Going stir crazy, any ideas for entertainment?

[Mehblehfeh]

Am on day five of isolating with DS - he has covid, I don't (yet) but am single parent so I can't go anywhere!

He is really struggling now, upset and keeps asking to go out and doesn't understand why we can't, he doesn't feel unwell. I have run out of ideas to entertain him and he is watching hours and hours of telly. I am also trying to work but it's just impossible.

We are in a small top floor flat, there is an enclosed communal garden that nobody uses but I would have to take him in the lift/down four flights of stairs to get there.

Anyone got any ideas for entertainment, or any very distracting toys they can recommend for a three year old I can order on Amazon? I am going just a teeny tiny bit crazy.

On a practical basis - have you got lateral flows? If it's negative you can go out from tomorrow now can't you?

Other suggestions

• cosmic kids yoga
• Oti's boogie (whatever - dancing on CBeebies)
• craft stuff
• messy play (in the bath?)
• musical chairs/ statues
• treasure hunt
• hide and seek
• CBeebies app on your phone
• baking/cooking/ washing up

Have you tested him today?

My 3 year old absolutely loves this. The instructions are only in German but you play it like this (skip/choose any stage you like or make up your own rules):

1. Put the house-building construction sites in order and talk about the different stages to build a house, and what materials are needed at each stage (according to the pictures).

1. Let them build the road with the various construction sites and drive the trucks around it as much as they like.

1. Put all the construction materials in a pile and let them deliver them to the right site. You can start with 3 construction sites and build up to all 6. It's collaborative so if you play with a truck each you're working together, nobody is the winner.

1. Try a version where you start with the construction materials in the wrong places. They have to identify a site with the wrong material, visit, pick up the wrong material, re-deliver it to the correct place and repeat.

1. Start to incorporate the dice, ie, roll and you can only travel to a road of the corresponding colour. (haven't done this with my 3yo yet).

I played it with him a couple of times and now he mostly plays with it alone.

www.amazon.co.uk/Ravensburger-24726-Play-Construction-Site/dp/B00ATY5WC8/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2ID6CYIOVVMNP&keywords=ravensburger+construction+site+board+game&sprefix=ravensburger+construction+site+board+game%2Caps%2C95&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1643372184&sr=8-2

He also likes dominoes (sometimes we play by the rules and sometimes he makes them up) and a marble run is popular.

Jigsaws are also great but expensive to buy new.

Could you put a shout out for local friends to lend any games/toys/jigsaws in a bag on your doorstep?

Hunt the thimble.
Balloons. You can bat them around without breaking anything.

Or ask someone to raid a charity shop for jigsaws.

Thank you for all the ideas! Will give them a try and poss make some panic Amazon purchases.

Have done lateral flows last three days, (he's actually on day seven from symptoms) and still very positive.

I have no balloons unfortunately, that's a good idea, might see if I can add to shopping delivery tomorrow

BertieBotts think I'll get that, thank you for the translation!

Although having just seen the thread about taking a covid positive kid to a big event, maybe I'll just take DS into the deserted communal garden tomorrow!

That sounds like an absolute nightmare for both of you.

Few more ideas:

Bulk order of new books
Audio books as an alternative to TV, especially any by his favourite authors
Simple board games or card games
Reusable sticker books
Kinetic sand
Skype calls with grandparents or other friends and family
Kuhn Rikon sell child-friendly knives shaped like dogs for chopping if he'd enjoy being allowed to join you in the kitchen for a cooking project (you can get them on Amazon).