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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:
RandomUsernameHere · 04/07/2021 00:18

DD (age 7) loves going to the supermarket! She doesn't pester me for treats or anything so it's not that, she just genuinely enjoys it Grin

Both DC also love IKEA. We are overseas and don't have one here, but when we're back in the UK an IKEA trip is like a fun day out!

Legomania · 04/07/2021 00:08

@firstimemamma in case you haven't already got it, the wow toys bin lorry/recycling truck is pretty cool. My boys both loved the little slidy door

BikeRunSki · 04/07/2021 00:04

@marmitegirl01

Mine loved going to IKEA. Like as much as an exciting day trip out. They still love it and are teens. 🤷‍♀️
Mine too

Dd (9) spent this afternoon scraping bark of a log with a paint scraper.

Original poster
Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 04/07/2021 00:00

Oh my, these are utterly adorable!!

Ds hates balloons, everywhere except at his grandparents... apparently they're acceptable at those 2 houses.

The clicker idea is brilliant!!! Its like a reward system without a physical reward!

On the wine subject, everything in a bottle is milk, everything in a cup is "colour" juice (he decided upon knowing that orange squash is orange in colour, drinks are known as colour not flavour) and in a mug it is tea, doesn't matter how much you correct him, he will tell you he is right and he's pretty much perfected my mum's "don't you argue with me" tone...

There is something about children and cleaning, it seems to fascinate them. On the other end, my best friend convinced her 8 year old son that the vacuum cleaner gives her headaches so now when he's annoyed with her he gets it out... she credits that idea to mumsnet haha

Keep them coming children are crazy cool!!

OP posts:
RedMarauder · 04/07/2021 00:00

Unbuckling and buckling high chair harness, baby bouncer which a toddler can still sit in and car seat in hallway with various degrees of success.

Various children as toddlers I know have done it but I didn't realise they did it for hours repeatedly until I had DD.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 03/07/2021 23:57

looking at spiderwebs after the rain.

they really are beautiful and I love them so Iwould point one out - then we'd have to stop at every single one and admire it.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 03/07/2021 23:55

when DS1 was about 17m old he loved playing with the tissue box.
he was endlessly entertained by pulling one tissue out after another. he was so content and fascinated I let him.

there must be tons more, but I'm going to bed now

CrowBones · 03/07/2021 23:53

My children will happily spend several hours throwing something into a tree in the garden then knocking it down with a stick. Over and over and over again.
And then again the next day.

IhateeverythingaboutMN · 03/07/2021 23:52

@marmitegirl01

Mine loved going to IKEA. Like as much as an exciting day trip out. They still love it and are teens. 🤷‍♀️
Your kids have good taste.

My DCs favourite hobby is collecting sticks. He's 8YO FFS.

Kanaloa · 03/07/2021 23:51

Fish tanks. We had a dog (sadly passed on now) when the kids were smaller, and every trip to pets at home to get food/essentials was treated like a day out at Alton towers. They would even moan when I said it was time to stop staring at the fish tanks and go home.

Changednameforthis2021 · 03/07/2021 23:50

Oh, and also loading the tumble dryer Grin

StrongLegs · 03/07/2021 23:44

We enjoy crufts too. But not in a healthy way tbh.

Susannahmoody · 03/07/2021 23:44

Yes to ballons too

Susannahmoody · 03/07/2021 23:43

Dusting
Looking at caterpillars

alannabanana81 · 03/07/2021 23:42

mopping. oh mummy are you going to mop the floor? please can I help? and he runs off to get his "mopping socks" with grips. sge 5 and 3/4.

StrongLegs · 03/07/2021 23:42

One time DH and I were starting to gather all the clothes pegs off the rotary drier in the garden and DS11 roared at us and said "Hey! You're hogging the pegs!" He was really furious. We stood back and let him gather them all and he was very happy about that.

He also was enchanted by all hoovers as a toddler, especially the roomba. One time our whole family spent a entire church service in the church cleaning cupboard with "Henry". That was not a highlight of my parenting years, I must admit.

Tearing newspaper was a big favourite.

This summer we have had a lot of commentary on which species of bird is having sex on the fence today. I may have started that. Blush Our birds have been very busy indeed.

shreddednips · 03/07/2021 23:37

Oh that's adorable Grin

My 2-year-old DS is really obsessed with going to the supermarket. I asked him earlier what he wanted to do tomorrow and he said 'maybe shopping a bit? Food, yo-yos and wine?' I said we did actually need to go to Aldi and he said 'ooooh, ALDI' in a delighted sort of way.

Should point out we're not constantly chugging the wine here- a waiter asked him if he'd like some as a joke and now he thinks all drinks are wine, which has left me with explaining to do on a few occasions.

BunnyBerries · 03/07/2021 23:36

A packet of balloons.

I always thought these were for birthdays or special occasions.

But the length of time a balloon or two will entertain any child 2-4 years especially when they are multi coloured still amazes me. Watch Bluey for balloon game tips : )

Changednameforthis2021 · 03/07/2021 23:34

My two year old has hours and hours of endless fun with a watering can

seething1234 · 03/07/2021 23:28

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

Original poster
Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 03/07/2021 23:28

@DxHxSx

Dog shows! Like crufts from YouTube. Its like small child crack as they gaze in total silence
But dogs!!!! We have elephant videos from national geographic here, he loves it!
OP posts:
Original poster
Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 03/07/2021 23:27

@domesticslattern

So cute OP. What a poppet. Both of my babies adored being held so they could turn light switches on and off. Smile
Ahhh!!!!! I love that!!! We had to move ds' cot when he realised if he lent forward slightly he could play with his lights 🙈
OP posts:
Original poster
Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 03/07/2021 23:26

@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?!
Ohhh so sweet!!! I'd buy ready made cakes and rolling icing for ease, stack, carve ice and decorate? Might take a while, but hopefully you'll get something that resembles a bin lorry. I've got to make an elephant cake for his birthday Friday, I've done the above because I don't have time to bake too haha
OP posts:
Original poster
Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 03/07/2021 23:24

@Wherediditgo

That’s adorable OP!

My son is totally obsessed with the hoover. He unclips it all and points the bendy but at me whilst making ‘whooshing’ sounds

That made me smile! We've got a Henry hoover and ds gets really grumpy if dh doesn't let him have a go with it, we got him a children's version for Christmas but he isn't interested
OP posts:
Original poster
Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 03/07/2021 23:22

@marmitegirl01

Mine loved going to IKEA. Like as much as an exciting day trip out. They still love it and are teens. 🤷‍♀️
There is something about IKEA, dhs best friend and his gf are going tomorrow and she is super excited about it
OP posts:
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