Need activity ideas please

[Flowerydems]

Needing ideas to keep a 3 and a 4 year old boys occupied for a few hours, I've run out of ideas, and spd is playing up so not wanting to risk the park and the tantrums when we leave when I can't lift either of them.
I know they're bored just now and I do feel for them but I'm a bit limited in what I can do and I've just started medication for prenatal depression and that's floored me. I know that's lots of excuses but I've just lost the ability to power through today so looking for some advice and ideas

[panad317]

SPD is the devil. Is anyone able to pick them up for a few hours so you can rest??

[Flowerydems]

Not today, I'd usually be at work but the schools are off. I have one that's reaching that point of tiredness where they won't settle for anything and my youngest is doing his best Duracell bunny impression aswell. Only 7 weeks to go I guess

[Applesauce29]

Joining for inspiration - my toddler is acting up since newborn arrived. Watching far too much peppa pig.

Hope the SPD pain eases and you can get some rest.

[panad317]

Oh dear!! Are there any leaves just outside your house that they can grab? Be specific, 10 unbroken leaves or something, then they can paint them using Autumnal colours, if they like painting. And try and keep them there for an hour.
Or put them in the bath with paint, DD's favourite 😁
If you have crayons, tell them to go around the house looking for stuff with a nice patterned texture, like the sole of their shoes, then place a piece of paper over it and colour with the crayon.
Do they have lego? Train tracks? They usually keep DD entertained for a good hour too.

[Flowerydems]

Ooh I think I'll go try the leaves after lunch, we've exhausted cars, lego and colouring now, hopefully some warm soup will cause a case of wanting to snuggle with a film

[Yamadori]

Big bowl of very bubbly water, a couple of paintbrushes and let them loose in the garden.

[Cuppaand2biscuits]

Don't you worry about making excuses, you sound like you've got a lot on. Pregnant, spd, 2 small children.
I definitely second the water idea, anything with water. Maybe put them in the bath with jugs and plastic cups? Have you got any jigsaws, will they sit down for that?
I'd definitely try to get them in the garden, have you got a chair you could take out there?
I've got a really easy playdoh recipe but it does mean you'll have to get down on the floor to clean it up at the end so that might not be practical.
Have you played Vets, Doctors or shops? You could sit down and they can bring their animals, patients, shopping to you?

[Artandco]

Do you have a garden? If so chalk drawing, water painting, toy car washing

Indoors:

• long bath. Pile them both in with more bubbles and toys than usual. That's an hour gone. Plus they get clean, early pjs on, and bath is like a giant playpen, they can't escape! Use a step at the side so the climb in and out alone and you just hold their hands so you aren't lifting. Can give them old toothbrushes to 'clean' toys
  

• fill tray or small tub of some sort with rice, oats, lentils, couscous or old dried food you don't mind not eating. Put on towel on floor. Instant indoor sandpit. Add spoons, little pots for measuring and tipping or toys cars etc. Most the mess that comes out goes on towel so can pick up corners and bin later. Can reuse sandpit for weeks
  

• cutting up paper and sticking with glue or masking tape. Plus old boxes or toilet rolls. Let them make a bit of mess making stuff. Then they get the 'fun' of using dust pan and brush after ( buy two in future)
  

• let them make a den with duvets and pillows and blankets piled over dining chairs and the table. Give them books and toys and torches and they can play underneath

[Artandco]

Also do you live with partner? If so I suggest he takes them out even in pjs and Wellingtons with coat on super early if they are awake before he leaves for work. A quick 30min Walk, run or scoot locally will at least wear them out a bit, give some fresh air, so when back then they are happier to then have pjs breaskfast, get dressed and play at home.
Same in evening. I know it's dark, but if partner home at say 6-7pm they can go for a walk with torches before bed or to supermarket or whatever so they get some excercise again and not so bouncy before bed if they haven't been out much in day.

It was a lifesaver when ds1 was small and ds2 born.

[TheTartOfAsgard]

Any old Argos type catalogues laying about? Help them make their Christmas lists by making a collage of all the tat things they want.

[Yamadori]

Second the Argos catalogue idea, but might be better to steer clear of the toy section!!! What about getting them to cut out pictures of furniture or tools and design a house or garage/toolshed in a big cardboard box?

[Flowerydems]

Thanks so much for all the inspiration, I think my brain went completely blank when dh left for work this morning. I'll speak to him about the morning walk idea before he goes off to work but I'll be honest ds1 is always pretty exhausted after school since he started primary. It's just these days when the spd hits on top of everything I start to flounder a bit

[NickyEds]

When I was pregnant with dd (and even now sometimes)I would do themed days with ds (he was 19 months, so almost 3 now). I would get the things ready at the weekend for, say a Fish day one day of the week. We would make evo foam fishes in the morning then play with them in the bath, I would lay out a blue blanket to make a 'pond' and he would put fish bath toys and shells on it, I ordered fish stickers for the windows (the decal ones that can be reused) , read a fish book, we'd make fish fingers for lunch then watch Finding Nemo for the last hour of the day. Then we might have a dinosaur day when I'd do a tray of 'forest' aka leaves to play with his toy dinosaur in, draw a chalk dinosaur (like Bing!) outside etc. I know yours are older but would something like that work? I would literally bag everything I need up on a Sunday when dp was around to help.

[mumofthreesmallmen3]

Magazines? Mine love them and spend ages doing all the bits in them

[beginnersewer]

The other day I let my 2.5 yr old smell all the spices in the cupboard, he thought it was great! Maybe you could get them to 'test' each other by choosing a spice and getting their sibling to close their eyes and guess what it is. Could add a small cup/pot of other things that smell if you can be bothered eg lemon juice, tuna?
Can they start drawing wrapping paper or cards ready for Christmas?
NickyEds - that sounds amazing but I know I wouldn't manage to be that organised!!