As a mother of 5 I have always refused to pay for someone else to entertain my kids (don't even have a full-time maid in Doha). If you are creative and resourceful as a mother, you can find inexpensive ways to teach and entertain your own children. During the summer I always started every morning with the kids doing chores. Even my 1 year old was assigned a task. Then they did 30 minutes of "school" from simple worksheets (free on the internet) to playing educational games. Then we had a little video or TV time. We often would paint pictures, color, play with playdough or make a simple craft. Once a week I would invite a friends children over to play. Then they in turn would have my children over, giving me a free morning. We went on outings to the mall to go on a scavenger hunt (who can find the ugliest hat?) Never buying a thing. You can get so many many ideas from the internet nowdays. One of my favorites is familyfun.com Goodluck. The only thing holding you back is yourself.
As a mother of 5 I have always refused to pay for someone else to entertain my kids (don't even have a full-time maid in Doha). If you are creative and resourceful as a mother, you can find inexpensive ways to teach and entertain your own children. During the summer I always started every morning with the kids doing chores. Even my 1 year old was assigned a task. Then they did 30 minutes of "school" from simple worksheets (free on the internet) to playing educational games. Then we had a little video or TV time. We often would paint pictures, color, play with playdough or make a simple craft. Once a week I would invite a friends children over to play. Then they in turn would have my children over, giving me a free morning. We went on outings to the mall to go on a scavenger hunt (who can find the ugliest hat?) Never buying a thing. You can get so many many ideas from the internet nowdays. One of my favorites is familyfun.com Goodluck. The only thing holding you back is yourself.