What do you do with a 2 year old all day?!

[Rachell1]

My son has just turned 2 and I am at home with him all day. He might (budget dependent) be starting nursery soon but in the meantime it’s just me and him all day every day and I’m starting to feel like a bad mum in all honesty.

I just feel like I hardly do anything with him but I just don’t know what to do!

There are playgroups and a play cafe nearby, but whenever we’ve gone to these things in the past he always ends up catching colds, strep throat, tummy bugs etc and although I know he will catch all these things from nursery/school eventually any way.. I just can’t be bothered at the moment to deal with illnesses!!!

Also being heavily pregnant I struggle to walk far now and with it being cold I can’t think of anything worse than a trip to the park/swings!!

I think it’s just a case of forcing myself to do more and putting him before me.. but seriously.. what do you do ALL day?!

I'm back at work now however we did combinations of the following

Cinema Mini Mornings
Library
Swimming
Playgroups - we are lucky as have a few small soft plays, imagination role play places etc nearby
Park visits alternated so we didn't get bored of same ones
Walks near sea front, collecting shells, throwing stones in water
Visit to local woods with a sandwich/hot chocolate weather dependent
Movie morning at home with popcorn or snacks
Make cakes even the boxed ones from supermarket will do
Make biscuits - decorate them etc
Painting
Sticker books
Tuff Trays alternated topics - DS likes diggers/Dinosaurs etc Google has a lot of suggestions
Sticky craft play
Play Doh

It's all harder because you're pregnant. When I was heavily pregnant at the tail of last year, I used to put DD to work! All my normal day to day stuff used to take up so much time as I moved so slowly so I roped her in to help. Give her the mop on it's shortest setting and a spray bottle and she was entertained for a good 15 mins, then I would quickly whizz over when she was done. Other than that the usual at home playing stuff but I also gave myself Grace to let her have More tv time than usual. Things will improve when you're not so pregnant!!

I agree it's harder staying in than going out so we go out every morning without fail (it's easier as I have to be up and out to drop DD1 at school anyway.) Our regular routine is one of the below each morning:

Playgroups. They're a lifesaver and means I at least get some adult chat and a cup of tea. The potential for picking up bugs is worth it for the benefit of going for DD2 being around other children.

Library. Our local library has a lovely children's area so we sit and look at books and also does Rhyme Time once a week for singing songs.

Running errands. Not the most fun with a toddler in tow but needs must and she also has to learn that sometimes I just need to get things done. So supermarket shopping, trip to the post office, nip into town to pick something up from the shops etc.

Playdate with a friend. My good friend is also off work so we have a regular catch up on a Monday morning with the DC. One week she comes to mine and the next I go to hers.

Going out to a café. Just a trip to have a hot chocolate is a nice way to kill some time.

Going to the garden centre and looking round... we're very lucky as ours has a children's play area.

Walking to the pond to feed the ducks.

Extremely rarely something more expensive like swimming or soft play. But that's every couple of months maximum.

If we've been out for the morning I'm more relaxed about the afternoon, so we have lunch and she plays for a bit. She watches TV while I get on with small jobs in the house. Sometimes we just cuddle on the sofa and watch a Disney film.

I think you have to take them out, toddlers aren't dissimilar to dogs in that they need at least one outing a day 😂

Walk to the shop, park, garden centre, toddler groups etc.