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Give me an easy activity to keep a 12, 11 and 8 year old busy and quiet today .. PLEASE!!!

23 replies

TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 12/08/2019 05:32

So DD1 is 12 with ASD and is experiencing some form of fear of going to sleep. Just since the start of the holidays 3 weeks ago.
On these nights we end up downstairs watching tv because she literally will not let me sleep until she falls down with exhaustion and sleeps. I mean she will come in my bedroom and wake me every 15 minutes for hours usually flagging around 4.30 or 5am. I'll crack it eventually but in the mean time...
Its now 5.30am, she's been asleep for 45 minutes. DS (also ASD) will be awake in about 10-15 minutes and DD2 might make itbto.8am.
DH leaves for work at 8am. After having endured at least 2 of these days a week.for 3 weeks my question is :
What can I give them to do that will keep them quiet so my brain can cope with them for a day after being up for 22 (36 by the time I get to bed tonight)hours. Can't sleep.during the day, DD1 needs supervision, but I just need them to be quiet as my brain is raw!

OP posts:
boltoflightning · 12/08/2019 05:54

Take them all swimming ? Can they swim ? You don’t have to get in the pool, at that age, if they can. you could sit in the spectators area !

orangeshoebox · 12/08/2019 05:58

go for a run/hike.
long wind down, calm music, fennel tea&milk (no devices) from about 6pm.

then tell dh, if possible, that tonight it's his turn to deal with non sleeping dc. ear plugs and mask for you.

PamelaTodd · 12/08/2019 06:11

I use screens shamelessly to get myself through days (not quite as bad) like this. Could you put on a dvd for them?

It depends on what your dc are safe doing. Perhaps a scavenger hunt in the park where you could sit on a bench and they have to look for items and bring them back. The rule is that you can’t move on to the next item until everyone finds what they need. That makes it cooperative rather than competitive (and automatically less noisy). I’m trying to think of games and activities that wear them out rather than you.

Hill rolling is ideal if you have a safe slope. You sit at the top and they roll down and run back up., we can get an hour out of that sometimes in our local park.

A great back garden activity is making a tinfoil river. Roll of tinfoil and a hose. Pinterest has loads of pictures, mostly with tots but it’s great with older kids too.

Sculpting with tinfoil might buy you half an hour or more and the clean up is easy. Anything with a sensory element tends to be a quieter activity I’ve found.

Would they go for something like sketching?

If they like lego try a big challenge like building a chair you can sit on. Or a tower that reaches the ceiling.

If they are used to the library it might be an option. Ours tends to have lots to do besides books. We follow a library trip with a “book lunch” where we read at the table. You can pick up a couple of dvds too for the evening.

Pop on an audio book or some podcasts to listen to. It will keep the noise down and everyone can be doing their own thing if cooperative play is beyond reach.

Or, if it’s an option for you, could you listen to a podcast or audio book or music on earphones? I do this at times to take the edge off and give myself a half break from the noise. I can still hear them obviously but it’s something else to focus on.

I hope something here helps or sparks an idea. Disturbed sleep is the worst.

Interested in this thread?

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PamelaTodd · 12/08/2019 06:16

What about the cinema? Could you take them to a film and maybe risk nodding off for half an hour yourself if you sit on the aisle seat so they can’t get past you?

mathanxiety · 12/08/2019 06:16

Can you get a prescription for melatonin for DD?

Turn on the TV for the others.

mathanxiety · 12/08/2019 06:17

Or a few 5000 piece jigsaws.

TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 12/08/2019 06:40

Thank you. I've got loads of tin foil...I saw something about racing spiders using permanent markers that would be good. I may resort to kids you tube (hate the electronic babysitters) but needs must. DD has usually been a great sleeper, easy to get to bed anyway, but these last weeks her anxiety has been through the roof. Might be worth asking the GP.though. DH is worried about me. He can't sort DD himself as she won't respond to him and it would end up everyone being awake and frazzled. The joys of being the 'Chosen' parent 🥴

OP posts:
sashh · 12/08/2019 06:40

Colouring in?

Depending on the ASD send them to the shop with a list of things to buy. Obviously this may not be possible as you said one needs supervision.

Can they cook / bake? Get them to plan and make a meal.

Plasticine competition, they have to make as many animals as possible to put in a 'zoo' mapped on paper.

Ask neighbours if they need any small jobs doing?

Gardening, if you have a garden.

TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 12/08/2019 06:40

Oooh Jigsaws!!!

OP posts:
CupoTeap · 12/08/2019 06:45

Making dream catchers might help with sleep as well?

Make videos on YouTube and easy snacks.

Lwmommy · 12/08/2019 07:20

Do you have any kind of obstacle course, outdoor activity type place you can take them and sit on a bench while they run themselves tired?

Then popcorn and movies in the afternoon while you snooze.

TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 12/08/2019 07:21

Dreamcatchers look great. And,as the weather here looks rather wet today, indoor activities seem rather appropriate!

OP posts:
SouthWestmom · 12/08/2019 07:44

Mine similar age love designing board games.

We sellotape a few pages of paper together and they design the road and the squares you land on.

Then we play it.

user1474894224 · 12/08/2019 07:48

Pizza making. Look up Jamie Oliver's dough recipe - it works just as well with budget white flour as the 00 flour he recommends. Go shopping this morning for stuff - get baking paper to roll it on and cook it on - easier to get pizza on and off oven shelf. Each child can have favourite topping. Because the dough has to rise time to fit in some craft activities in between. (Or if you combine shopping with library then they can read books - or hire a dvd at the library) .....or go to a charity shop and see what there is. Good luck.

Crusoe · 12/08/2019 07:48

Definitely recommend making a dream catcher, it really helped my ds (ADHD & anxiety) with his night time fears.

Singlenotsingle · 12/08/2019 08:47

If you lived anywhere near me, I'd as them to make me a scarecrow. We've got a scarecrow festival in our village. You're supposed to put it in your front garden but I don't know how to make a scarecrow!

Or you could ask them to paint a picture, a proper one that you can frame and put on the wall, with a prize for the best one.

TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 12/08/2019 10:10

Managed an hours sleep before DD1 woke up. thanks everyone. Looks like dreamcatchers, making board games and lots of TV today. DD2 has asked me to teach her to crochet so that's a start too.
Have to nip out and look after some family pets but dont think I'll be safe being out much longer than needed.

OP posts:
CupoTeap · 12/08/2019 14:49

How's it going?

TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 12/08/2019 19:17

DD1 has watched TV and drawn. Also tried to make bracelets. DS and DD 2 went out on their bikes and, as a surprise, bought me a battered sausage for my lunch. I hate battered sausages but it made me cry because they were so kind. My kids are great. If a little loud and prone to Insomnia. 😊

OP posts:
TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 12/08/2019 19:19

Oh and they bought it with their pocket money so I didn't have to think about my lunch. I'd made theirs and been too tired to think about eating myself...so it was extra special.

OP posts:
TheFrenchLieutenantsMonkey · 12/08/2019 19:20

Oh and Ive bought rings and thread and beads and stuff to make dreamcatchers soon. Thank you all so much for the ideas.

OP posts:
MadameJosephine · 12/08/2019 19:34

Glad you’ve managed ok, OP.

Have you tried a weighted blanket for DD? That and a melatonin prescription have literally changed my DS’s life

CupoTeap · 15/08/2019 07:12

Ah that's lovely that they thought of you!

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