Being taken for a ride by your costly kids? (From Thisisdorset)

Being taken for a ride by your costly kids?

12:17pm Thursday 27th July 2006 in

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SCHOOLS out! And as children jump for joy at the thought of the long summer holidays ahead of them, mums and dads are counting the cost.

Parents are set to spend a whopping £1,800 keeping their children entertained during the summer, according to latest statistics from Morgan Stanley.

The average parent will spend £300 a week amusing their kids on the six-week break.

Around £50 a week will go on tourist attractions, nearly £36 will be spent on trips to theme parks, while visits to the zoo will cost an average of £12.

Cinema tickets will average £20, and meals out will set mum and dad back £72 a week.

Even staying at home doesn't come cheap with the average person expecting to splash out £33 on books, CDs and DVDs for their child.

And when the little angels are not around they'll still cost money. The childminding bill will tot up to £28 per week, and summer camps and activity centres will average £30.

The survey also revealed the spending patterns of parents in different parts of the country.

People in Yorkshire and Humberside will spend the most keeping their children entertained at an average of just over £400 a week, while those in Wales will spend the least at just £174.57 a week.

And the younger the parent, the more they are prepared to spend on their offspring.

WHILE tourist attractions are fun to visit, keeping kids entertained needn't cost the earth.

We're lucky enough to live in such a beautiful part of the country that there's no end of possibilities for family picnics, bicycle rides or days by the coast which won't cost a penny.

And there are many places in the area which don't charge admission fees (although you may have to pay car parking charges).

Here are some free ideas.

Bournemouth Kids Free Fun Festival,The Pagoda, Lower Gardens Daily entertainment during school summer holidays with clowns, magicians, puppet shows and wandering minstrels. On Wednesday nights the Candle Illuminations in the Lower Gardens feature 15,000 candles in coloured glass jars and at 10pm on a Friday, a firework display from Bournemouth pier.

Weymouth beach Offering traditional seaside entertainment (such as Punch & Judy, swingboats, trampolining) until September.

The Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, East Cliff, Bournemouth This Victorian cliff top museum has family oriented workshops in school holidays.

Christchurch Priory The Priory is the longest parish church in England, and guided tours available. Donations requested.

Hengistbury Head A Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific interest. Visitors can take a land train to Mudeford Spit where there is a caf and sandy beach.

Red House Museum and Gardens, Christchurch A wide range of galleries to view here - A Bygones gallery, a costume gallery, 1930s room, archaeology gallery and excellent natural history displays.

Maiden Castle near Dorchester A spectacular Iron-Age hill fort with information display boards. Kids enjoy exploring the maze of banks and ditches and defending the fort against Roman attack!

Tout Quarry Sculpture Park and Nature Reserve, near Fortuneswell, Isle of Portland See sculptures carved into the rock face or worked from the quarry landscape. Paths take in spectacular sea views and the site is home to rare plants and butterflies.

Poole Park The park borders 55 acres of sea water and two freshwater lakes with swans, ducks and geese. There is a crazy golf course (seasonal), miniature railway and Gus Gorilla's Jungle Playground.

Upton Country Park, Poole The Upton House estate includes farmland, woodland and saltmarsh with nature trails and a replica Roman farm.

Moors Valley Country Park, Ashley Heath Forestry Commission land with a play trail and tree top walk built among the trees, together with adventure playground, nature trails, narrow-gauge railway and golf course (charge made) and a Go Ape high ropes course (charges apply).

Avon Heath Country Park, Brocks Pine These 580 acres of heathland are home to rare and endangered plants and animals. Walk or cycle along one of the trails or take part in the events organised in holidays. Visitor centre.

Durlston Country Park, Swanage Gateway to the Jurassic coastline. Woodland and wildlife trails can be followed across unspoilt countryside and the park centre has displays on marine life and cliff meeting birds. Daily wildlife reports and Ranger Service.

Swanage Lifeboat Station, Peveril Point View an Inshore D Class and an all-weather Mersey in the boathouse. See boathouse for Training Launch details.

Kingcombe Meadows Nature Reserve, Toller Porcorum The Reserve, managed by the Dorset Wildlife Trust, has a network of footpaths and is famous for its patchwork of fields, woodland, scrub and bog. Visitor centre.

Lulworth Heritage Centre, West Lulworth Visit the Smuggling exhibition and learn about the formation of the Cove as part of our world famous Jurassic coastline.

Brewers Quay, Weymouth An unusual leisure and shopping complex that includes Timewalk and Discovery exhibitions and numerous special events.

Radipole Lake RSPB Nature Reserve Paths lead through the reed beds around the freshwater lake where many different birds can be seen. The Visitor Centre has large viewing windows and there is a programme of walks and events, including children's trails.

The New Forest This ancient forest has a diverse mix of woodland, open heathland and acres of space for picnics and games - free to enjoy. There are waymarked trails at Blackwater and Boldrewood.

• For more ideas on what to do and where to go in Dorset and Hampshire with children up to the age of 16, pick up the 86-page guide Lets Go With The Children priced £3.99 from bookshops, supermarkets, tourist information centres, gift shops and leisure attractions.

letsgowiththechildren.co.uk.

And don't forget to look in your Daily Echo for details of forthcoming events and attractions!