What activities do you deploy to keep a 1 year old and 4 year old happy in the same room?

[fothergill]

Our kitchen is so small and cold and I spend waaay too much time in there. It drives me nuts so all the usual suspects of craft/paydoh are not inspiring me.
Dd1 tends to need led play and will sneak the tv on if left to play in her room no matter how well it begins. If I set her up with something in the same room as me, dd2 makes it her sole game to destroy whatever it is by eating it. Despite my best attempts at heading her off with distractions.
I am so tired I just can't seem to find the energy to be creative lately...
So. Got any suggestions for how to fill a wintry afternoon?
Sigh.

[Cybilsmateboughthershoeboots]

A huge piece of paper on the floor and crayons

A giant cardboard box

And if all else fails, a bit of telly never hurt anyone

[fothergill]

Yes dd2 started dropping afternoon nap so I try to keep her awake til the afternoon - dd1 at nursery in morning so this works best for everyone. This is not always possible or best for her so sometimes have both around in the afternoon.
I think I am just blank in general at the moment. I am just wondering what everyone else does.
They actually can play together well in a running round in circles kindofway, I just feel like I could be a bit more...you know.
I just need a good nights sleep and the washing fairy to visit tonight.

[whoopstheregoesmymerkin]

Get lots of food boxes/packets for shops. not tins tho. my 1yo takes the labels off.

[fothergill]

Yes I will try the huge paper. Good thinking..crayons will be eaten and I can see a 2cm sq area will be fought over whatever but sounds like it would be fun - never thought of rolling the paper right out.
There is a cardboard box in the room already being deployed by dd1. We could decorate it tomorrow thinking about it.
I think tv has its place don't get me wrong, but it was one of my resolutions, I would like January to at least reach double figures...

[imaginewittyfestivenamehere]

Playing shops works, dd1 has lots of playfood & me & dd2 are the customers - dd2 often eats the food before paying for it but this will keep dd1 happy for ages & dd2 loves to play with the 27 million pieces of food.

Musical instruments works reasonably well too, as long as there are quite a few.

Dancing (mostly to the disney princess cd dd1 got for christmas)- dd1 will play this for ages & dd2 loves to jig around with me whilst we do it.

Singing songs - girls do row row nicely together for a little while & lots of other action songs.

[jkklpu]

Get them to help with the cooking. Dd1 can actually help and give dd2 some dry stuff to mix in a bowl on the kitchen table. Could also be merged into playing at shops when they get fed-up as one can "bake" things for the other to buy.
Sorry not to be more help: I have 2 dss and they're happy for ages playing with endless vehicles and different rescue games, as well as ds1 "reading" to ds2, but they're now 4 and 2, so a less dramatic gap than when the wee one was only 1.

[coldtits]

just let her watch the Tv for a bit, you'll turn her into a tv junkie if you don't.

Mine both have free reign of the tv, and they don't bother with it much.

[fothergill]

I just came across another thread with someone finding the same problem which made me feel less rubbish. I found myself giving the op some suggestions. We do already do a lot of the things you've all mentioned. Which also makes me feel better!
A bit more structure to the day is required I think as half of it is me feeling like I am always going 'just let me do this...' and feeling guilty.
Great suggestions thanks I tend to play shops with dd1 alone - never thought of doing it with dd2 in role of thief! I will def do that tomorrow.
thanks for inspiring me.

[BertieBotts]

Yes, make a den with a double duvet or bed sheet - DS (15 months) LOVES this.

I think I might look for some old threads with suggestions of things to do for DS - I always run out of ideas. MN is great

[Tortington]

tbh, i would get them proper wrapped up and bung them in the garden

now i too would get wrapped up - would sit on the step with a brew and a mag and make encouraging noises occasionally.

[nimbs]

Dig out our huge box of happyland/little people toys - enough for DT's to eat whilst DS & DD1 play

Same with Duplo/ wooden train set/ cars/ basically anything with enough pieces for them all to be happy

Second the cardboard box - just received a huge one from Tescos which is being deployed as a wolf's den for DS - the DT's use it as a tunnel.

Ball pit also works well - Sit the little one in it to throw balls out - big one throws them back