Help! Calm activities to keep 3.5 year old occupied whilst I recover from ectopic

[ActonBell]

3.5 year old is out of nursery at the moment because of COVID (DH is clinically vulnerable and we don’t feel it’s safe at the moment).

On top of this I’ve just had emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. DH will do loads with DS when I am home, so I can recover, but he does need to do some work as well.

What calm activities would occupy a 3.5 year old, maybe lying in bed next to me? I need to rest and I need not to split my stitches play-wrestling him like we usually do.

Apart from reading books and stickers my mind is blank. Please help!

Sorry for your experience - hope you're not feeling too battered, physically or emotionally.

At that age dd loved playdoh - could put a small amount on a tray? I used to draw things on paper eg a blank butterfly and get her to decorate with the playdoh. I laminated the paper but not the end of the world if not.

Dd also loved magazines at that age, she particularly loved the twirly woos ones and there is also a ceebebies art one which had millions of easy art ideas and also most of the supplies came with it too which was helpful.

Also forgot magic painting books if you can get some, the kind that just need water?

Sorry for your loss.

This is a time to throw any screen limits out the window, make a nest in your bed/on the sofa, snuggle down together and watch lots of movies.

Thanks both. I’ve just bought some new waterpainting books for him - great idea. Yes, I think it might be time for Disney+.

My son who is a similar age loves his magnadoodle (magnetic drawing board). Also a "scratch art" drawing pad and the Melissa and Doug giant reusable stickers and scenes. Hope you get some time to recuperate x

I don't know what your budget is OP, but we love our Toniebox, carry case and Tonies. Have a look at their website for the best information, but they are also available on the John Lewis, eBay and Amazon sites.

Hope you're feeling better soon

@Octoblockswim12345678swim - I’ll have a look at the magnadoodle, thanks, and I think we have one or two of those scratch things hanging around somewhere.
@OHolyTights - we got him a Yoto box for Christmas which is very similar. Really glad we did this now!

It's hard when they have so much energy.

If you are able to get comfortable on the sofa I found that helped as it gave my toddler more space to play. I had a lot of pretend cups of tea, pizzas and whatever other meals she could create from the play food. She thought it was great to have my attention so much.

We also got through a lot of kids action song videos, at the time there was a series on cbeebies called boogie cbeebies. Theres bound to be similar things on YouTube.

@LunchWithAGruffalo - that’s a brilliant idea thanks. He also got a toy barbecue for Christmas (at his request!) so he can “cook” me up things on that. Sorry to hear you went through something similar.

My DD is that age and she loves kinetic sand, you can put it in a bowl or tray. Definitely agree with watching things together, mine loves telling me about her favourite programs while we watch them together then she wanders off into imaginary play with her little people and animals. Would it work for you or your DH to set up something like a den in the lounge and set toys up around it along a theme (tent and pretend fire to go with the bbq?), mine will play in this sort of thing for quite a long time which could let you rest if it works for you.

Put some blobs of paint in a ziplock bag, remove as much air as you can qnd then tape to a tray.
Gives the feeling of fingerpainting without the mess.

Threading big beads or buttons onto a long string or shoelace.

Fuzzy felt!

Check out Baker Ross - they've got a variety of stuff. Mine likes the scratch pictures and water colouring in books.

Also CBeebies magazine!!

Oh that's good OP. I hadn't heard of the Toto when I bought the Toniebox. It seems there are pros and cons with both. I haven't regretted buying the Toniebox at all so far, as the DC love the Tonie figures with stories, (like Elmer, Spot, Fireman Sam, Gruffalo, Gruffalo's Child, Jungle Book, Snowman, Snowman and the Snowdog), and they make great Christmas and birthday presents. We have one Creative Tonie, which came with the Toniebox. The only one we haven't been too impressed with so far is the first lullaby one - others might like it but we find it a bit irritating rather than soothing and relaxing, unfortunately! Eyes on the Lion King Tonie next. The Toto sounds good too.

Hope you are doing ok.

Thanks again for all the suggestions. We are really struggling. DS is understandably finding mummy being poorly difficult. He’s gone a bit wild and regressed in lots of areas because his routine is all over the place and he doesn’t understand what’s going on. He’s having lots of toilet accidents and going to sleep much later than we’d like.

I’m finding physical recovery harder than I thought I would. I’m still in a fair bit of pain and struggling to be out of bed for more than 20 mins or so. I get exhausted really quickly.

I think we need to come up with some sort of loose routine for DS. He still can’t go back to nursery because Covid numbers are so bad where we are and if either of us were even to be slightly ill we simply wouldn’t cope at the moment.

I’m thinking something like, DH does breakfast, get dressed, teeth and then DS has 2 hours with me either in bed or on the sofa. I’ve got lots of wipe clean books, waterpainting books and little games/puzzles. I could also plan some simple number games and things like that. DH will work.

Then I get a rest and DS does painting/play doh/water play in the kitchen. DH can probably get at least some admin done on his laptop whilst DS is occupied with that.

Then DS can play games on the tablet, then have lunch and after lunch books in bed with me.

In the afternoon he can watch a film/listen to audio books and just have playtime.

This is more screen time than I’d like and he’s not getting out of the house much but needs must. We have to get some kind of pattern going so he feels a bit more secure and this is all I can come up with. Hopefully later next week I’ll be able to get up a bit more and that will make things easier.

I can’t believe how hard this is.

This sounds like a great routine, good on you for thinking it all through when you are having such a hard time. Remember this is a relatively short period of time in the great scheme of things and your son will bounce back once you are able to be up and about a bit more

I would try and get your DH to take him out if you can either at lunch or after breakfast. I’ve found behaviour is always more challenging if mine haven’t had enough activity. Cosmic yoga is good if that’s not possible.

I’d also go for lots of tv in your position until you’ve recovered. Not the same but we all had covid and had to struggle out of bed to sort to our little ones. We had Lots of snacks freely accessible so you’re not up and down like a yo-yo, mini stations of drawing materials etc, getting relatives to video call them

Safety scissors and cutting up a magazine. Flashcards with phonics on. Get 10 objects and practice counting them and taking one away and counting again etc. Doctors kit and do a check up on all toys. Memory card games are a favourite at this age where you turn the cards over and take turns to try and find a pair. Search and find books are really good for spending a while looking at a book together in a chilled out way without having to read a big story. My dc would happily spend hours looking through photo albums and discussing them as well.