'School's out - and it will cost parents £1,000', according to a study released as children break up for summer.

Time was when keeping children occupied during the holidays was as simple as packing them off to the park. These days worries about the safety of letting youngsters head off on their own means many parents now prefer to arrange supervised activities such as sports camps for them, or take them to expensive attractions such as theme parks, stately homes and zoos.

More parents are also booking their children in for extra tuition, incurring hefty fees. Why? Children don't come cheap - luxury holidays cost less than nursery fees and keeping my daughters in Cocoa Pops alone has me forking out half my monthly salary.

But looking after them during the holidays doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.

What about the beach? As far as I know it's free to go there and, for the price of a couple of buckets and spades, (which are probably hanging up in your garage anyway) and a picnic, you can have a fantastic day out.

Then there's the moors. Around Ilkley or Haworth, children can run wild, and I don't think there's an entry fee. Neither do they charge admission to local parks.

I know you have to get to these places, and if you don't have transport that can cost. But even at home children can be easily amused, for little or no money whatsoever. Hand them a few cardboard boxes - readily available from supermarkets - and a couple of sheets and ask them to make a den. This will see you though a morning. Teach them hopscotch, all you need is a bit of pavement, chalk and a flat stone.

I once gave my daughters and friends a pile of paper and some felt tips, and asked them to create an art gallery. I didn't hear a peep for hours - enabling me to sit at my kitchen table and count all the precious pennies I had saved by not taking them to Kitten World or Swanksville Hall or any of those places that bleed you dry from the moment you arrive. I can't think of anything worse than dragging children around theme parks, queuing for two hours for two-minute rides.

Even if I had money unlimited I wouldn't dream of subjecting my children to a sports camp - kids agree to stuff like that far too readily nowadays. Had my parents tried to pack me off for a week of physical activities with a bunch of strange children I should have fixed them with a deathly stare and screamed for at least 40 hours. As for arranging extra tuition - I'd have packed my bags and left for the streets of London.

I admit, keeping children amused for the whole six weeks isn't easy. I'd love to be able to do what my parents did with me and let my daughters out after breakfast to roam as they pleased with their friends, only coming home for meals. But I daren't - I worry if they venture into the next aisle in Tesco without me. I want them nearby, but that doesn't mean I'm going to splash out on costly family trips. I won't be spending anywhere near £1,000, if I had that sort of cash to spare for fun days out I'd be heading off to Paris with my girlfriends.

Updated: 09:40 Tuesday, July 26, 2005