Ideas to make Christmas with a toddler less completely shit?

[Hardbackwriter]

Feeling quite despairing so trying to cheer myself up by finding some nice ideas - please help! I have a 2.5 year old, am 32 weeks pregnant and tbh DH and I are already really struggling to keep him entertained and to feel like life is anything other than drudgery. I was so looking forward to having some days at Christmas where he got to play with beloved family members and I got to sit down in comfort, drink tea and have a chat with an adult. That's now not happening - any ideas for how we can make it not just feel like another day of the same old drudgery? He won't tolerate sitting around and watching Christmassy films etc (and I also think that is very boring). Please don't suggest walks - I have SPD.

We have a 3 and 6 year old and haven't had any adult time for ages. When they're at school we're at work. It's hard but it will pass.

However I just wanted to add stickers. Buy loads and make Christmas cards, pictures. Whatever they want. Don't limit the amount and if they're the ones on a strip peal off the surrounding area first so they're easy to get off.

They're not too young for CBeebies mags either and they are a nice way to spend some quiet time together.

If you just want to sit for a moment what about empty carboard boxes and wrapping paper or bubble wrap on the floor. Or a high chair play dough session? So he's contained but having fun while you can sit down. You have my total sympathy being so pregnant and with spd. My two year old constantly wants to help me cook. I gave him a bowl with cooked spaghetti in and he was mesmerised by it for ages! I think it was the texture. Just wanted to swirl it round with a spoon and plunge his hands in it. I find textural things like play dough, spaghetti, shaving foam send them into a total trance for a while.

Following for general Christmas activity inspiration at home!

@HardbackwriterI have a boy who turned 2 in septmeber and a 10 week old baby so i absolutely feel your pain.

Mine loves baking, keeps him amused for ages. I have my own bowl so the product is edible and not full of snot and he has his. As we go along we measure everything and put it in mine and he gets a mini version in his. Then he 'washes up' either outside or up at the sink.

I know the feeling tho. The pressure to entertain when it's just you and your little bubble is so hard.

Xmas day - I'm doing a roast but just with chicken breasts. I'm also only going to give him a couple of presents xmas day and then spread out the others across the days.

A tuff tray has been a great purchase. Walks to see xmas lights has been good too. Also we have 'clean the toy' - basically an excuse for a middle of the day bath.

Hey duggee had a birthday party on facebook on Friday, there’s a video of it on Facebook. It’s 30 minutes of songs and silliness. It’s fab! It kept me entertained dancing with my DD for 30 minutes! 😂

I’d perhaps have 1/2 hour of dancing with the hey duggee birthday party for example if you can stream it to your tv (there’s some Christmas songs too) and have your tea/dinner on a picnic blanket on the floor (if you can sit comfortably on the floor).

An afternoon bath is also a good idea. You could play children’s Christmas songs whilst he plays in the bath, there’s a few hey duggee ones or I’m sure there will be something you can download if you have Amazon music etc

@scotsllb it's very admirable indeed to reach out for help - but if someone finds lan upcoming holiday with their toddler potentially "completely shit", it is reasonable to think that's not the nicest way to refer to the situation and to wonder why they would then choose to have another child.

[quote ZippedyDooDa]@scotsllb it's very admirable indeed to reach out for help - but if someone finds lan upcoming holiday with their toddler potentially "completely shit", it is reasonable to think that's not the nicest way to refer to the situation and to wonder why they would then choose to have another child. [/quote]
Fine, you've persuaded me. I'll send the new baby back.

[quote ZippedyDooDa]@scotsllb it's very admirable indeed to reach out for help - but if someone finds lan upcoming holiday with their toddler potentially "completely shit", it is reasonable to think that's not the nicest way to refer to the situation and to wonder why they would then choose to have another child. [/quote]
Still showing a horrendous lack of empathy.

Hide and seek in the house (and in the dark come evening)
Torches after dark
Simple paper chain competition
Indoor picnicking with crackers
Parents lap games (Humptey dumpty, This is the way the ladies ride, row row row your boat)
Family face painting in front of a mirror
Hunt the thimble (or chocolate gold coin)
Treasure hunts

And thank you to everyone except zippedy - there are some really good ideas on here. I really felt like we'd exhausted all crafty/sensory stuff but there's some great ones I hadn't thought of - it will be lovely to have some new stuff to do, and I think will really help with the Groundhog Day feeling. And I hadn't considered having Christmas dinner when he's in bed, but can definitely see the logic and the appeal of having it as a relaxed adult meal.

Use Amazon to order one of the Melissa and Doug reusable sticker sets. My son likes the Habitats set because it has animals. You stick the stickers on the provided sheet (or on the windows), they aren’t sticky and can be reused hundreds of times. Keeps my toddler busy for ages so the adults can have a rest!

@Hardbackwriter seriously @ZippedyDooDa is right. Everyone knows that before you TTC you should think about the impact of a virus and an unprecedented level of government restriction on your life.

How feckless of you. I'd self refer to social services if I were you.

We have a nearly 3 yo. One thing we do for a semblance of normality is a dining room cafe trip. We set up our dining table like a cafe, use nice mugs, a tea pot and cafetiere. Put nice cakes and biscuits on plates and all sit at the table. Music on Spotify. DS has a milk and cake. He will only sit for about ten minutes but it feels nicer than the usual instant coffee on the sofa in front of CBeebies and it feels like a treat for DH and I.

I was in your position last year, I felt pretty shit and that was without the pandemic. I actually found it easier once the baby came!

Try and get some alcohol free mulled wine/cider and drink it after toddler is in bed.

I didn't really bother with christmassy things with my older one. At 2.5 she was too young to really understand and just wanted her normal toys.

We did cuddle up and watch the Christmas episodes of Peppa etc.

[quote ZippedyDooDa]@scotsllb it's very admirable indeed to reach out for help - but if someone finds lan upcoming holiday with their toddler potentially "completely shit", it is reasonable to think that's not the nicest way to refer to the situation and to wonder why they would then choose to have another child. [/quote]
It's not really a holiday though is it when you are stuck in the same place and with the same people that you have been all year, and are now even more heavily restricted in where you can go and what you can do. I imagine that 9 months into a pandemic most parents of toddlers are seriously running out of steam and life must feel extremely monotonous no matter how much you love your children

OP I really sympathise. At that age my children wouldn't always sit through a film but they both absolutely loved Mickey's Once/ Twice Upon a Christmas - both of which are on Disney Plus at the moment. Good luck.

Another idea is to have a takeaway coffee in the car. Have some car only toys and chill for a bit with the car parked. Just getting out the house, even just sitting in the car with a coffee can help.

My 2.5 year old loves a 'party!' Music, flashing lights and some 'part food.' In reality, some sarnies and crisps in a bowl.
Mine also lives Gruffalo, Stick Man etc. Would he sit down and watch a couple of those? They're not too long, but you'll get through a hot cuppa!
Does he play happily on his own? Mine is quite happy with some duplo or cars and will sit for ages chatting to himself, making up games etc. It is tough, it's a hard age between independence and needing/wanting you.
Could you all sit down and do some puzzles? Stick to 2 or 3 that he can get familiar with. He'll love putting the last piece in, recognising characters/pictures and finding the edges.

Cryogenically freeze the toddler until the pandemic is over.

@MessAllOver

Cryogenically freeze the toddler until the pandemic is over.

Or cryogenically freeze yourself till toddlerhood is over.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow

I would seriously consider having your main meal after DC is in bed for the evening. They won’t care about Christmas dinner and it’s one less stressful part of the day to worry about. You can also properly relax and enjoy your meal

Agree with this - toddlers don't give a flying fuck about turkey and all the trimmings. Alternatively, don't bother doing Christmas dinner at all - have loads of lovely snacky stuff and treats for you and DH instead.

Disagree completely! My toddler's favourite food is 'roast taytos!' With gravy, bit of chicken and a Yorkshire pudding. But definitely do what is easier for you OP.

What about all the lovely new toys he'll be getting? I will usually give him the toys over the entire year and then switch them, he has a limited amount of yours to play with in the living room + several books. Go for a nice Christmas walk / playground visit with your husband and your little one? Rain clothes on, wellies and off you go. What is SPD?

Mine is 2 in January. We usually have the same routine most days, wake up, get dressed etc, breakfast at 8am, then play for an hour - 1 1/2, we love to sing, he's got a tonie box and music tonies, read books, loves his trains and cars, play with his soft o ball which he can throw without damage etc. He's got puzzles, he still loves his stacking cups etc.

We're then outside for 1.5-2 hours, lunch, nap time. Wake up, play, snack at 3 and we usually go out for an hour and then see the lights when it gets dark. Eat, play for a bit, TV time for 30 minutes, bath and bed.

As I work full time and he goes to childminder + has a nanny, I really enjoy my weekends with him and also usually meet another mum at the playground (NCT or baby group where we met), so I have another adult to talk to, we do talk
A lot about the children but still nice.

get some of those giant chalks - you can let dc draw outside on cement/patio & it will wash off or draw pictures of animals objects etc or draw games for dc to jump to (with help) etc
& the next rain it washes off!
bubbles they are cheap & brilliant (washing up liquid can be used)
make a picnic (posh) for yourselves to take out & thermos with hot chocolate & take some biscuits

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow.

I thought about suggesting that but not sure how cryogenic freezing would work with the OP's pregnancy.

Love your username, btw - is it 4.50 from Paddington?

Get a bubble machine as well!
Also, you will be grateful when your second child is then 2, you will have a built in entertainer/helper in a 4 year old son!
My daughter is 5 and loves playing with her little brother (most of the time!). They play games together, she helps build train tracks and reads him stories.