There are two words that strike terror into the hearts of parents over the six-week summer holiday: "I'm bored."

They usually occur five minutes after leaving the school gate for the last time in July, and are repeated at frequent intervals until September when it's replaced by: "But I don't want to go back to school yet".

If you share your life with someone small and find the joy that you felt when the midwife announced "It's a boy", "It's a girl", or "It's another one", escapes you over the summer, then here are a few suggestions.

Basildon, Southend and Castle Point councils' leisure services have all prepared a whole host of activities for youngsters. Even This Is Essex partner paper the Evening Echo is doing its bit - with the Martin Allen Soccer School in Southend.

BASILDON

Cricket, tennis, rugby, basketball and netball skills are on offer from Basildon Council, which organise a large selection of activities in the parks, leisure centres and swimming pools over the district.

Officers have also arranged taster sessions in cricket for children aged from nine to 12 and tag rugby is available every Wednesday and Tuesday forseven to 11-year olds.

There are basketball courses, which include a Sunny Delight award scheme and coaching from members of the professional London Leopards.

Summer netball camps are available for nineto 14-yea-rolds. Run in Gloucester Park, Basildon they focus on skills, match play and Coca Cola awards.

There will also be tennis academies running through August for novice to advanced players. These courses must be booked in advance.

Escape '99 is the name of the brochure which lists each activity in the Basildon area - if your youngster didn't bring one home from school then more information can be got from the leisure line.

Basildon-based MegaSport is offering four to 11-year-olds multi-activity camps in four Essex venues, Loughton, Brentwood, Great Baddow and Billericay.

Youngsters can participate in circus skills, sports, swimming, quad bikes and disco games with qualified experienced teachers in a secure environment.

The camp offers a facility for working parents allowing the children to be dropped at 9am and picked up at 5pm.

Basildon leisure line: 01268 294929.

MegaSport: 01268 416612.

SOUTHEND

The leisure team here has put together The Biz '99, a booklet detailing a host of activities being held in leisure centres.

The opportunities are almost endless - including arts and crafts, storytime, music and drama and sport.

There is also a full itinerary in the borough's swimming pools with crash courses for non-swimmers and for those wishing to learn life saving skills and snorkelling. There are also activities available for children with mild and severe learning difficulties during some weeks.

What's the use of having a football team if they can't help spread the skill? Southend United will be running a summer soccer course with coaching, competitions and trophies.

And for the drama queen in your house there is even a summer school for the performing arts. Courses must be booked in advance.

The Evening Echo is also helping to keep the kids happy this summer in Conjunction with the Martin Allen Soccer School.

The school is being run at Southend High School for Boys, Prittlewell Chase from August 2 to 6 for girls and boys aged six to 16.

Sponsored by Puma, Fujifilm and Shoot not only does the course offer coaching by fully qualified Football Association coaches, there will be visits by top professional players and the chance to win prizes.

There will be a hardest shot competition, Juggling, penalty American shoot-out and chipping the crossbar, world cup five-a-side and champions league cup team competitions.

On top of all of that there are Fujifilm cameras for the characters and most improved players of the week and the character of the week will receive a holiday in Hampshire on the Martin Allen Soccer Holiday Camp All for £59. See application form on page 18.

Southend sports development team: 01702 215612; Arts 01702 215436.

CASTLE POINT

A packed diary of events has been lined up in Castle Point to help keep boredom at bay.

A mini camp for children aged three and four will be running at Waterside Farm in Somnes Avenue, Canvey',from July 26 to September 3 from 9.30am to 12.30pm.

Older children between five and seven will be able to go to a junior camp also at Waterside between those dates.

The cost is £4.25 a day for the mini camp, £5.25 for the junior camp. Activities will include sports, art, nature trails and treasure hunts.

Castle Point leisure department: 01268 882475.

Colour me fun - painting, arts and crafts, drama and play are all on offer at various play schemes and holiday clubs being run by Basildon, Southend and Castle Point councils during the school summer holidays

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