School's out for summer, and you're out of pocket. A new survey by the Abbey National has revealed that working parents spend up to £1,200 during the summer holidays to keep their children occupied.

Three-quarters expect to spend an extra £50 per child a week on child care, activities, transport and pocket money, with almost a fifth saying their costs increase by a staggering £100 a week during the six-week break. It seems then that the days are long gone when parents could simply gave their child a ball and a bag of sandwiches before opening the front door and ushering them out into the fresh air. Now children demand to be entertained and a hula-hoop just won't cut it.

American-style summer camps have become popular in the south in recent years, with parents paying out £120 for a five-day camp in London and £270 for a week-long break at an activity centre on the Isle of Wight, but in the north organised activities and playschemes remain top of children's wish-lists.

Prices vary across North Yorkshire but you should expect to pay at least £3 for a half- day sports or playscheme session.

"There is more call now for organised summer activities because an increasing number of kids come from single parent families or have both parents working," said Mora Scaife, who is currently helping to entertain 40 children every day in her role as community leisure officer at Burton Stone Community Centre in York.

"The holidays are long, but they don't have to be boring. The aim of most organised scheme - ours included - is to get children and young people away from the television during the summer break and into new experiences."

And these new experiences don't necessarily have to cost the earth. Although Mora and her team organise a number of trips out to places like Dalby Forest and Filey, they also take advantage of the many free facilities on their doorstep.

"Keeping children amused doesn't have to cost anything," she said. "You can take them to Museum Gardens for a bit of a run around or to see the street entertainers in the city centre. It's also a good idea to have plenty of arts and crafts stuff around - it's a cheap and cheerful activity and kids love it because it's an opportunity to be really messy."

Sometimes, however, when you've run out of sticky-back plastic and loo rolls you have to put your hand in your pocket. So how much can an average summer holiday week cost?

A week in the life of your wallet

Monday, July 31: Water World, Monk's Cross (£3.10); The Chocolate Exhibition at York Castle Museum (£3.50)

Tuesday, August 1: York Model Railway, next to the station (£1.95 - under 4s free); Painting Impressionistically workshop at York City Art Gallery (£1.50).

Wednesday, August 2: Rollerskating at York Barbican Centre (£1.60); Flintstones at Warner Village Cinemas, Clifton Moor (£3.40).

Thursday, August 3: Flamingo Land (£12 - under 4s free)

Friday August 4: Art Kart face-painting and puppet-making at Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds (£3.90); Little Tom's Play Barn, Riverside Farm, Skelton (£1).

Total = £31.95

...plus lunches, transport, pocket money, and child care

Freebies!

1. Pack a picnic and get along to Rowntree, West Bank or Hull Road Park. If it's wet try the undercover playground at the McArthurGlen designer shopping complex.

2. If you want a wicked time get along to the Wick-Kid Mobile. This is a council-run mobile playscheme that travels round the city providing access to toys, games, arts and crafts.

3. Build up a head of steam and chug along to the National Railway Museum - children under 17 go free.

4. Book a day in your diary to visit your local library. Most organise events like Teddy Bears' Picnics for young readers and also provide access to CDs, computer games, the Internet (and books!) for older children.

5. Enjoy a grand day in while your kids enjoy a grand day out at their grandparents' house.

Listings of school holiday activities and events appear in the Evening Press and ThisisYork every Friday.

PICTURE: Magician James Oliver entertains children at the National Play Day event held in Rowntree Park, York