Trapped toddler parents: Inspiration and support needed through the summer hols!!

[PinkDaydreams]

Following on from the previous trapped toddler thread!
Sorry for rubbish title!

So sorry I haven't posted for a while. Had a number of family issues, illness, then we've been away, thread dropped off my "I'm on" and I've also had EHCP assessment application to sort and stressing about primary school applications!

Anyway, I hope everyone is well? Has anyone made plans for half term next week? I'm hoping to go pumpkin picking one day. I'm going to try some crafty stuff too (even though son isn't keen) prob involve collecting leaves from the local park and sticking them to paper so not too adventurous but I'm thinking that's two activities in one as it's the walk then the sticking!! I have also collected a few cereal boxes over the weeks to do something with. Maybe draw pumpkins/ghosts/spiders and cut out, could turn them into a chain bunting thing. No plans to meet up with anyone, although I may just go for a cuppa with my son one morning as he loves watching the cars and buses drive past the cafe window!

How about putting some plastic dishes and cutlery in a bowl in the sink, some washing liquid and let him play washing up? My oldest loved that at 3, although my kitchen floor was always soaking.

Got any musical instruments? If so a bash around on those perhaps.

Or a big box just full of random items for him to have a sort through.

@Motherofmonsters, how are you feeling today? Hope you feel a bit better? Sounds a lovely plan fir one on one time with your DS

My DS1 is at preschool but finishes today for half term.

I'm planning on doing a lot of Halloweeny things in the house, make some pumpkin pictures etc.. have been to Hobbycraft and picked up some orange and black glitter card so perhaps do some pumpkin pictures, bats etc.

@PinkDaydreams hope you are ok, I've been doing my DS1's primary application too. It's along time to wait isn't it until you hear? Pumpkin picking is good fun. We missed the pop up sink they had to wash them in before you take them back to the car though!

Also Adds sell some monster cup cake baking kits, they have orange monster cases and orange glitter and eyes to stick on, so quite Halloweeny.

Asda that was supposed to say!

It's a pumpkin hunt organised by the nursery at their forest school, limited numbers though due to covid so I'm really hoping that we can go. If not, I'll find another to go to.

Then it'll be bonfire night then Christmas 😳 it's coming round so fast!

@bertiebots have you got any kinetic sand, I swear it's magic for keeping them entertained.

I've got some meet ups with friends planned for next week so that will be nice. Need to fit some Halloweeny things in as well so will pinch some of your crafting ideas. I've got a pumpkin gingerbread decorating kit on stand by to for a rainy day.

Anyone up to much today. DS is finally starting his therapy today so that's good. MIL is having DD so I'll probably go to their house after

We've been to a National Trust place today, they have lots of deer so that was lovely and it felt very autumnal.

I hope your DS's therapy goes well today @Motherofmonsters.

Here's my Halloween craft contribution; glitter foam pumpkins .

Evening all!

Hope therapy went well @Motherofmonsters and that you're feeling a bit better now.

@BertieBotts we do puzzles, lots of 5 Minute Mum stuff, put washing up liquid in a bowl with stuff for him to pour water around (eg cups) - but DS is only 1.5 so that might be a bit boring for a 3 year old. Also bought Playdoh which he loves.

We had a lovely but very intense visit from DM and DSis, I overexerted myself quite a bit so was totally wiped last night. Went to an outlet place today with MIL, SIL, my niece, and SIL's mum and sister - proper girls' day out. It was actually really nice! DS was apparently tired all day, reliable sign that he's getting sick again. He's been snuffly so I assume another cold is on its way.

I'm still struggling with pregnancy insomnia...ready for this baby to come out now! Though not really because I'd like to be full term. Trying to positively enjoy the feeling of being pregnant though, because it may or may not be the last time depending on how we cope with 2 kids

Hope everyone has a good evening!

Morning, if anyone spots a giant Spiderman helium balloon over their house it has come from here. @squishymamma I think it is heading towards you in Norway! DS1 has let his birthday balloon go....

How is everyone? Any plans for half-term today?

@Chocolatetrifle

Morning, if anyone spots a giant Spiderman helium balloon over their house it has come from here. *@squishymamma* I think it is heading towards you in Norway! DS1 has let his birthday balloon go....

How is everyone? Any plans for half-term today?

Oh no @Chocolatetrifle!! Is it his birthday today? HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I've got to wait in for a parcel for DH 🙄 So I'm stuck in for the middle of the day which is annoying. I've got the train track out so I think I'm going to add fake autumn leaves and the pumpkin I bought yesterday and do some sort of "train trip to the pumpkin patch" with figures etc.

@Chocolatetrifle

Also Adds sell some monster cup cake baking kits, they have orange monster cases and orange glitter and eyes to stick on, so quite Halloweeny.

Gutted I forgot to look for these in Asda yesterday! I'll go later on in the week for some :)

@PinkDaydreams, ah his birthday was last week. Just gutted he let it go as it was probably end up stuck in a tree or in the sea or something and it will be a danger to animals .

Anyway, hope your parcel arrives ok. We've just made the monster cakes. Both DS now throwing themselves around on the couches.

I've got to take DS1 for a blood test later so not looking forward to that. He needs it following the repeated tonsillitis.

I've got our Halloweeny type books out and made a pretend Halloween library.

Here's the monster cake, definitely pretty scary!

DS2 absolutely loves water play but he gets a bit overenthusiastic so we keep it in the bath or outside. It's a bit too cold here at the moment for outdoor water play.

Cute cakes!

We went for a walk this weekend, we are really lucky to live right next to a deer enclosure with a playground next to it. The playground has just been redone and it's brilliant. There is also a station on the way up the path with musical instruments made out of bits of tree.

That's a great photo @BertieBotts that's a really quirky looking dear.

We have made it to Italy Been up since 5am so am shattered. So lovely to see my nonna though. DS2 loved her straigh aaay which was fab.

Oh @BertieBotts what a great picture and you're lucky to live so close to such a lovely place!

@Camomila I went to Italy years ago, it was beautiful! I remember having the best gelato ever and also some extremely tatsy chips! The weather was gorgeous, and the scenery stunning! Why haven't I gone back??!!

Yesterday we went to the library which was a disaster, it was packed! Kids running round everywhere screaming, felt sorry for the security staff as they kept asking parents to control their kids but got ignored. A few times ds nearly got pushed over by older kids running past so we only lasted 15 mins, one even grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the way!
Playground visit on the way home which again was busy but he had a nice time.

Top up food shop today then I'm going to crack out the playdoh and then later on the kinetic sand.

Looked at the swimming timetable last night but it's 7.30-9 then 12-1 and that's it for the day! I thought that was quite limited?

What plans has everyone else today?

Morning!

That sounds more like a playground than a library @pinkdaydreams. I don't think I would have lasted long their either. Did you manage to get some books.

I had coffee and cake arranged this morning with a couple friends and their littlies but they've both cancelled as they've got this mega cold going around. I've got an internet engineer coming that I chose 1-6pm to come because we were going out so now stuck inside today. I'm hoping to take them out somewhere still this morning but it's really wet everywhere, I get more motivation when I'm meeting someone.

Morning everyone, my car has gone in or MOT this morning so stuck at home. Luckily managed a short walk by the woods near our house for an hour before it started raining. Everyone was up at 6 here. We found some toadstools and mushrooms in the woods so have got the card and crayons out and going to see if some drawings can be done. Mostly though boys are raiding the cupboards for snacks.

Hi all!

@Chocolatetrifle think I saw something on the Norwegian news about this balloon... hope DS had a good birthday! How did the blood tests go?

@Camomila enjoy Italy, bet the weather is lovely.

DH's grandad died last week so we have the funeral today. He was 98 and ready (said so many times) so it's not desperately sad, but of course a little bit. Just having a cheeky McDonald's lunch before we pick DS up from nursery

We've all been full of a cold, seems to slowly be coming to an end though. I'm ready to be healthy again, feels like we've been ill for forever!

@squishymamma, Sorry to hear about your DH's Grandad. Hope the funeral went ok? My DS1's blood test was ok thank you, he had the numbing cream on so luckily didn't feel a thing.

How is everyone?

We've been on the Gruffalo Trail at Delamere Forest which was lovely but exhausting in equal parts as had to carry DS2 a lot of the way and he is heavy!

@Camomila hope you have a good holiday in Italy!

Is the gruffalo still fenced off @Chocolatetrifle? We went during the summer but sadly he had a metal fence around him to keep people off due to covid.

Windy day today, quite refreshing going for a walk in it though and to the playground! We've made cakes, played with the playdoh (DS likes me to make snowmen), made paper fireworks then thrown them around, windy walk, playground and some reading. Nothing too exciting!

It's forecast rain and thunder for the rest of the week, nooooooo!!!