Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Mumsnet classics

Relive the funniest, most unforgettable threads. For a daily dose of Mumsnet’s best bits, sign up for Mumsnet's daily newsletter.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

What mundane things entertain your children?

108 replies

Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 03/07/2021 20:52

Ds (almost 2) has spent the past 25 minutes stood, face smooshed against the backdoor giving dh and I a running commentary about the pigeon in the garden.

"Pigeon fence!"
"In corner"
"Oh no pigeon... careful"
"Muuummmmyyyy, pigeon on shed, daddy it's fall"
"Night night Mr pigeon" as it flew away

I've never known a child to be so totally enamoured with the behaviour of a bird before...

So I'm asking what things that you would class as mundane/uninteresting held your children rapt for extended periods of time?

OP posts:
Doghairismyglitter · 04/07/2021 22:57

Loving this thread! I’ve screen shotted so many simple but ingenious ideas for my 3&5 year olds! And just looking on Amazon for a clicker Grin

firstimemamma · 04/07/2021 22:48

Thank you to those who gave me dustbin lorry cake tips, much appreciated! I'm loving this thread so much.

spottygymbag · 04/07/2021 22:21

DD loves the gumnuts that fall from the trees. She found one on a bush walk and sang a completely made up song for the remaining 35mins.
Its now become a family song and whenever she finds one we all sing the gum nut song. She will bring them home, give them names, make up stories and create homes for them. It can go on over a couple of days and is wonderful to listen to.

SimonJT · 04/07/2021 20:46

Cardboard boxes, I think he may be part cat.

Original poster
Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 04/07/2021 19:58

Ohhh these are adorable!!!!

We took ds to feed the ducks today, throwing the bread to them didn't seem to make sense so he just ate it 🤦‍♀️ even after dh squatted down next to him to demonstrate. He pulled his arm back to throw and then just shoved the bread in his mouth 🤣 was funny the first couple of times, I think he cottoned onto onlookers laughing which is why he continued

OP posts:
Camomila · 04/07/2021 19:57

DS2 (18m, spent most of his life in lockdown) loves the supermarket, he and DH go for 2+ hours every weekend (Aldi then Sainsburies), he waves at everyone, munches on baguette and has a nap in the trolley seat (DH brings a little pillow with him).

prettygirlincrimsonrose · 04/07/2021 19:37

My 3 year old is very into peeling onions at the moment. And he will throw stones into the river for ages.

OhToBeASeahorse · 04/07/2021 19:29

DS will be 3 in September and loves watching cars indicate!

Thirstquenching · 04/07/2021 19:08

My ds is 10 and loves a cardboard box and water. Paddling pools, baths, seawater, hoses anything really oh and digging holes on the beach

Frazzledd · 04/07/2021 18:54

@seething1234

I got a dog clicker for our puppy.... my five year old will do just about anything to click it. Put on pjs.... CLICK.... brush teeth .... CLICK..... Puck up toys .... CLICK .... would highly recommend it
I'm actually going to try that! Grin My 2&3 year old Dds pulled an all nighter last night, if I could get 'Bed time' CLICK, 'Sleep' CLICK in there ......Heaven!!!!! 🤞
HotSauceCommittee · 04/07/2021 11:40

Piling up a 16 pack of lavatory paper, making towers, pyramids and stacks with them.

Iggly · 04/07/2021 11:04

Digging up stones and throwing them in the river. This would be my morning activity with DS when dd was a newborn. He’d be happy for well over an hour, whatever the weather. I am sure we ran out of stones to dig up in our favourite spot 😂😂😂

Rosebel · 04/07/2021 10:58

My 1 year old has recently discovered the joy of emptying the bottom kitchen drawer (luckily only placemats and coasters in it) and carefully placing them on the floor. It keeps him entertained for ages.
He does actually put them back in the drawer but in such a way that the drawer won't shut which annoys him but even more annoyed if I try and help.

hookiewookie29 · 04/07/2021 10:56

Yes to undoing harnesses on pushchairs and highchairs! I'm a childminder and every single child has done this!
Also, stickers. And a plain sheet of paper. Peace for hours...

BirdyBee · 04/07/2021 10:46

The cardboard and plastic recycling bin my 15 month old can spend an hour tipping it out and putting it all back over and over and my almost 3 year old loves standing up empty plastic bottles and knocking them down over and over of which I have to clap and cheer and high five every single time.....

MissMissTorrance · 04/07/2021 10:27

Those free leaflets advertising what foods are on offer etc from the supermarket.
My older dc spent hours deciding what item they would buy of each page, or pretending to have a budget and do their shopping off one.
They've kept dc occupied since they were toddlers.

orangejuicer · 04/07/2021 10:21

@firstimemamma

My toddler is mesmerised by the dustbin lorry! "Look mummy, it's doing a tip tip! Hello dustbin man!" He's even asked for a dustbin lorry themed cake for his upcoming third birthday, I mean where do I begin with baking that?!
Could you buy a bin lorry toy (Amazon do them) and make the cake a wheelie bin? Might be a bit easier to do!
Toddlerteaplease · 04/07/2021 10:17

@seething1234

I got a dog clicker for our puppy.... my five year old will do just about anything to click it. Put on pjs.... CLICK.... brush teeth .... CLICK..... Puck up toys .... CLICK .... would highly recommend it
Hilarious!
BelfastSmile · 04/07/2021 09:51

At the start of the first lockdown, DS (then 5) got obsessed with Numberblocks (CBBC show). He spent weeks drawing his own Numberblocks and then making them from cubes, Duplo and Play-Doh.

Brown76 · 04/07/2021 09:50

Watching trains, we used to just go and sit on the platform for an hour and they’d be absolutely fascinated.

TigersandTeddybears · 04/07/2021 09:42

My kids are obsessed with cardboard boxes. They think they are the best thing ever.

Sh05 · 04/07/2021 09:39

My youngest teen used to love the garden centre in range when he was 4 and we'd often be there on a weekend just staring at the fountains!

Sh05 · 04/07/2021 09:37

My youngest is 21 months and she loves rewatching a video of herself at the park. All it shows is her climbing backwards up a slide, losing her grip and sliding down it. The 12 second clip keeps her busy for a good 20 minutes!
( She is a little rebel at the park! Tries to do everything the wrong way)

user1471538283 · 04/07/2021 09:27

My DS had such a short attention span at that age but would spend hours stirring water in a bucket with a stick! And cutting up paper with child scissors.

And trying to teach his DGFs cat how to talk.

sandgrown · 04/07/2021 09:26

My son loved his nana’s push carpet cleaner. He would “clean” the carpet for hours. They have all liked playing with torches inside and outside . I once bought a really cheap light up revolving disco ball . We had to draw the curtains and they and their friends would dance to some music !

Swipe left for the next trending thread