What are your 2 year olds up to?

[jomaIone]

I'm stuck in a rut with my just turned 2 year old, bless her. She's so good, she tends to just potter about with me but feel like she's just stuck and needs more stimulation. She's pretty quiet anyway but we do loads usually pre CV!!

So today

Woke 0830
Watched cartoons and had breakfast
1030 got dressed, I had shower etc, she pottered and played
1130 played together in her wee kitchen, with her dolls
1230 lunch
1330 walk in the woods, outdoor play together - bubbles, blew dandelions, bit of scootering, she played on her climbing frame and slide.
1530 I started tidying, dishwasher, making tea etc, she watched nursery rhymes on YouTube
1630 tea time
After tea we will chill, her dad will finish work (upstairs, not a long commute 🤣) and we will eat our tea while she potters about
1800 we all watch a nature doc or something calming together
1830 shower and bedtime

This is the same thing we do EVERY day. Sometimes we do water play, sometimes colouring, or painting but she's losing interest in most things since it's just me and her. I'm sure she's missing everyone but she's too little to understand that. I just feel guilty all the time. HELP. What do you get up to with your 2 year olds?

It sounds fine to me. As for the guilt, try and squash it down, you're doing great.

Sounds like my routine!

I also feel my DD is losing interest in me! I think when you write it out though it’s actually fine, her day is full and varied. You play with her she has one on one time with you so it sounds good to me!

Sounds very similar to our routine.

My son had breakfast and watched TV, then had a bath (kill loads of time with this lol). Then had a snack. Went and fed the ducks. Had lunch, played with his toys. Then went to run on the grass with his dad. Then just switched between playing inside and outside. Then had dinner. And he will go to bed at 6, before bed will read a pile of books on the couch.

That sounds fine. You'd know if she was really bored. Maybe add a bit more craft or duplo or puzzles in the week, maybe switch some of the cartoons for books in the morning, but generally toddlers love attention and routine.

My son is 20 months and this is our routine-
7:00am wake up
7:30am breakfast
8:00am upstairs to get dressed and play with bedroom toys whilst I brush my teeth etc
8:45am out for a long walk
10:30am back home and play in garden
11:15am nap time
1:00pm wake from nap and chill in front of TV
1:30pm lunch time
2:15pm play in garden/house/craft activity etc
3:45pm another long walk
5:00pm dinner time
6:00pm bath time/bedtime routine
7:00pm bed

We have 2yo twins and this sounds familiar.

We have been trying to make sure that when they have screentime it is something stimulating, so they have recently discovered Andy's Dinosaur Adventures and Grace's Amazing Machines.

Strange as it may sound, two things they love doing are going to the park and having balls thrown to fetch and also "helping" so eg we have washed the car several times using hose, wellies etc. Great fun!

Thanks everyone! Defo need to do more crafts, I get a bit stressed with the mess TBH but will make more effort! She's a happy little girl, and her speech and understanding is really good but I just don't want her to be set back. It's a hard one. I definitely see some social problems once we get back to a bit of normality, she never says anything to people when we are out, she won't even wave! She just runs away 😢

Sounds ok, but maybe add some new arts and crafts activities? Painting, drawing, sticking, tissue paper etc. Or sensory things? Crunchy trays, messy play etc. How about role play, like having a teddy tea party?

My DD will be 2 next month and she's at nursery a few days a week but when she's with me/DH her days are similar except for more TV as she's now obsessed with Peppa Pig, and she can't play independently. Apart from playing with pots and pans in the kitchen for up to 20 mins whilst I cook tea, but other than that she rarely plays alone for more than a few mins at a time and just demands TV all the time. She's definitely bored at home.

I wouldn't worry about her not talking to strangers when you're out, surely that's normal? My DD was always like that until very recently, now it's hit and miss sometimes she will wave or say something to a stranger but other times not. It's not a bad thing to be wary of strangers!

You're totally right, just worried she'll be chronically shy from now on, she was already a quiet soul.

Definitely more crafts to be added, I have ordered new paint and some glitter to spice up our lives! We do a lot of water play and she has a sand pit outside so lots of sensory. We hide her toy farm animals in the sand for her to find. Been looking on Pinterest for idea tonight. Thanks everyone, feel much better after reading these 😆