Do kids get bored doing the same thing every day?

[Blahblahblaaaah]

I’ve run out of inspiration and I’m resorting to soft play every day. I don’t know if they mind or not. Just wondering what others think.

Thanks. @xxxjanxxx I am not totally clear what you mean but I think you mean, I a, fed up with my children, I take them to soft play because of it and they play up? I don’t think that’s the case. In the house, the baby demands my attention, which I can’t give to DS and as a result he becomes bored and sometimes destructive. DS is fine in the house on his own; baby is fine in the house on her own. But combined oh my life,

Personally I do think it is good to get out even if it is just to a little soft play centre or to a library or park. I do work so when it’s my days off they do revolve around the children, and in theory now that spring is here it would be lovely to be spending time at the park, adventure playgrounds, farms, feeding ducks and so on. Realistically though it has been very very wet which makes going out with a pram difficult.

I have no wish to offend but when you’re doing a fairly harmless if mundane activity a few times and idly wonder if the kids will get fed up with it it is a bit annoying to get finger waggy posts about baking and painting <shudder> and being told it’s good for children to be bored and so on.

I totally get where you're coming from @Blahblahblaaaah I had the same with my 2 children and the age gap - and it can be brutal.

And so do PP - they haven't been criticising you, but have been trying to help you through it and make it easier for you. And it's true that sometimes home-based activities can work. ( even cleaning - if you can find the right approach - make them feel really important for helping ) (now I'm sounding patronising, sorry! 😬)

So, to answer your question - just do what you can do. It's what we all do (even when we think it's not perfect!) 🫣😂

I was going to write a different response before I read that your DC were 3.5yo and 9mo. I had a similar age gap and that was my hardest stage by FAR... I felt like I couldn't take them anywhere calm (cafe, library, even church playgroups) because the baby was a non-sleeping screaming nightmare at that age, eldest was just starting to have tantrums for the first time in his life... so we basically lived at the playground down the road and soft play. Luckily, our local soft play was very cheap (£2 for under 3s (and DS v much looked under 3), free for under 1s). Also staying at home was an over-stimulating nightmare with all the noise contained in the house. I actually hate soft play but it was a haven for us at the time. As things started to feel easier we started venturing further to nature reserves, bigger playgrounds/parks, forest school sessions, into town for coffee dates (always in takeaway cups so we could leave quickly if needed and move to a bench or under a tree). Go easy on yourself!

I always loved building a den or tents in the house when it was raining
dining chairs, bed sheets etc

I didn’t like crafts etc but would spend hours in a homemade living room tent doing things I didn’t normally do

As anyone who has had to sit through Toy Story 21 times can tell you. No they don't get bored of the same thing.

Mine are 9 and 7 now and I’m so pleased I encouraged low key activities at home and time occupying themselves. I started doing this when they were older babies.

I found that the baby would be happy to be occupied with their toys near to where the older child was playing so your focus could be on what the 3 year old is doing.

@1AngelicFruitCake its hard not to read things like that as a bit of a dig, to be honest, whether or not you meant it that way.

I didn’t find I particularly enjoyed being in the house with DS in the sort of 18 month - 2.5 year stage. Nothing occupied his attention for any length of time, any activities we did do were frankly more trouble than they were worth. Since being about two and a half he’s been more able to occupy himself with toys and role play and so on. Unfortunately this was the age I had another baby.

DS on his own is fine. DD on her own is fine. Together they are ver sweet but there’s some rivalry / jealousy which is normal. DD also can’t crawl yet so she will bat a toy away from herself and whinge until you give it back again repeat several times; DS constantly decides he wants whatever she’s got or gives her huge hugs that nearly smother her . All in all it’s healthy for everyone to go out for a bit every day. That works for us. Obviously what you did / do works for you.

Hi it sounds like you’re doing a great job. I didn’t mean to come across like I was making a dig although I read it back and cringed at how smug it sounded! What I meant was I was given advice to do that, wasn’t easy at the time and there were many times it didn’t work, there were tears (theirs and mine!) but now they’re older I can see trying it was worth it overall. Hope that I come across as I intended to do this time!

When they’re this young it can be about surviving and we all find our own way. I was too tight to pay for lots of soft play but you sound like that works for you and that’s the most important thing.

Ok, I have a profoundly autistic DS so fuck crafts and soft play and staying indoors also. Here is what actually works for us:

• YouTube. Films are too long - you want the short, colourful, mind-bogglingly annoying shit. The wiggles, baby shark etc.
• going to the car wash, with bonus points for drive through McDonald’s if there’s one near you.
• IKEA. It’s a godsend. Like soft play but free.
• Supermarkets - stick kids in trolley, print off a picture based list and get the 3 year old to “help”. Provided both kids are ok in the car, pick a supermarket that’s a bit further away to kill extra time on the journey.

Thanks @1AngelicFruitCake . Sorry for taking that so personally!

Normal servicevish is resumed here. They did play nicely and independently sort of after breakfast but were off to a group now. I can’t expect them to do that all day and I don’t think the lack of adult interaction would do me any good either.

Thank goodness Easter holidays have finished, even though mine still have another week. Normal service in most child places has resumed!

you don’t need to apologise 😊it is relentless when they are young x

I wish! Mine aren't back till next week 😭

Mine go back on the 15th but softplay etc is back to normal pricing and toddler groups are all back on