Any wise Mumsnet ideas for activities for my kiddies

[Imknackeredzzz]

Morning all

Wanted to ask whether you had any fantastic ideas as I’m a little bit stumped

I have a 5 year old boy and almost 2 year old girl. My other half is a key worker and back to work again next week. We do not have a big house and with their such different needs I find it v tricky to keep them both entertained.

We have a garden and last week was great as could just let them splash in the paddling pool/ which I’m they both enjoy- but now weathers on the turn.

My 2 year old has only just started walking, so very unstable still and needs constant attention when In the garden as it slopes, but my 5 year old is just desperate for me to play and run around with him- but I can’t leave little one.

Our house is small, they both get easily bored - and I really don’t just want to sit them in front of the tv.

Things I’ve tried
Colouring / paint sticks - 5 year old loves it but causes chaos with 2 year old who just wants to eat them! Or throw them around.

Cleaning for fun-my 2 year old doesn’t understand and just throws sponges/ cloths and everything around - upsetting 5 year old who’s trying to get on and clean.

Music- entertains them for about 10’mins or dancing then they both get fed up

Reading stories - 5 year old wants to listen to story, 2 year old keeps wanting to rip book out of my hand and throws a screaming tantrum when I try and stop her.

I am obviously disciplining her - but again just disrupts whatever I’m trying to do.

She naps but only for an hour or so, so it’s a long day to fill when the weather is against us and we have nowhere to take them obviously.

Unfortunately our house is not only small it’s open plan so can’t really designate spaces.

Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated

:)

At 2 mine would love messy play using shaving foam or even spaghetti and anything involving water. I would give him the washing up bowl with bubbly water in and he would stamp in it, sit in it, put his toys in it.
It's a hard age because they get bored so quickly.

Longer baths than normal??

Are you going for walks. Can you take the buggy so 2 year old doesn’t have to walk the whole way and 5 year old can burn off some steam

Cooking together?

Making a fort with the dining table

Off top of my head...
Bubble foam-washing liquid and water and whizz up in a food mixer or hand held mixer. Loads of fun!

Set up a car wash in garden with toy cars/bikes

You can make edible paint so if they wee one eats it you won’t be worried

Make tents indoors and outdoors-just a few blankets and clothes horse will work. Picnic lunch on snack inside.

Painting with cars, duplo etc to make patterns.

Cardboard ramp and tunnels for toy cars

Water painting outside. Tub of water and few paintbrushes. (Proper painting ones are great but kid ones work fine as well) free rein to paint everything in the garden

Obstacle course inside/outside

Hide pictures/small figures/animals around garden or house as a treasure hunt.

Colour/shape/letter hunt indoor/outdoor

What sort of thousand things are your kids interested in and I can probably come up with stuff based on what you have

I recommended this book on another thread - Siblings Busy Book. I found it really good for finding activities for differently-aged children. It's American so you have to translate some things like Graham crackers, and a lot of it is simple things you might have thought of anyway (like playing doctors, or libraries) but I found there were good suggestions for extending the activity to involve both children.

Playing Easter bunnies... do you have anything you could use to be pretend eggs, and give them a basket, and they can take turns to hide & find the eggs? Can also do Santa hiding presents in stockings (while one of them pretends to be asleep) - slightly non-seasonal but has always been a good one to entertain mine, if the 2 yo can understand what to do?

Water play - can still use the paddling pool, just don't get in it if it's too cold. Bath time for dollies/teddies or tea set or car wash or animals.

Can freeze small toys in blocks off ice and let them smash/melt the ice to get them out.

Bubbles - you blow and they chase. Older could also blow for you/little one to chase.

Treasure basket/bag for little one - she can do this while you read/do a puzzle/draw with older one.

Shops - take turns being the shop keeper, use real money (if they won't eat it).

Home made playdoh is easy to make and good fun for different abilities (also just normal baking ingredients so ok if they eat it!)

Set the older one physical challenges (run/jump/hop up the garden, egg and spoon, balance a bean bag on your head etc.) and you and the little one are the cheerleaders/audience. She could be in charge of refreshments and pour some water/juice into cups and put biscuits on plates if she's able.

Get them involved in cooking/meal prep.