Overtired 4 year old....help!!!

[DoloresDoors]

After lots of visiting people over Christmas and Twixtmas my 4 year old DD is now incredibly overtired. I have cancelled our plans this PM (we did soft play this AM) but she's a crazy ball of grumpiness and doesn't know what to do with herself. There's zero chance of a nap unfortunately (I'd LOVE one!)

Does anyone please have any ideas on restful activities so we can help her get back to normal? Currently we are trying painting and listening to music but she's grumpy and on the verge of a meltdown (after having several already). She's a TV addict but the stuff she watches overstimulates her rather than chilling her out so I'm trying to avoid for now. Ideas for relaxing things to watch on TV are also appreciated as maybe that's the only solution!

Basically please help me help her to chill out! I am clueless!

Can you stretch out alongside her on the bed and read her a story? A long one? She might drop off, and you might too!

Would reading her a story help? Or doing a simple jigsaw puzzle? Or getting some fresh air? Or getting paper and crayons out?

I wd recommend buying a cheap headphone splitter off of Amazon. U can then listen to the same audiobook together (more of a joint experience) and curl up somewhere cosy and quiet. Who knows- u might even get some extra sleep 😃

Thanks so much for the ideas!

I was trying to avoid reading a long story aloud due to extreme laziness but an audiobook sounds genius @ClydeBank !!

Would she crash out for a bit if you went out in the car somewhere?

What about some classical music or something? We put it on when DS - also 4 - needs to chill out a bit.

Paper dolls?
Make a hut with blankets and chairs - give her a pillow and favourite soft toy. A torch. Maybe she will drop off?

In similar situations we deploy a long daytime bath, sometimes with plastic containers from the recycling bin to add a bit of novelty