What do you do with your 18 month old?

[purplemurple1]

I've an 18month old DS and a 6 week old DD, and I feel like ds is neglected a little but tbh I don't know what we should be doing with him. (both me and OH work PT and take it in turns to be home with the kids.)

He goes to nursery M-F 6am to 14.00 (they go outside to play everyday, never do anything structured).

He comes home, has a snack, and just pottles around the house until dinner at 17.00, the more pottering until supper and bed at 18.30/19.00.

Sometimes we have jobs to do which he helps with (washing, dog stuff, lighting the fire, moving wood etc) but mostly he just potters about the house on his own. He might colour, or 'read', play with a musical toy and dance, pretend cook etc but nothing structured and we only join in if he brings things to us. DD is fairly easy at the moment so we could do things but have litterally no ideas what. We try to take him out in the garden as he always wants to go out, but after 10min on the sledge and a quick play with the dog he either walks over to his nans or in to the store/garage and wants to get undressed and play inside again.

I'm not in the UK and we have too much snow to use the park at the moment and there are no afternoon playgroups in the village.

[Rightokthen]

Tricky isn't it. I was in your position 5 months ago. We spent a lot of time going to cafés . Baby slept and toddler ate snacks. Local shopping centres. Did baby groups a couple of times buT found if hard with 2.if you can get on with using a sling you're freed up a lot more .
It's hard isn't it as it's limited in what you can do, and it can be boring also!
Sorry I'm not much help. Looking forward to warmer weather!

[purplemurple1]

It is pretty boring and not helped by living in a village so no shopping centre or cafes to visit. Just a garden that is covered in ice and mostly unuseable.

I have a good double buggy and both kids like it but there are only so many times you can go on a walk to look at the local cows and horses!

[Saltedcaramel2014]

I think your toddler's day sounds pretty fun. I'd love to have a dog to entertain DS with. If you want to do more, though - these are some things my DS (19 m) likes: watering plants indoor and out, jigsaws, play dough with animal-shaped biscuit cutters, duplo, train set, musical instruments. But seriously I wouldn't worry too much if he's not making it clear to you he's bored he's most likely quite happy, and will be learning plenty from your everyday activities/going to shop etc. Roll on the good weather though!

[Saltedcaramel2014]

And you have cows and horses nearby too? It sounds like toddler heaven

[purplemurple1]

Maybe I shouldn't be too worried, although he took himslef to his nans an hour ago and won't come home, but at leaset it means we can get some jobs done.

[UngratefulMoo]

I don't think that sounds bad at all! DD is 18mo and she goes to nursery 4 days a week. I have Mondays off and today we went to a local shopping centre where she pushed her dolls pushchair around next to me for a bit. She tried to join in my tidying up at lunchtime and then between her nap and bedtime she just bombed about playing with her toys and scribbling with her crayons. I do give her attention every now and then with tickles or, ahem, pretending to be an animal... I say as long as he seems happy and entertained then you're fine!

[Beaglebaby]

Some suggestions- paints/messy play/collage things with glue, playdough, indoor water play (if you have a place in your house!), chalk board/easel, baking, duplo, puzzles, blocks

[icklekid]

It sounds like you are concerned he should be doing more structured things but even at my school (in uk) children just play in reception with structured tasks as and when they choose (age 4/5). If you want more ideas for craft/creative ideas then pinterest and theimaginationtree.com are great places to start!

[Wisteria1979]

Sounds like he has enough activities to keep him happy and busy. I don't know the options near you but we try and take ours swimming once a week to do something he won't get at nursery. Needs two of you thought with the baby. At our nursery they do lots of sensory play, soap bubbles, foam, water etc. maybe you can try something like that in the bathroom?

[purplemurple1]

Thanks for the ideas, nice to know what others are up to and that structured play isn't something I need to worry about too much for a while.

He is scared of clean water (plays in buckets of cold muddy water fine but runs cryin from the bath and shower), and nursery are working on that with him and are taking him swimming today (i've no idea how they have the people resource for this but I'm not complaining).