To put cartoons on pretty much all day for preschoolers?

[goteam]

I don't. For a start they lose interest quickly but entertaining my 2 and 5 year old from 7 am until 5 pm is impossible. There is nothing they both like to do and on days like today when I've had 4 hours sleep thanks to 2 year old I really feel like putting CBeebies on all day...they fight like cat and dog too, ruining each others games etc....

Any tips?

Sometimes if needs must, if you are exhausted and have only had 4 hours sleep, switch on the telly, make yourself a tea and have a bit of a rest whilst they watch tv. You cannot entertain kids every minute of the day.

Maybe not helpful today but if they argue a lot then making sure there are plenty of resources is a must. I wouldn't have them share paints. I'd get them a little palette each that are the same and plenty of reminders for the younger one which one is hers. And have the other one slightly out of reach.

Mine are same age. We still go to playgroups, library singing, cheapo softplay. Big one a bit big for some of that but never mind. They are actually very good pals and play beautifully together for an hour or so at a time. But we still need out. I often make a packed lunch and head out about 10. Any luck and at least one will drop off on the way home and from 4pm it's paw patrol central round here

Sorry didnt explain that well. I meant they play nicely but if left to it too long it's war so we go out (

Is your 5 year old not at school?

Put them in the bath if you have one.

I should say, I have a few friends with a 2 year age gap in kids but they are a bit mellower, happy to sit and play alone and crucially, sleep well. Think my two are just really energetic. 4 year old also v ready for school. Talks about it all the time and has to wait until September...

Real Poo, they have separate paints but 2 year old just grabs 4 year olds. Seriously, his mission in life is to annoy her!

Munchkin, we do stay and play sometimes but some days I'm too tired! The kids seem to have a pattern of playing ok from 9.30-10.30 which is when classes start. I'm loathe to interrupt it and lose my opportunity for a coffee in peace! An hour a day is their maximum of playing nice at the moment....

I think maybe you need to sit in the middle and physically block him from grabbing and redirect to his own paints until he gets the message. I think it's hard for the elder sibling for the first few years when there's a small age gap as they're still little themselves. I have the same gap with mine. Once the youngest is about 3 it gets a lot easier I think.

They need to be out burning off energy - park, softplay, or something like a petting zoo is always a good option.

Can you put on a kids dance video and let them jump around for a bit if going out is too overwhelming?

A day of TV occasionally is fine but not great as a permanent arrangement.

Oh watch the telly. Ignore all the suggestions of baking and crafts. FFS. When you are exhausted it is actually okay to rest. Needs must.

Thanks Trifle, what I need to hear! As I say, they have limited attention span with tv anyway but would love to just stick it on when I'm so tired.

Thanks Hermione. I agree with those options and know they need to burn off energy but really hard when I have none!

Ach just stick the bloodymtelly on and put your feet up. I have four kids under 7 including a permanently attached newborn. My kids watch a LOT of telly at the moment.

One thing I find keeps all my kids entertained is to run a sink full of hit water with lots and lots of suds on the top. Scrape off the suds and stick them in a washing up bowl on the kitchen floor with a couple,of cups, a tea towel and an wooden spoon. Tell them it's a car wash and they have to 'clean' all their toy cars.Minimal mess, maximum fun and they only need refilling every 20 mins or so.

hot water

The real poo, thanks. I know it will get easier when they're 3 and 5 (6 months, not counting down! Honestly!) not least because they'll be in school / pre school 9-3 and I'll only have 2 hours each side of that to entertain them alone. It's the ten bloody hour days...

Kiddie Zumba videos on YouTube?

Janice, the car wash is a bloody brilliant idea!

I stick the telly on at random boring moments in the day, I've taken them out, been to the park, made a cake with them, played games with them, I am bloody exhausted so on goes the Tv. My son who is 5, is just a live wire who just cannot entertain himself for long periods, always wanting to do this or that. My sighted who is 10 and has ASD, is happy to entertain herself. If she's done with that, on goes Foodnetwork, which she loves.

Agree with Trifle

Don't feel guilty. It's hard to motivate yourself to do exciting things when you're exhausted.

They'll be fine

Just stick the TV on, it won't do them ANY harm. The TV is always on here, I need the background noise. 50% of the time it's children's tv for DD.

Stinking head cold here, can't breathe, no sleep, all 3 of my DC were up before 6am. As soon as I was back from the school run, I flopped with the toddler and an hour or so of Thomas DVD! TV is just one of our comforts. Baking is another but can't face the extra washing up today!

Loving the car wash idea Janice - I am going to use that!

You've mentioned it a few times OP but what's with the lack of sleep? Is your 2 year old having problems?

Maybe post in 'sleep' (or here) to see if you can get that a bit more sorted? Feeling exhausted is shit....you have my sympathy x

It's fine! They are in nursery 3 days a week which involves non stop activities and socialising (and no TV) so it is fine to chill a bit on the other days. Don't feel guilty they probably enjoy snuggling up with you on the sofa and not doing anything for a change.

Do you have any friends with kids that you can arrange to meet up with? I always find meeting other people with children kept mine entertained and meant I got some adult company at the same time.

Poor your snickers.

I should say that I get 4 - 5 hours a sleep most nights as of the last few months so this need to put the tv on all day isn't exactly a one off. Hopefully the poor sleep (2 yr old) is another phase...

Caramel, all the friends I made when 4 year old was a baby had them slightly earlier so they're all at school! Still catch up at weekends. Didn't have time to make new mum friends when 2 yr old was born. Some of those friends now have 2 year olds too so we occasionally catch up but too tired to make conversation today...