How much do you do with your 2 year old ?

[broomvroomsqueak]

A few months back our morning walk with our dog and an activity = lunchtime nap for DD.

But now she's either not napping at all or having a late 4pm snooze which is less than ideal.! And I'm finding it hard to entertain her --keep her from watching hours of TV

DD has also started going to a playgroup two mornings a week since start of September ( where you leave them there for 3 hours) and she's not even tired after this!!!

I'm running out of ideas. They do a lot of crafts etc on the playgroup mornings.

Played in the garden a bit today as was sunny and watered the plants etc but I need ideas.

We usually do some baking once a week like fairy cakes. Help any suggestions ?

Activity = like going to a music class or toddler group

Can she have some self play? toys in the lounge etc?

I dunno I always found it much easier when they were prepared to make their own fun a bit

Playpark, toddler groups, gatherings, visit family, museums, reading, art, drawing,

Lost is endless

I like a potter round the shops, library and a babycino with my just 3 yr old. Kills a couple of hours and very cheap!

I don't drive, so I'm a bit limited on where we can go out to unfortunately. Iwe are quite rural but I can get the bus to the library which do a story etc.

So I need ideas for home based activities. What you do on a regular day at home ?

DD does play herself but usually quite short bursts and then asks to watch TV She likes Play kitchen, train track, cars.

Jigsaws are good, orchard toys games, kids magazines, make a den with a couple of chairs and a sheet - somehow kids seem to play more independently if there's a den involved!! Also get them involved in making each meal.

Mine has just begun to be able to play simple board games (he’s 2.5) like ‘If You See a Crocodile’ from Orchard Games which I seem to have played every day this week.

Also set a structure for each day and decide the times when tv is ok - eg after lunch, the but just before tea. I find the day is easier if you break it into chunks.

On the orchard games theme, my DS loves any of the matching games. And on that theme you can get them to match socks from the laundry etc!

I was a big fan of tv whilst I mumsnet! Unpopular on mumsnet but I had depression when kids toddlers and I couldn’t cope. Done no harm, no addicted to tv. Heading for Oxbridge.

I'll check out the orchard games. I had bought some snap cards recently, but I think she's too young still. She just throws them about.

All our jigsaws are too young now, so will try to source some new ones.

Making a den is a great idea thanks

The park, country walks, anywhere outside, before winter sets in.

I go for long walks where I know there will be ducks, to the park, stand around talking with my friends while they run around in the playground, I’ve got a couple of local farms and animal rescue centres that we visit, go shopping, a baby group I go to regularly, just get in as many steps as you can for them and hope they crash out at naptime!

Mine helps me with my chores too. Loading and unloading the washing machine, bit of unpacking shopping etc.

We read a lot, play with the cars, make bridges for them. Sometimes we do silly games where I have to hide and then jump out, he squeals so loud and loves that

Tbh, mine hates the TV so its a constant stream of attempting to entertain which is difficult at times I agree.

We do crafts a lot. Painting, play doh, beading bracelets etc
Toy wise, the vtech ice cream cart gets played with loads (daily) as does the kitchen and tea set. She is obsessed with jigsaws and tk maxx have very cheap ones that are wooden and lovely.

We paint pottery when its on sale from hobbycraft and occasionally go to the pottery painting place for special occasions.

We go to the park every other day and take the dog out daily in the forest and collect things to paste into pictures which we have kept in an a4 ring binder of our journeys,
She also has a kidizoom camera and we will chose a place to visit where she takes photos which we print out and hang in her bedroom or add to her photo albums.

Water tables in the garden are always fun as well as the slide and sand pit. We also have a lot of fruit and veg growing in the garden and we go out to water / feed them daily and also pick food to eat or cook in the kitchen (our plums and apples became a crumble, strawberries in the cheesecake, veg goes into our meals)

Myself and my husband both work shifts and she does 3 days at childcare so most tasks are short and we move onto something else.

We have puzzles and games which she will randomly decide to play
Play doh, kinetic sand, paints
Or if I have jobs to do she likes helping a lot which is often a hindrance but it's a change of scenery going upstairs to sort washing

• put all the sofa cushions on the floor and jump off the sofa onto them

-Spotify has some good playlists and songs

• Audio books (again Spotify has stories) while she plays

I would recommend having a strong routine to your week and day so you always know what’s coming next and don’t have those times when you’re just bored and wishing the day away. So for us our routine is

Monday - walk
Tues - food shop
Wed - music group
Thur - library
Fri - home morning or playgroup
We always do those things in the morning, the come home for lunch, quiet reading time/naptime (currently transitioning out of nap) And then in the afternoon we play/cook/paint/walk the dog/go to the park - again I tend to try and have the same routine every week. Obviously it can change but it helps me to have a clear idea of how my day and week looks so I don’t feel overwhelmed with how I’m going to pass the time.

Another vote for den building! In fact my kids still love a den! Just some sofa cushions, a throw, or blankie over a couple chairs ... maybe encourage a teddy picnic in the den, while you have a cuppa :)

DD is dropping her nap so TV for half an hour instead. It means I can still chill a bit. Lots of walking instead of being in the buggy, although I still take it for longer trips. Duplo and painting are popular just now. Play group and soft play.
I've just got a new job, which is full time. Wanted part-time but after months of trying I feel I have to accept this offer. It's a good job and a step up. BUT I'm really really going to miss all the "picmics" on the carpet.

Personally, I would plan an ‘out’ activity every morning. Something like Library, shops, park, local soft play or playgroup etc. then home for lunch and either a nap after or just a chill out/quiet time.

After that, I’d do a home activity - craft, play dough, trains whatever. Then leave her for some independent play or TV time while you prep dinner. I always find if I’ve got a task to do, it helps keep independent play independent.

Good luck!

If you’re on instagram, follow fiveminutemum as she has some brilliant games (easy to set up etc) which I’ve used loads for ideas.

Build an obstacle course in the living room

Second the den building

Teddy bears picnic for lunch, or just pretend play with a tea set

Crafts - salt dough, which can then be painted the next day. Play doh. Get some stuff like threading beads/peg boards etc.

Musical instruments out of pots/pans.

Do you have baking beads or similar? Fill them in a pot then give dc a spoon and another pot and ask them to transfer.

On rainy days get your wellies on and go puddle splashing. If big puddles get some glitter in them.

Get a tray and put shaving foam on it - drive cars through it. Then get a bucket and wash the cars.

If she's into dolls, give them a bath.

Sensory tray with things like spaghetti, Cheerios, rice on it. Let her play with fingers, spoons etc.

Is there a park near you? Do that a couple of times a week if so.

I was at home for 5 years and now work in a pre-school so I've picked up some tips over the years 😂. I totally agree though that giving it some structure is the key. Do something outside on a morn or afternoon, then something crafty/pretend play on the opposite side of the day.

I also don't think a couple of chunks of TV a day is a bad thing at all.

I’m replacing nap time with telly time! We do an organised activity most mornings and plenty of running about the park or garden, so I don’t feel guilty about some chill out time in the sofa.

When at home we play a lot with small toys like playmobil and cars. Teddy bear picnic is always popular. Aqaudoodle and magnadoodle are easier to get out and pack away than paints!