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Original poster

What the chuff do you do with your kids in the afternoons?

79 replies

Everyonescoughing · 05/12/2023 07:00

Have a 3 year old and a 6 month old baby.

It is raining and it’s that cold, icy rain. I can’t honestly say being out in it would be fun for anyone but I would brave it if I just had the 3 year old. However, the baby complicates matters. So that’s out.

All the groups are on in the morning. How to fill the 12-5 time slot?

OP posts:
SecondUsername4me · 05/12/2023 07:03

My 3yo was at afternoon Preschool for exactly this reason.

Mornings for groups and clubs, light lunch, then drop the off. Her baby sibling would then nap 12.30-2.30 and I'd either nap with them (if woken lots in the night) or read, housework etc.

We would collect sibling at 3/3.30, walk to the swings and the shop, home for about 4.30. 30 mins cartoons, dinner for the kids at 5, then bath and quieter games (jigsaws etc) til bedtime.

Dragonbed · 05/12/2023 07:05

Nap/tv/audiobook
soft play/museum/swimming
friends’ house
craft/toys/books
making dinner

not all on one day obviously!

Original poster
Everyonescoughing · 05/12/2023 07:07

This may be the way forward @Everyonescoughing

Most of my friends from DC1 went back full time, and haven’t had a second. A lot of the things I used to do with DC1 aren’t possible or practical with two.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

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3 year olds 3-6 months old 6-9 months old Babies & sleep
margotrose · 05/12/2023 07:08

Baking
Soft play
Naps
Playing indoors
Go to a cafe or something to kill time

Rosiiee · 05/12/2023 07:09

Afternoons are soooo boring!!! We drag out lunch, we watch Ms Rachel, we sometimes prep for dinner, I try to cuddle him while he runs away…. So.boring. Sometimes I just go for a drive and we hang out at a coffee shop, tesco, walk around M&S without buying anything 🙈

Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 05/12/2023 07:09

Films! As long as we went out in the morning and they got some exercise then cold dark afternoons are for telly.

Original poster
Everyonescoughing · 05/12/2023 07:11

We’re not really at the film stage yet and 12-6 TV is TOO MUCH I’d say to be honest even by most laid back standards … I wouldn’t actually be against a nice drive somewhere but the 3 year old would have a danger nap then, and mess bedtime up!

OP posts:
SoSad44 · 05/12/2023 07:11

Go to a garden centre with Christmas decorations and ideally a fish shop and walk around
defInitely nap!
playdates
play doh
painting
make xmas crafts
baking and decorating (you can drag that out, take a bus to tesco one afternoon, choose sprinkles etc, bake next day)
duplo
library (some have afternoon story times)

Original poster
Everyonescoughing · 05/12/2023 07:12

But I am glad it isn’t just me who finds afternoons a bit of a slog, I’m hoping it will improve in the next six months as danger naps become less risky and the weather improves.

OP posts:
EsmeeMerlin · 05/12/2023 07:13

My two went to a school nursery and went to the afternoon slot. I would then take them to a playgroup in the morning, early lunch and nursery for the afternoon.

Justfinking · 05/12/2023 07:13

Following with interest, I'm starting to struggle with 2.5 yo as they suddenly need much more stimulation. So far we do puzzles, lego, drawing, playdoh but 4 hours til bed is a long time to fill! I also usually cbfed going out in the afternoons (if I do it's a visit to shops or playground)

SoSad44 · 05/12/2023 07:14

Does your 3 year old not nap after lunch? Will a short 15-20nap in thr car really mess up bedtime? My toddler used to love going on busses. Take bus somewhere like local shops and library and your 3 year old is unlikely to fall asleep.

Original poster
Everyonescoughing · 05/12/2023 07:17

No nap - to be honest she hasn’t napped for months in a bed but will nod off in a car. Her sleep has been a lot better since dropping the nap so I don’t really want to reintroduce it even if I thought she’d go for it (she won’t.)

It isn’t so much that a short nap messed bedtime, it’s more once she’s woken from it she’s in an utterly foul mood for the best part of an hour and sometimes longer, so it was a relief when she dropped it. I could try the bus thing, she’s been asking to go on a bus. Just worried about waiting ages for one and getting drenched!

OP posts:
Rjahdhdvd · 05/12/2023 07:19

I had this in lockdown when nothing was open so after lunch while baby napped was an hour “quiet time” where DD could watch TV or play on the tablet or play a game but I got to sit down with a cup of tea and it gave me a “reset” for the afternoon. Mostly that took us through to 2.30 then a mixture of playing, house work that took ages as DD helped and baby just came along, some craft, baking, play doh, some stuff from 5 minute mum.
If it hadn’t been lockdown I think I’d have been tempted to get a monthly pass for a soft play to expend a bit of energy a couple of afternoons a week

StopLickingTheDog · 05/12/2023 07:22

At this time of year, a late afternoon walk (around 4pm) through town before dinner to see the Christmas lights is still a favourite thing to do at 5 years old.

Garden centres are also good for a mooch if they have big Christmas displays.

I'm a big fan of getting kids out in all weather so wrapping everyone up in some decent wet weather gear, wellies on for a walk or trip to the park - maybe to coincide with naptime for baby?

I just had one so swimming was a great time killer on a rubbish day but maybe not possible with two young ones.

Some local attractions may have reasonably priced annual passes or allow repeat visits. At 3ish we spent a lot of time at the local aquarium which was about 40 quid for the year.

hell on earth? soft play?

Original poster
Everyonescoughing · 05/12/2023 07:30

Thanks. Ugh soft play … it’s technically possible but I do find it hard with the baby in tow as DD1 gets stuck or needs help or there’s a row with other kids and I need to intervene. Swimming is brilliant but as you say not really possible with two.

OP posts:
Rosiiee · 05/12/2023 07:31

Soft play would be a nightmare with a 3 yr old and 6 mths old! I find it hard enough with a 7 yr old and a 2 yr old!

SecondUsername4me · 05/12/2023 07:32

Everyonescoughing · 05/12/2023 07:30

Thanks. Ugh soft play … it’s technically possible but I do find it hard with the baby in tow as DD1 gets stuck or needs help or there’s a row with other kids and I need to intervene. Swimming is brilliant but as you say not really possible with two.

Your local council pool may have a creche, so baby could go there and you take the 3yo for a swim once a week.

Bobtheamazinggingerdog · 05/12/2023 07:33

12-6 telly would be too much - but mine didn't pay solid attention to it. I would put the telly on and get out books, pens, cars etc and he would just potter for hours. Maybe not 6, that's a bit ambitious, but you can probably stretch out the morning activity longer and also lunch is an activity that should take some of that time!

spriots · 05/12/2023 07:34

Try Cosmic kids yoga (YouTube)

Totally mad but get the wiggles out

Givealittlebit · 05/12/2023 07:34

Get out for some fresh air/a walk, even if it's 10 mins wrapped up jumping in puddles.

Then a bath 😂 an afternoon bath was my saviour many a time when my eldest 2 were both little. Drag it out as long as you like. If you've got the tolerance for less than bath crayons etc are all fab and can be switched in and out to vary the baths up.

Givealittlebit · 05/12/2023 07:35

Then after the baths wrap up in a towel, hot chocolate or warm milk and tv/film whilst you cook dinner

LinguisticallyCunning · 05/12/2023 07:36

TV? Reading stories? Playing with toys?

I don't understand this obsession with constantly being out and doing things; What's wrong with just staying in the house and letting your dc play and use their imagination by while you sit and have a brew?

WhatNoRaisins · 05/12/2023 07:37

I try a longish lunch, then some easy indoor activities like colouring or jigsaw or Duplo, I've never been keen on things that take more than twice as long to set up than they last. Maybe read them some books and have a quick kitchen disco and then I set a time in my head for when I'll resort to TV.

What's really difficult is if you have to try and stretch these things to cover an entire day in.

Stress101 · 05/12/2023 07:45

When mine were that age

TV
All the toys out
Dress up
Colouring
Park
Shopping centre
Walks
Library
Visit family

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