To take this approach to parenting a toddler?

Yeah totally get what you mean about being bored and stressed out at home. With a toddler it can get like that. I feel you and it sounds like you’re doing an amazing job! All credit for allowing him to be out exploring the world 🙏

After spending lockdown inside with a two year old for two months or however long it was... That was enough for me to detest playing and try to get out and about as much as possible.
Now I have a 6 year old and a toddler and we have a fairly good mix. The little boy enjoys colouring etc at home but there's a fair bit of screen time to be honest. However we get out and we are very busy and energetic when out.

Who says that baking and painting are fun things to do though? Maybe in your world but certainly not in mine

OP it really doesn’t matter what others think. Just do what works for you and your child. Everyone is different so if you and DC are the sort that prefer being out and about then just get on with that. Totally fine if others are more homebody types or if they are a mix.

I definitely think it's child dependent. My eldest (who has now been diagnosed with ASD) was happy at home but required constant entertainment and involvement. We baked a lot and did crafts but I had no chance or doing anything like chores. We went out quite a lot. He can't occupy himself not because he hadn't learnt to, but simply because be can't.

Yes, surely you need to reflect on this.
Just relax! Kids don't need entertainment every instead of the day! But there are fun things to do at home like baking, painting, legs
Having said that, all mums know how you feel. Ultimately, do what's right for you and don't feel judged by others

I'm a sahm. My toddler goes out every morning (toddler group, toddler gym, park, library etc) then we have a couple of hours at home in the afternoon before the school run to get her brother. Best of both worlds - it doesn't have to be out all day or a terrifying day at home op. There is a middle ground!

Every time I read the word "chill" on this thread I get intensely triggered 😂

The idea that I could chill even for 3 seconds at home with my 4 and 2yo DS is such a wild impossibility that to imagine it actually existing for others is kind of unbearable. I find it so much more relaxing to stare into the trees for a moment while they entertain themselves with stones and diggers (our trips out always include digger companions)...

You sound like a great Mum - all children are different just like us. I also love being out and about with my children. They are full on and very active and want to be out exploring the world. We are all really sociable so like getting out to see our friends, or just being with other people.

I do chores and washing once they're in bed. On Sundays when my husband is at home we try to have a quieter day where they potter about and play with their toys etc.

I don't think there is a right or wrong. My eldest is now happier to hang out at home as she's at school all day, but the younger two want to be busy.

I agree with this! My son is absolutely wild if we stay in. His energy is unreal. we go out and he literally sprints around the park for hours 😂 . I wish I had about 5 percent on his energy 😂

Mine is 19 months and we're similar, even on weekends when we're parenting as a team (and often have my partner's 7yr old too) it's just easier to let them play at the beach/woods/park and include bikes etc, than it is to hang around the house.

We tend to have a few hours of play with toys at home, then head out and take a picnic.
She will nap in the car, or we'll come home for lunch and she'll nap then.

We couldn't do this much when she was tiny as was a tiny premie in winter, but once we could head out we were out and about.

We're an active couple though and intend to raise an active family (or atleast one that enjoys the outdoors).

To each their own! So long as he's happy and settles well when you do stay home, I don't see an issue.

Our flight was delayed last year, and DM pointed out a little girl younger than DS who was sitting quietly reading her book. DS was busy trying to do a backspin on the floor, then pretending to be a cat.

Our kids are obviously pretty different! Mine absolutely would explode without sufficient exercise. Couple of hours in the park and he is like a different child. He needs to burn off excess energy to be able to settle down and focus.

I had two energetic boys, including one who we now know to be ND (autism/ADHD) who has never really played independently, played with toys by himself or done imaginative play. So it sounds like a totally normal day to me. In the house it would be hours and hours of keeping them busy but feeling shut in a d isolated.

It reminds me of the tremendously irritating neighbours we had during COVID - they had two girls the same age as our two boys.

The dad would say things like "yeah it is hard, little Annabel* will only sit and colour for an hour at a time"

I genuinely considered punching him

*Not her real name

I remember the first time I tried to get ds to do some colouring. He lasted about four seconds before he threw the pens down and ran off! With my DD, I remember she was about 18 months and I sat her down with some paper and felt tips. She sat there for over an hour drawing and scribbling.

I did wonder that but thought I’d be crucified.

My DD is only fourteen months but does seem a lot calmer. It’s not that ds is or was badly behaved but he just isn’t into crafts or colouring or intricate games.

💯 there are differences between boys and girls overall

Of course there are energetic girls and chilled out boys and exceptions to the generalisations but most of the boys I know do need a certain amount of physical activity in a way that most of the girls don't

I had this approach when DS especially, was young

Unless it was raining we were out of the house as it was SO much easier than the constant risk management at home

I think it's a good approach when you have an active kid

I have 2 sons, so who knows what temperament a daughter would have had.
But I do recall phone calls with my sister, who had 3 primary school aged girls.
On a miserable February afternoon, they'd be doing Hama beads and playing Sylvanian Families while I would be wrestling with wellies and mud after a stomp through the fields.

nb we did our fair share of Playmobil and arts and crafts as well, but not for long periods of time.

Depends on the child,

All of mine benefited from having chill out time at home. I also needed time to get on with stuff (chores / cooking)

Being out and about all the time sounds lovely when the weather is okay, I imagine it would be an utter chore in the height of winter.

This was the case for me. My ds couldn't spend a single full day just at home as a toddler. Pretty sure I took him to the park most days... whatever the weather! Otherwise soft play, swimming, farms etc etc.

My DD was the opposite....when she was a toddler she could concentrate for ages....she'd lay all her dolls house accessories out and sit for hours with them or colouring or Duplo.

I think boys generally tend to be more boisterous and energetic but having said that my sister's dd was a toddler who needed heaps of running round.

I wonder if the mums that had boys felt the need to get out and girl mums were happy to stay at home. Obviously huge generalisation but I have a high energy boy who I did lots with as he needed to get out the house and he exercised. I then had a girl who was so calm and would sit and watch telly, happy to play at home. There was such a difference, it really surprised me. We still get out by the difference is she loves staying at home. My boy needs to get out in the fresh air (like me).

No one sits and relaxes at home with a 2 year old for any length of time. Also mostly they stop napping at around 2.

I get my downtime at the park and at toddler groups.

Well no but it's an important part of health. Overweight unfit adults don't explode either... Still not ideal