To not get more toys out 20 minutes before tea time?

[slatternlymother]

DS (2.6) clearly thinks I am. I told him he couldn't play football indoors or get stickers out because it's 20 minutes until tea time, and he can either play with his kitchen or amuse himself in his room.

He's stomped off to play in his room.

Clearly, I am a horrible mother...

But AIBU?

20 minutes till tea time is a long time for a 2 year old to play and get bored with any given toy.

Personally I'd be -making- encouraging my child to tidy up if it's nearly tea time. If it's already tidy would have no problem with football or stickers - neither of which will make huge mess.

20 minutes is a long time at 2

We have a rule that before tea is served most toys need to be put away which works well

agree with RedSky.

20 minutes is plenty of time to play with stickers.

But presumably he can play with anything he likes in his room? So he's not going to be bored..

Can he not just paly with the stickers in his room?

Trouble is, "only 20 minutes" means nothing to a 2.6 year old. You might as well have said "only 15 years ". I'd say "no more toys because as soon as you've tidied up, it will be teatime".

Well what mum says goes doesn't it? Let him stomp.

Football? Indoors?!

I know, he found a ball from somewhere and decided that he was going use the French doors as a goal. Or would've done, had I not stopped him

Stickers are fine, but he can't get them off the backing paper himself and usually needs help; I was cooking his tea and didnt have the time to dedicate to it tbh.

He was fine in the end, he didnt have a tantrum, more of a teenager style strop/moody on

anyone that's a better way of putting it, I think I'll use that next time instead of a measure of time.