Quickly, tell me what the heck I can do with 3 kids under 3...

[JaxingJump]

That won't leave me stressed and in tears. Hoping to go for a coffee with inlaws but beyond that can't think. I can't stay in the house today with the 2 and 3 yr old killing each other and saying mummy 50 million times again. What activities are safe and not fecking freezing cold to do? I usually do some soft play but would love any other ideas. God I wish they'd sit in a cafe for 30mins even. That would be a treat! People's houses is the best but it's hard to impose on people on the weekend with 3 tornados.

Ulster Museum is free for everyone :)

Not library - you have to be utterly quiet in there so not a place for 3 under 3. When we had 3 under 4 (hardest stage of our entire lives) I suppose going out with wellingtons on to the park even in the rain was one option. Fresh air even in winter is really good for us all. However it's cold. Local swimming baths BUT these days they are silly rules that you need one adult per tiny child which is ridiculous (in England anyway).

Sounds like the easiest option for you would be giving the 3 children for 2 hours to the in laws whilst you go to the coffee shop for an hour with the newspapers on your own (I jest not). I bet the in laws would like to have the children alone too.

Outdoors definitely. Fresh air and running around. Take a flask of hot choc if it helps.
Hopefully they'll be calmer for the rest of the day.

some libraries are more child friendly than others clearly, I've never had a problem with kids in libraries so I'd assumed the days of having to be quiet were behind us. In the city I used to live in they even had a slide in our local library and if they have a slide they have completely ruled out quiet children! I live in England though.

Ulster Museum-

Admission prices
Single Museum Ticket Transport OR Folk Both Museums Ticket
Job Seekers Free Free
Family Pass (2 adults and up to 3 children) £25.00 £29.00
Family Pass (1 adult and up to 3 children) £19.00 £22.00
Children age 4 and under Free Free

We usually go to Shaw's bridge at the weekend-playpark and/or Lockkeepers after a walk. There is a good Gruffalo trail at Colin Glen also, and a cafe. Stormont park is good too, good coffee van and Maccy Ds nearby

Mindtrope that's the Folk and Transport Museums, the Ulster Museum is free in.

Some of us go to the library to read in absolute silence away from children actually.... but I am not against libraries having a once a week noisy session where librarians read to children.

If, by now, you've done the outside/ letting off steam/ running around etc., and are back at home:

1. Raid toy collection for (size-appropriate/ indoors-friendly, lightweight) balls

1. Cover each one with masking tape, sticky side facing outwards

1. Novelty distraction! Great fun placing/ rolling/ throwing them to stick on themselves/ clothes/ (or more challenging, container targets...buckets/ bowls/ laundry basket etc...for the 3 yr old)

Disclaimer : Obviously prevent them from using faces or each other's hair...

W5? Zoo? Parks? Vertigo?

Best thing I ever did was join a health club. Mines a virgin active. Kids can bounce around in the Creche or softplay safely (they can't run away or get stolen or lost) and you can make new friends and do a few classes or go for a swim.

www.virginactive.co.uk/clubs/belfast/families
You do have one in Belfast. Join. Join join. Or at least go and have a look and see that I mean!

but any museums with suitable areas to run in?

NO! Unless it's a children's museum with areas designed for this, museums are NOT playgrounds or track fields!