IF the summer holidays carry on for much longer I may have to file for bankruptcy.

I don't mean the cost of extra childcare, although that can be steep.

It's more that weird thing that happens when a little face looks up at you, wide-eyed and expectant, and utters the words sure to strike fear into your heart.

What are we doing today?

And you, fearful that 'nothing' is probably not the answer your little ones were hoping for, may have done what I have done on countless occasions and promised a day out without realising that it was going to cost £40 just to get in through the doors.

Plus the price of the mountain load of mini sausages and Wotsits, bought in a vain attempt not to pay cafe food prices.

I would include the cost of the bananas too but, let's face it, you'll probably just recycle that squishy brown one that didn't get eaten yesterday.

And you'll still have to buy a round of ice creams because 'it's the holidays'.

Just the thought of the steady stream of money dribbling through your fingers has probably got you frantically googling clever craft ideas but, step away from the glue stick, I think I may have the answer.

You see, three weeks in, I've noticed a strange trend in my house.

The kids love stuff I just don't expect them to. And, it's mostly free or at least doesn't cost too much.

Take, for example, the highlight of our holidays so far. In preparation for my daughter's birthday party, I asked for help to put the party bags together.

I was not expecting the gleeful excitement generated by the prospect of counting out miniature bottles of bubbles, tiny animal erasers and packets of haribo sweets and distributing them into the correct bags.

Obviously it did cost a few pounds but I think we spent a solid three hours creating the party favours and it came with a few lessons on numeracy, responsibility and decision-making skills too. So, value for money was high.

Then, there was what you could call The Great Toy Shuffle.

This involved having a quick look around for toys lost down the back of wardrobes or put away in bottom drawers for emergencies.

A few forgotten items were uncovered and hey presto, an hour of happiness we weren't expecting and didn't have to pay for.

In fact, for us, the runaway toy of the season was a previously unopened pack of activity blocks meant for the baby.

Everyone in my house has enjoyed them. Even me.

I'm hoping this realisation might even enable me to make my own tower at the end of the holidays. Out of unspent pound coins.