If you have toddlers/preschoolers, tell me about your weekend

[Cakeandslippers]

I have a 2yo and 3.5yo, I work 4dpw and we normally do something nice on my day off but I'm just wondering what people do at at the weekend?

It's me, dh and the kids at the weekend and I feel like everyone I know is busy every weekend but we very rarely have plans. Sometimes it's nice, we go to the park or the woods, very occasionally swimming (not easy to access at the moment where i am) but a lot of the time i find it all all quite boring. Am I imagining that everyone else has lovely weekends full of things to do and meeting up with people etc or is social media feeding me a lie? I don't want to spend all weekend cleaning and tidying but I'm not sure what else there is to do.

We aren't struggling financially but don't have loads of spare cash for fancy days out. Pre kids we used to go walking, cycling tail running etc most weekends and then might eat out. Not yet found a way to manage those things with the kids yet.

Do you know for a fact your friends who don't have kids don't want to see you with your kids? All of them?

We don't have kids. We love our time with friends kids. We also love handing them back at the end of the day.

Don't assume they don't want to see you.

Thanks, you're right we do occasionally see people but most of our friends live in a big city centre and their preferred activities are the pub or eating out - they will agree to meet up occasionally but most don't drive and it's normally a very big challenge finding a date they can do, they prefer evenings which is a challenge! My best friend does keep saying she'd like to see us more it's just finding time when she's free - many of my friends work shifts which adds a challenge as they have a lot to fit in when they are off. Perhaps I could be more proactive though. Its hard always being the one making the plans but I suppose I can't moan if I don't! Thank you xx

My two are 5 and 8 and to be honest were only just starting to do bigger activities like bike riding all together.

We spend a lot of time at the park, outdoor pool and in general outdoors as I find being cooped up in the house just too much.

I find it totally pointless to do city centres or meals out. Waste of time and money

Yes we have, with not much luck... given how much we love to cycle we thought the kids would too but so so far that's not panning out! The youngest is OK on a scooter and is getting there on the balance bike but the eldest just wouldn't get on one, we got a bike with stabilisers after a year of trying and that's better but very slow and the novelty wears off after 10 min! This is something we are persevering with though as ultimately we'd love to go on bike rides. Annoyingly our nearest park is 1 mile away so it's a painful process!

Thank you, this is a very good point. For some reason I feel really guilty doing my own thing (ridiculous I know) I ought to be a bit more focused with it i think.

We do have a seat but the older one is a bit heavy for it now so reluctant to get a second one. We have toyed with the idea of a pull along of some sort but they are expensive even second hand and I worry about us getting value as there seem to be limited places we could take it locally without mostly being on the road. I'm quite keen still. Have you got one? Would you recommend?

For walks with our 2 year old we do a mixture.
Some at his speed or with his running bike. We also have a toddler type sling so for hiking uphill he walks what he can and downhill, and dh or I carry him on our back as needed.
We also have pram still, mountain buggy so take that sometimes and use as needed.

Our friends have a double bike trailer with larger jogger wheel they use for their 2-4 year olds on longer walks. The children walk until tired and then 1 or sometime both pile in.

weekends are usually a mixture of stuff we need to do like gardening, house stuff, shopping, combined with walks, odd attraction occasionally, lunch out, park, meet friends or friends to us.

Today:
lazy start. House stuff am. Took garden waste to tip. Local outdoor cider barn in woods for an hour with friends. They just serve cider/ apple juice/ bread/ cheese platters, there’s a giant sandpit and play area for kids. Now pottering, FaceTime family, cook dinner, Ds ‘helping‘ or playing

Mine are both wiped from starting school (one in Year R, one is Year 3) so we've had a home weekend, baking, treats, tv. They have really needed it.

For approximately 10 years, Saturday was Dance Day. It started out as a short ballet class and spiralled from there with the odd Sunday or all-weekend competition too, and residentials in the holidays. Just saying, beware the lure of dance! Might give much more structure than you want.

(That was my DS, by the way, he only gave it up aged 14 because it clashed with other weekend commitments.)

OTOH my DD disliked all organised activities, both then and now.

One preschooler and a baby here.

Saturday:
Swimming lessons
Market to buy fresh fruit
Home time (lunch, watching TV)
Afternoon activity - can be park, soft play, walk in the woods, hosting a play date at home, hanging out with neighbours, picnic if nice weather (one activity only!)
Dinner, TV, bath & bed

Sundays:
DH makes pancakes for breakfast, it’s always a bit of an event
Rugby
Home time & afternoon activity as above

I would really recommend getting a trailer it was brilliant for us. We got ours second hand, had it for about 3 years then sold it on. Worth it's weight in gold.

We have a 1 year old, 4 year old and 5 year old. We do softplay, cinema, park, museums and visiting their gran on the weekends. I've just discovered they are quite good at bowling so that's something we can do too. Often they love to potter about at home playing with their toys but we do have to do activities with them such as painting or playing in the garden.

We have a 2yo with one on the way.
Have just moved house so things have been a bit unusual lately but we would normally have ....
sat morning cafe then little kickers football class (or used to be swimming), home for lunch and nap, park or museum etc. in the afternoon.
Sunday morning would be one of the local playgrounds, again home for lunch and nap then would usually see family or friends in the afternoon.

I find it very difficult to stay home as we have a small house/garden and feel we need to wear him out a bit.

Very welcome. I know it's hard being the one making the effort but if she's saying she wants to see you more, she means it. And she's your best friend. Hope you have messaged to set up some dates.