quickly.
“But with Whirli, we don’t need to worry about them getting bored.
“This feels like a cost-effective and planet-friendly way for my kids to play.”
For an even cheaper option, see if there’s a local toy library you can visit.
Larissa Hazell, 33, who lives in with her husband and three-year-old son, used a toy library last .
She works as an emergency nanny and is the founder of The Childcare Guide, a site which helps parents find the right provider.
She said: “It only costs £5 a year to sign up to the library, then 50p to ‘borrow’ each toy for two or three weeks.
“I’ve rented items including stickle bricks and musical instruments for my son.
“I wish more people knew about these great resources as they allow you – and your children – to try before you buy.”;
Grab a deal on meals
Lots of chains do discounts for kids during holidays.
Cafe is giving away a free bowl of cereal and portion of fruit when you ask for a “ Breakfast”.
At cafes, kids eat for £1 when you purchase an adult meal.
At Burger King little ones can eat for free when adults buy a meal. Download the app to get access to this and other offers.
Kids aged 12 and under can also eat free at Côte Brasserie this Easter when family members sign up to Côte’s and spend a minimum of £20.
If your child is eligible for , they may also qualify for free holiday food – and childcare – under the “Holiday Activities and Food” (HAF) programme. Check with your council.
App, app and away
Members of MoneySuperMarket's SuperSaveClub app get a “free days out annual pass”, which gives access to thousands of venues, such as zoos, bowling and .
There’s no cost to sign up but you will need to purchase a “qualifying” product such as or to access the free ticket.
Take out an eligible product via Compare the Market and you can benefit from a year of Meerkat Movies.
Download the Meerkat app to access two-for-one cinema tickets every Tuesday or Wednesday.
Get your hands on free food and other offers by signing up to apps – and newsletters – for outlets such as , , and .
Activities and apps that help kids learn
Make a trip to your local library this Easter and borrow so you won’t have to buy them.
Many libraries also have free craft events – and free computers for you to use.
If you want books you can own, The Works offers a brilliant “10-for-£10 picture book bundle.”
There are often some great bargains for budding bookworms at budget supermarkets such as and Aldi, too.
A host of stores offer classes during the holidays that can be both fun and educational.
Head to at Home for its My Pet Pals workshops which includes the chance to learn how to handle hamsters, rats and other small animals.
Download the official “geocaching” app and you can keep kids entertained searching for hidden goodies using GPS coordinates – giving you a good reason to get little ones out on walks this Easter.
Arrange a childcare swap
If you’re struggling to juggle childcare and work during the school holidays, and seeking a cheaper alternative to g a babysitter, why not get together with a few local parents and organise a childcare swap.
Take it in turns to be in charge of the kids for an afternoon or evening.
Or, work out a system where you earn a ‘token’ each time you babysit for someone else – and hand over a token each time you get another mum or dad to babysit for you.
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