Activities for an 18 month old & SAHM tips

[littlealien01]

Hello

After 6 months back at work next week I go back to being a full time mum only we've also just moved house so in a new area where I don't yet know anyone.

I'm excited but nervous about what we'll do all day and whether I'll have the energy to keep up with Dr (12wks pg & seriously tired from the move)
So any tips? What do you do with your 18 month old?
I feel like I've forgotten everything I learnt on mat leave!

[littlealien01]

Keep up with dd not Dr Damn auto correct

[TheOddity]

Get outside as much as possible to wear her out. Park, field, river walk, whatever but it will be less tiring than running up and down in the house for you. Keep her naps rigid I the afternoon and have one yourself if you can! Try and do just half an hour a day of housework when she is occupied. Don't beat yourself up for not doing more. Make all activities more leisurely -breakfast, a bit of play, unstressed getting dressed, trip outside somewhere, back home for lunch. Nap afternoon, snack, another excursion or activity after snack then a bit of free play and the day has passed you by!

[littlealien01]

That sounds good. What sort of afternoon activities do you do?

[foxessocks]

We go to soft plays if the weather is bad. Or swimming. If the weather is not torrential rain then we usually go to a park or a farm (you can often get membership which I'd you go a lot can make it really good value). My dd loves looking at the animals.

At home I rotate her toys often so she doesn't get bored. She's the same age 18 months and it is very tiring! I'm a sahm too and I definitely don't have all the answers we just muddle through really.

You could try children's centres in your area, we go to at least one baby group a week and they're usually very good. Also local church baby groups are often very good too.

Sorry I've rambled!

[TheOddity]

Well I sturggle more now as we are not in the UK. In UK we always went bounce and rhyme at library (free), surestart centre for the right age group play session (free), another playgroup that cost a pound at I found through a friend but is also listed on netmums, a messy play group (5iver). Then filled the other days with things like baking something really easy (think chopping up bananas, mixing cakes, decorating biscuits), cutting bits out of magazines and glueing them onto coloured paper together, a music afternoon (banging stuff together like pans, his drums and maracas accompanied by music). Tried to do shopping daily too so was never in the shop for too long and just get the bits I needed for that day, then go for a coffee in the cafe afterwards.

Now we are somewhere with one of this stuff, we just go to the park, he follows the kids around and has a couple of little buddies, plays cars in the dirt, we go for a walk round lake, feed ducks. Etc etc!

[NickyEds]

I'm a SAHM to ds who is 20 months and dd who is just 5.5 weeks. I find it easier to have a loose structure to the day, usually revolving around naps and mealtimes. We've been in the house much more since I was around 8 months pregnant up to now so I've had to do lots of inside stuff. I rotate toys a lot so that a few are always downstairs but most are brought down occasionally-so I'll bring down Duplo in the morning and Diggers in the afternoon.

Do you have a garden? We moved to a house with a nice garden when I was about 7 months gone and its been invaluable. sandpit, picking apples, bowls of water, mud pie kitchen, bubbles, paints etc.
Inside we do building toys, messy paints, play dough, making dens, c beebies- I sometimes draw a big picture on a paper roll (a different one every time, sea, farmyard etc) and we colour it and stick stuff on it.

I'm aiming to get back to toddler groups in the next couple of weeks when I've built up the courage! Then I'll aim to have "out days" four days a week and a jobs day the other one (he "helps" me clean), with play group at the childrens centre, lunch with friends, park, ducks, toddler groups etc. The main advantage of being a SAHM is that it's up to you what you do, busy day out or lazy day in.

[littlealien01]

Thanks, some good ideas here. Love the baking and drawing/sticking suggestions. We do have a garden so will try out those ideas too :)

[ohlittlepea]

Love the suggestions on here I would definitely a second the s as much outside time as possible rule :) we have a farm membership and a swimming pool membership which keeps us both sane :) also I've found my Dd really enjoys 'helping' with small tasks like getting the washing out of the machine or pretending to Hoover I think it's helpful to their self esteem.

[Seeline]

As you are new to the area I would definitely try and find a couple of local toddler groups so that you can meet others in the area. Try local church notice boards, or the library for information. It's a good time of year as they should all be starting back with renewed enthusiasm!
If you have a local library, my two used to love going and looking at the books for half an hour or so. They may also have a story time or rhyme time session.
Don't forget little ones can be kept amused for a long time with strange things - playing with saucepans or Tupperware from the cupboard, tearing up old newspapers, chalking on the patio/garden wall etc.

[NicoleWatterson]

National trust membership. They often do toddler things, as well as being nice places with often nice playgrounds.
museums & environment / nature centres often do toddler days.
Puddle jumping in the (light) rain.
Library
Zoos, parks, farms

I was never one for playgroups but we did enjoy tumble tots.