Lockdown with young children

[PopiLongJon]

I need to make a change. I’ve got two children, 5 and 20 months. I’m struggling with depression. Our days are filled with too much screen time, snacks, not getting out enough. I long for peace and quiet. I know it isn’t good for any of us. Toddler spends most of their time pulling the toys out and walking away from them. When we do go for a walk it usually ends in one or both of them having a meltdown because it’s too cold/boring/wind blew the wrong way.

What do your lockdown days look like? How do you keep your young children entertained (and your sanity intact)

Hello! It's so hard right now isnt it! Our days are very much like yours atm, far too much screen time etc.. mine are 4 and 5 so at least they will play together for some time before the arguments start..I've been trying to get them to play upstairs in their rooms so I can at least have a break from the noise, like you I long for peace and quiet, which is rare with the endless questions and constant talking, moaning and arguning lol.

In the afternoons we all go to our own rooms for half hour minimum for some quiet time and this saves my sanity to some extent!

Hang on in there, spring is coming and getting out will be alot more enjoyable!

Hopefully not much longer to go now and things will be better! The worst is behind us I'm sure x

And at least with young kids they have very little or no concept of time and probably wont even remember most of this.. so I'm pretty much letting them get on with whatever makes them happy right now and if that means too much tv then so be it. It's not going to be forever and you've just got to do what you can, lots of hugs and kisses and feelings of security for the little ones is the most important thing for them right now x

@Opia90 thank you for this. I feel like a terrible mother most days, and also like I am missing out on these precious years!

Lots of us over on this thread in similar situations, we’re good at ideas, and solidarity! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4105179-trapped-toddler-parents-of-the-fabled-winter-2020-2021-puddle-suits-at-the-ready-hello-christmas

That's ok, I had days where I feel like a terrible mother too, the mum guilt is awful. I totally get you feel like your missing precious years, I feel like that too, my 4 yr old will be starting school in Sept and I havnt got to do any of the things I wanted to do with her before she went! but this situation isnt our fault and we wouldn't be living like this otherwise.. we can only do our best.
We can make up for it when all this is over!

Your a good mother, in terrible times x

I feel ya.
I have a 19MO and constantly trying to find things to do with her.
It’s hard trying to stay positive atm, it feels like a never ending nightmare especially in the freezing cold

[quote WeSearchedHereWeSearchedThere]Lots of us over on this thread in similar situations, we’re good at ideas, and solidarity! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/4105179-trapped-toddler-parents-of-the-fabled-winter-2020-2021-puddle-suits-at-the-ready-hello-christmas[/quote]
Thankyou, will head over and have a look

Same here.....

But about the toy situation with your little one. You should try toy rotation. I have some selected toys in the living room (babies, piano, ball, abacus, books). And then I have 5 bags (nice ones like shopper bags bought from Smyths) of toys and in the morning one comes down. Before dinner it gets tidied away. Content of bags: blocks/ train set and music/ cooking, tea set/ little figurines/ big jenga, puzzles

3 under 7 inc a 2 year old. We just go out a lot. I suit them up. Full head to toe waterproofs. That’s the most stressful part of my day, getting them dressed. When we are out I stay out as long as I can.
Tips are. Those little reusable hand warmers ( with the discs inside ). Snoods. A bazillion cheap magic mittens so you are never without spares. Waterproof dungarees with a big warm waterproof coat on top. Pram with foot muff. Snacks, snacks, snacks, thermos with hot chocolate.
When am in yes we have screen time and am over it. Also lots of diff card games.
I have got rid of most of the bitty toys.
The other toys i have boxed up in the garage/loft. Have them on rotating.
Ie brio stuff came out the other day after not being out for months. Massive box of paw patrol stuff, happy land stuff, lego track etc. they get so excited when it comes out.

Sorry @PopiLongJon it's a difficult time at the moment, do you have any help for your depression and any time to yourself just to breathe away from kids and have some peace and quiet? I find that helps me a lot, DH will take them on a walk and leave me at home for an hour. I need that time just to be alone and muster some enthusiasm.

Similar aged kids here. I think by this point everyone has done the 'build an obstacle course inside' type of thing about a million times so we're all running on empty a bit. We've gone for some slightly odd options to entertain them and bring a bit of fun / break up the monotony.

We have invented visiting fairies who occasionally bring the kids little things like a new colouring book. It gives them something to get very excited about. I have managed to find some free groups on Facebook where you can pay postage for things, so have managed to swap out some toys to give some novelty without spending a fortune. Plus the make believe element helps kill time. We spent a day making a fairy post box for the fairies to put their letters and parcels in. We bake the fairies cakes (for me to eat in the evening ) etc. Helps on walks too (we collect things for the fairies as we go as otherwise it's just bloody cold and boring).

We occasionally have a party for no reason (party food, party games etc), which the kids love. Makes the weekend vaguely more weekend like and adds some fun.

We also do a 'cafe' where we pretend we've gone out to a cafe and I am the waitress and they're the customers and we make it look vaguely like a cafe and put music on and have some cake and things just like we would if we went out (that sounds so sad reading that back), but it makes it a bit more fun than just a snack.

Our local library is doing book parcels to collect which is very helpful.

Whilst it's cold we're playing with ice a lot in the garden which they seem to really enjoy (me less so...!).

They spend way more time in their pyjamas than I thought was physically possible, and the bath is stretched to about an hour. Think everyone is just trying to do their best, mine are definitely having more screen time and snacks than they used to.

I also meet up with friends on the park. It just has to be done.

First lockdown looked like this: I was on furlough, invented interesting science and art projects for ds ...warm days playing games in the garden together, gardening, going on long walks and doing nature based activities.. I'm a single parent and my mum is alone so we formed a bubble and spent time there too.
Fast forward to this lockdown: shouty mummy trying to work from home , totally disinterested DS struggling with home learning , feel as though no one has achieved anything except an argument at the end of each day . I'm fed up of my mums company and screen time rules supreme!
PLEASE LET THIS END

Thank you for sharing your lovely ideas, we definitely need to get out more and perhaps the key is for me to pack a bag of snacks/drinks/warmers. Toy rotation is also a good idea, I have got boxes of toys (marble run/train track/Lego) but they tend to live upstairs.

I never get time to myself, husband has become more shouty than ever so I don’t like to leave the children. It’s all very unpleasant but no doubt exasperated by both of us feeling worn down

I love the party for no reason idea! And the fairies bringing surprises! Will be doing those next week :) x