What to do with a toddler that is free and easy!

[Chirpygirl]

I am 7 months pregnant, getting really bad stomach cramps and ligamenty stretchy pains if I overdo it, it's too hot and I am running out of ideas to entertain 18 month DD out of the house. We don't have a garden so it is reall yhadr to think of outings!
We spend most mornings at the beach where I can sit on my arse and not do much while she runs around like a mad thing, but it then takes hours to clean her up and get her back in the car so I need something else to do.
I don't like going to the park very often as she is too fast, it is covered in dog crap and she just wants to climb the slide and leap off the top so I am constantly following her.
We go to tea and tots group once a week and round people's houses but I need to get her outside more often.

Any ideas??

(ps went to a free soft play yesterday and I spent the whoe time chasing her again, so that's out!)

[Chirpygirl]

scuse typing, she is jumping all over me!

[Chirpygirl]

Don't get me wrong, beach is great but its getting too much to do it everyday as I have to coem home and wash everything and then pack a huge bag again the next day, just wondered if there was anything else to break up the monotony!

DD would live on the beach eating sand and drinking seawater if I let her!

[berolina]

don't bother washing stuff every day. Have a bag of 'beach things' by door. Just give swimming cossie a quick rinse if been in water, and hang it up in bathtub to dry. Proper wash every few days.

at beach.

[Chirpygirl]

Didn't mean to make you [envy!]!
I suppose you are right, I am lucky to have a beach at all....but it's not just her stuff, I get sand in my bra when she buries me! waaaagh!

There really isn't anything else to do with kids that doesn't cost! God I want a garden!

[UniSarah]

Have you checked out other parks. maybe there is one thats not so bad. Do you have a balcony or a yard? boy likes splashing about in a tray or water on our balcony.
Its a pain that so many tots groups stop in teh summer. I'm V lucky as our sure start centre have kept 1 stay & play session going each week and I go to M&T group run totally by its members in a community hall with a garden. we only stop for christmas or if the hall have builders in.
Wheraouts are you?

[Chirpygirl]

There are other parks but the nice ones are a substantial drive away so it would be easier for me if they would just clean up mine!
I do have a patio but it's full of dangerous engine parts and is cracked concrete so DD can't play out there.
I am very lucky as I help run our mother and baby group, so we are the only ones open all summer!

[oneplusone]

I don't know where you are but the 1 o clock club runs throughout the year and has loads of things for kids your dd's age. It's on from 1 (as in the name!) til 4pm every single day. They are run by Wandsworth council, but as you said you're near the beach it has now dawned on me that you are miles away from wandsworth.

Sorry!

[Chirpygirl]

wulfric, that's made me !

Library is good but not for long outings surely?
(Plus I don't like her going to our local library for long as they got the instruments out when she was 6 months old and the ditzy cow smacked her round the face with a drumstick!)

[Chirpygirl]

Pretty far from Wandsworth yes, I'm in South Wales!

[UniSarah]

Cracked concreate isn't such a big problem with a 21 m/o is it? The engine parts - well I hope you know who they belong to , any other place they could go( shed, big box with lid, back in the vehicle)? Sounds like your yard/patio only needs a little bit of TLC to be useable, be handy for the autum when you have a tiny in tow as well.

[Chirpygirl]

It is when it is cracked concrete with thistles and crap growing up between it, and the engine parts are DH's! We actually did it up a few summers ago but it's still a tiny little death trap...
Hopefully we will be moving soon (well, withint 6 months) so I am sacrificing a bedroom for a garden (well, the DD's can share!)