to wonder what on earth to do with my toddler at weekends?

[Crazycatlady]

OK, so we've just come back from a week in St Ives where is was dead easy to keep DD (20 months) entertained. Plenty of fresh air, the beach, paddling, space to run, wildlife to explore etc...

Back in London and she's tantruming and miserable. Our house is small and has a garden the size of a car. She hates it. Am totally depressed by tossing a coin to decide which London park we'll wade through ten tons of litter to walk to, all the while breathing in the sweet aroma of traffic fumes and KFC, to arrive and have her tantrum at the playground because it's so packed with kids she can't get near the swings.

Am desperate for ideas of what to do with her at the weekends within easy striking distance of home. We live in SW16 and have done all the local parks to death. And Lido season is over. She's bored, we're bored. So far on my list I have Horniman Museum...Help!

Science museum? I know there's not a lot she can "do", but plenty to look at.

Not sure how far away from you that is though.

It's about half an hour away bearing in mind traffic, and a good idea!

I haven't done the big museums for years as they're always so busy but early morning might be ok. Maybe better now summer is drawing in.

I know that feeling and I live nowhere near London so have nothing like the range of activities available. Doesn't help that DH works most Saturdays.

What about the local library?

DS (21 months) is often happiest when he has other children to play with. Do you have any other families you can get together with at the weekend?

We've just moved, and I'm starting from scratch at meeting new people here.

I've being trying to arrange a local meet via mumsnet, but not having a lot of sucess so far (think it's because it's not a big town, not so many of us here).

I have to admit I've also started using the dark side netmums as a way to meet people with little ones and it's actually been really good. Have a look at their "meet a mum" notice board for your area (under "local boards" , and see if anyone seems like your kind of person / has kids about the right age for your DD to enjoy playing with.

I met a really nice woman the same age as me, with a DS the same age as mine at the weekend - the boys had loads of fun, and I met a really interesting lady, and had some great cake too, mmm. We've arranged to meet up again. I've got two more "mum dates" as DP calls them, lined up with two women who sound lovely.

Sorry that came out as a bit of an essay but hope it helps!

Oh gosh, coping alone is even worse! Rugby season has started and DH will be wanting to play some Saturdays, you've just reminded me...

DD went to the library with her nanny a couple of weeks ago and the building has rather good acoustics, so DD revelled in shouting and shrieking at the top of her voice! It's also fairly small and opens out straight onto Streatham High Road, and she's always trying to escape out the front door which is huge fun for her but I can't handle the stress.

Maybe it's just an impossible age?

I'm just craving a beach or a garden big enough to keep her entertained I guess .

p.s. yes we know lots of other local families, we spend a lot of time with them during the week so was hoping for 'family time' type ideas...

Swimming - there's another good one. We can't take her to public pools as the chlorine doesn't agree with her eczema but our gym has one of those UV cleaned pools.

3 ideas so far, brilliant {grin]

Swimming - I found that not only does it fill a morning/afternoon by the time you've got there, changed, splashed around then changed and got home, it also usually tires them out so they usally eat & sleep well afterwards!

Build her a den in the living room, it always keeps my DDs cheerful and occupied, especially if they can have a 'picnic' in it!

Sorry, crossed posts!

How much do the open top bus tours cost? Perhaps that might amuse her and you can hop on and off IIRC.

I sympathise though, it is hard to think of stuff to do - we live by the sea so lucky to have the beach, but I'd love to have a duckpond and genuinely can't think of one nearer than about 20 miles away (damn seagulls).

Good point though 2ticks!

Does the den thing really keep them occupied for long? A tent in the garden worked for about 5 minutes before DD was crying to come back into the house and escape out the front door .

Oh god, I'm really bad at this. Last winter was so easy as she was small still, and not walking, so we could just head off to the pub with our friends and their little ones, they'd all sit together and read/play nicely while we stuffed down a Sunday roast and relaxed over a glass of wine. This winter, I'm feeling the need to be very prepared and plan activities or we're all going to go mad...

Play doh always keeps my ds entertained for an hour or so (and same amount of time for me to clean it up afterwards )

What about the Aquarium? It's not free I know but maybe as a one off?

I suppose coming up to Christmas there will be lots of things you can take her to, especially in London.

I don't know floot, never been on one.

I'm one of those awful Londoners who is a bit of a touristophobe and I can't stand crowds, so we tend to steer clear of the centre of town at weekends.

Oh for a beach...

my 3yr old loved the natural history museum when we were down in London this year. Also art galleries can be fun if you go and look for things in the pictures - animals, flowers, boats etc.

TSC - of course, Borough Market! We normally do butchers, grocers etc at the weekend but the market would be fun and there's Roast to go to for brekkie too.

Playdoh, 'cooking', all brilliant ideas. Feeling much less downbeat now, thank you.

How long would it take you on the train to get to a beach or more rural location?

We live in Kent and it takes under an hour to get to central London by train.

It would take about 2 hrs to get to the nearest beach, or over an hour to get somewhere green. Traffic and weekend engineering works make it so thoroughly depressing to try and travel anywhere that we don't bother.

TBH, I'm struggling to find enthusiasm because I've just had enough of London life, and we're planning to move, but need to keep DD happy and not go insane in the meantime.

I know London is a wonderful place but I find the crowds, traffic, transport, dirt and cost of everything just a little too much to bear with a toddler in tow.

What about Kew Gardens? If the weather's good then there are plenty of walks - if not then they have a an indoor play area.

Kew looks quite good actually, even for an under 3. It would take an hour to get there in weekend traffic, and is £14 each to get in but I will add it to the list for when we're feeling flush!

Softplay
I take DS (aged 2) to an Aquarium shop/Garden Centre/Pets at home as he likes to look at the animals and it's free.
He loves farms
We have an art box and do painting, play doh, fuzzy felt etc
Swimming
The park

Think that is pretty much our entire repertoire. I too am dreading winter as some of best weekends have just been getting the paddling pool put when weather been good.

We used to take the DC to garden centres at the weekend when they were toddlers. Often, there's a pets or fish section which they would enjoy looking at.

I don't think there are any garden centres in London! There are small nurseries, there's one up the road, but not enough to keep a toddler entertained. It's just a yard with a few plants really.

That does explain though why I have memories of numerous weekends at garden centres as a child being herded round the pets section. My poor parents...