...to ask for your 'Can I please just have 10 minutes to myself!' tips?

[user1485182339]

I'd love to collate them together. I need more. Please help.
My standby this last month has been to tip half a packet of flour onto the floor and just let them at it until they get bored. That way it is already on the floor so you don't have the added stress of watching as it falls onto the floor, thus leaving you with two surfaces to clean. I so very much hate mess that multiplies too much. It takes zero preparation too, which is a plus, and if you have a handheld vacuum they can do the initial cleaning themselves.
Stats: Flour on Floor
Minutes of peace (average): 7 to 15
Prep time: 0
Cleaning time: negligible (unless water gets involved).
Repercussions: Children somewhat white in places for remainder of day.
Downsides: Water involvement; potential flour tracking through rest of house or onto toys; nothing to bake those cupcakes with for the nursery bake sale tonight at 10pm when you remember...

[AmyGardner]

Exactly! And when DH comes home you get to hand the kids over and go 'I'm off running. See you in an hour!'

[SnugglySnerd]

Just thought of another. Clothes pegs and lots of cushions, curtains etc to peg them to.

[SnugglySnerd]

Fill the kitchen sink (or a washing up bowl if they can't reach) with very bubbly water and various containers to wash up/pour. If you stick an old towel down first there isn't much mess.
Send them round the garden with a plant spray full of water.
Go for a walk and collect lots of acorns, conkers etc. On returning home they can stick them into play dough to make little models/prints etc. My 3 yo is just into her 2nd play dough session today!

[user1485182339]

And, take up running

To get away from their mess and whining faster?

[Puppymouse]

Not ideal for bad weather but fill a bucket with water and suds and give them a clean paintbrush. Ask them to "paint" the house 😁

[BikeRunSki]

Sink or bath of soapy water and an egg whisk.

[BalloonSlayer]

By "Fridge magnets" I meant a pack of those alphabet ones used for writing rude words on the Fridge rather than the magnets holding on important stuff.

[QuilliamCakespeare]

I had a 3.5 yr old and an 8 month old. These are my favourites...

1. Put some cushions in the bottom of a dry bath (baby is a total bull in a china shop and will break himself otherwise) and dump a bag of coloured plastic balls into it. This is my go-to at the end of the day when it's too early for bedtime - 15 mins of peace.

1. Fill a dish with washing up bubbles and let the pre-schooler wash his toy cars - 15-20 mins of peace

1. Letting them watch YouTube on the TV while I troff a Twirl.

[deadringer]

Foxglove I was just coming on to say that when we were little and my mum wanted 5 minutes to herself she would give us old newspapers and we would sit for ages ripping them into tiny pieces. An empty bath sounds like a good idea too. Maybe pop them in with a small basin of water and some plastic dishes to 'wash'. I have to be honest I would just stick them in front of the TV for a bit.

[skukuza]

Get an old Tupperware tub/ice cream tub. Put a few toys in like toy cars or plastic animals. Pour water in and freeze it. They then have to 'excavate' the toys out of the ice with a kiddie hammer.

[AmyGardner]

Give them a pack of baby wipes and tell them their VERY important job is to clean everything.

And, take up running.

[user1496587010]

A bowl of water & plastic animals to 'wash' they do get wet but we do it in pj's before they get dressed so once finished dry clothes put on & pj's on radiator.

Minutes of peace - 15-30
Prep - negligible
Cleaning: wipe up water with cloth - 2 mins
Repercussions - you have to get them dressed but you do anyway. Wet pj's but they dry before bedtime. Bonus points if they need a new pair & can be chucked in washing.

[WaxyBean]

Water and a paint brush in the garden is another - much painting of fences and patio!

[WaxyBean]

Dried beans or lentils plus a selection of kitchen equipment goes down well here. Plus a dustpan for Them to attempt cleaning up after. Or garden chalks or the hose but plan for an immediate bath after those activities.

[Thetruthfairy]

Contents of the paper and plastic recycling to make junk models.
Cardboard boxes of different sizes.
I get out and store toys on rotation so they don't get too bored with what they have.
Get them out- I get the most peace when we are in the garden and I can sit and watch them.

[DavidPuddy]

Collect jar lids, the more diverse the better, and a couble of tubs. This keeps my 20 month old occupied for at least 20 minutes. Yes, you have to collect them over a period of time, but it has been worth it. I keep them hidden and bring them out only for emergency situations.

[LannieDuck]

A sheet of stickers each (with the negative space pre-removed), and a cupboard you don't mind them sticking things on. Or their kiddie-chairs, or their bed etc.

[Inthecornerwatchingyoukissher]

I'm taking notes from this thread. Dd has a very short attention span.

[QueenUnicorn]

I often do this with rice, I put dry rice in a deep tray and throw in some diggers or dinosaurs for good measure.

Stats: Rice in tray
Minutes of peace (average): 10-25
Prep time: 1
Cleaning time: so-so, it's not too bad to clean up as long as kids don't throw it
Repercussions: none as of yet...

[Ahardmanisgoodtofind]

Assuming you have hard floors,chalk(chunky garden chalk,outside if it's dry). Mine draw roads and things on the floor and then use toy cars houses and such to make towns.they get damp cloths to wipe up after then quick wizz with a mop to get the bits they missed.
Minutes peace:30+
Prep:0
Clean up: 2

[Marzipants]

A toilet roll or kitchen roll. They think they're Andrex puppies but it buys me a little bit of quiet.

[user1485182339]

But the fridge magnets hold things up on the fridge. What do you do with those things? They will need to be reorganised, put back, and once the kids know it's okay to play with fridge magnets they will just remove them willy-nilly and everything will tumble to the floor and my week will be ruined!
It's strange how one gets frustrated about different things. The idea of having to spend time drawing a bath, undressing, drying, putting clothes back on, etc is frightening. And then you have the added hassle of an extra nappy change, rinsing out the bath, and having to supervise to make sure one doesn't drown the other or turn on the hot water tap with suddenly acquired superhuman strength.
Prep work is my nemesis. Prep time HAS to be less than occupation time.

[SonicHedgehog]

iPad could keep my 2.5 year old occupied all day if I let her.

[BalloonSlayer]

When they start clattering around in the saucepan and baking tray cupboard, getting them all out etc give them some fridge magnets to play with as well.

Do remember to remove all of them before cooking. I might have got 10 minutes peace but I lost more than 10 minutes puzzling at what the primary coloured lump of molten gunge that had "suddenly appeared" in my hot oven was. Duh!