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!

We're heading for Dorset. Probably somewhere between the coast and the New Forest. I initially thought of Brighton too but I really want a sandy beach and pebbles just don't do it for me. Plus DH isn't keen as he would like to be somewhere more rural.

I think it's going to take a while though. We've put the house on the market and if we get an offer in the next month and can complete by Christmas then great, otherwise we'll be staying put until after this baby arrives and then trying again early next year.

Suffolk is lovely. My grandmother lives in Saxmundham, it's beautiful round there.

Oh yes, I know Saxmundham - and Dorset well, especially the Isle of Purbeck, which I love - but it's too far from Suffolk/northern family for us. Best ofl luck with the house sale, I'm not looking forward to that bit...

Have you been to the Toy Museum in Bethnal Green? Im useless with London so have no idea if thats completely the wrong side of London but its fantastic and completely free!

She's probably a bit too young to appreciate some of the stuff (we took DS 5 in the summer and he spent about an hour watching the Hornby trains!) but theres loads of stuff to look at and play with...Me and DH had great fun looking at all the old toys we used to have!!

Transport Musuem is also fantastic...DS loves pretending to drive the buses/trains!

OMG are you serious? I could understand if you lived in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do! but you live in the capital, there are parks, museums, galleries, swimming pools, zoos, city farms,soft play trains,cinemas, theatres, bus rides, pet shops, and I am sure an endless supply of mother and toddler groups, libraries,story times, music groups,events and child friendly schemes going on. That doesnt even touch on things you can do at home where you can do all sorts of; messy play(painting,crafts,dressing up,baking, helping mummy around the house,playing shops,playdough)making tents, having friends over to play, hide and seek.

I hope that you manage to find more things to do?! I do think you may want to rethink moving from London if your struggling to find things to do there though

OMG are you serious? I could understand if you lived in the middle of nowhere with nothing to do! but you live in the capital, there are parks, museums, galleries, swimming pools, zoos, city farms,soft play trains,cinemas, theatres, bus rides, pet shops, and I am sure an endless supply of mother and toddler groups, libraries,story times, music groups,events and child friendly schemes going on. That doesnt even touch on things you can do at home where you can do all sorts of; messy play(painting,crafts,dressing up,baking, helping mummy around the house,playing shops,playdough)making tents, having friends over to play, hide and seek.

I hope that you manage to find more things to do?! I do think you may want to rethink moving from London if your struggling to find things to do there though

Hello,

I haven't read everything but here's my penn'orth for toddler entertaining, having done it with three.

1. Water play. Good weather - big washing up bowl or one of those squashy bucket things with handles and a range of things to see if they float/sink. Only need a patio.

Bad weather - in the bath. Blow bubbles, use empty baby wash/shampoo bubbles as toys.

Variation: washing up. Fill sink or washing up bowl with bubbles and plastic stuff to wash up with a washing up brush.

1. Cooking. I've made cookies with toddlers, and they love cutting out shapes. Also washing veg is a big hit.

1. Painting. Buy a big roll of lining paper for a couple of quid and some big bottles of poster paint. Roll out a length of paper on the ground if outside or on a table or floor if you can wash it. If you are feeling brave you can do foot prints but if not use hands or big brushes/rollers. Have sequins and glitter to hand. These are massively popular with relations.

Variation: veg/fruit prints, leaf prints.

1. Parties. My dc used to have endless birthday parties for their cuddlies and dolls. You can combine this with lunch. Essential is a fairy cake with a candle.

Variation: picnic. On the living room floor if need be.

May be well of topic by now but HTH.

kitcat if you've read the whole thread you'll know what the issues are that we're having. Your post wasn't very helpful really, but thanks to everyone else for some lovely ideas and for really cheering me up.