Advice for what to do with 7, 4 and newborn

[Scarynumbers]

Hello, I just had our third baby and with the Christmas holidays around the corner I'm looking for advice on what to do with the older two and how to balance it all.

for background, the pregnancy wasn't the easiest and I had anaemia, and over the summer holidays we fell into a habit of using screens a lot with the kids playing on Minecraft or watching a lot of tv. We would go out but would spend at least 2-3hrs on screens a day too.

since being back at school, screens have been limited to weekends only and maybe 30 mins after school.

So, I would love advice on things to do with the older kids and newborn in tow, and how to avoid screens both generally and over the Christmas holidays. The kids do afterschool clubs, swimming/dance/football etc over the weekend so they do get out but if they aren't on screens over the weekend they can't seem to entertain themselves. I'm not a crafty ideas type of mum but would love to do something we can all get involved in and bond over.

thank you

I'm only pregnant on #3 but this Sunday was on my own- my 2 are both demanding my attention lots at the mo. Set 2 and 5 yo up at opposite ends of the table with slightly harder jigsaw puzzles (more pieces than they've done alone) and I sat between and helped both and drank my coffee :) I'd say I got 40 mins out of it but it was a peaceful 40.

Congratulations on your new arrival!

What kind of things do your older two like doing? I’m sure that by the Christmas holidays, you’ll just be able to drag baby along to stuff that you and they want to do! Stick baby in a sling and just bring them along for the ride.

I don’t have to consider a 7yo, but mine are 4, 2 and 6m so we have been using this strategy a lot. Christmas holiday ideas could be going to see a play or panto, Christmas market? Or home stuff like baking or Lego or puzzles or planting stuff in the garden? Make the most of it whilst you can! I am expecting next year to be a bit trickier when baby is more mobile and less asleep and has to be properly factored into the plans.

Colouring books
simple board games
jigsaws

what toys do they have? If you put the tablets away and get out the toys they will play with them.

Divide and conquer is always my motto. Take 7 yr old to cinema, or park or wherever. 4yr old and baby stay home. Then plan for a reverse and DP takes eldest somewhere while you stay home. Same for 4yr old. Then change it up and maybe take baby and 4yr old to a soft play while 7 yr watches a big kid movie or does a painting project or watches the soccer etc. Keep planning different combos. I think kids really tire of the sibling dynamic 24/7. A baby is tough on 4 yr old but the 7yr old also probably has to spend much more time entertaining the 4yr old too since baby came along and might find it hard and feel it goes unnoticed.

Board games and card games - loads of options that should work for both those ages: Uno, Snap, Dobble, Happy Families, the memory/pairs game, Ludo, Orchard Games, dominoes, Four in a Row....
Reading aloud while baby feeds
Christmas crafts (don't have to be complicated - just making a few snowman cards for grandparents with cotton wool or whatever)
Museums are usually good for different ages
Bake gingerbread men
Winter walk with bikes/scooters/baby in sling and stop for hot chocolate on the way home (or take baby in pram and let them take turns pushing it while that's still a novelty!)
Lego kits or jigsaws with you sitting nearby feeding baby and able to chat and help where necessary

I have similar ages and the baby just comes along wherever the older ones want to go. We prefer going out as a family rather than one parent taking one child out, it means the older 2 have each other for company and there's always another adult to hand for toilet trips etc. We do playgrounds, NT houses, kids theatre, soft plays, trampoline parks, swimming, farms, museums, galleries, tourist attractions, theme parks, kids cinema, Christmas lights/markets, craft workshops. I find it's easier to avoid screens if we leave the house, and the 4yo especially needs to burn off energy.
Just see what is on in your local area, there are tons of family activities organised between now and Christmas.