The not take dcs anywhere much today?

[RunningOverTheSameOldGround]

They are 6mo and 3.5yo.

It’s due to rain here all day (yay)! Dc1 is a bundle of energy, so I usually plan outdoor stuff or soft play, but I point blank refuse to go through soft play with a baby and preschooler during school holidays .

My plan today is to tidy up (dc1 likes helping), bake and then put on wet weather gear for a walk round the block. This will take about 20mins - half an hour at our pace. More if we do the big block.

This is an unacceptable plan according to dc1. So AIBU?

Fwiw, dc1 goes to nursery two days a week and has just had an entertainment packed weekend away last weekend, followed by some nice activities on days not at nursery this week. So definitely not starved of entertainment!

We are having a "day off" today. Everyone needs dome down time!

We are on our 4th youtube version of the wheels on the bus today. I think your plan sounds great.

Thanks!

I think, more than anything else, I don’t want to drive anywhere today! Nor do I want to end up carrying dc1 on my fecking shoulders, while simultaneously pushing the pram. So I’m not taking us far from home.

Oof john. That’s rough! I may crack out the Disney DVDs later...

Erm in real life chores need to be done and down time needs to be had. My daughter has been in front of the tv/playing alone all morning whilst I plan the food shop, deal with workmen, have a cup of tea. We are heading down the park later but yesterday we didn’t do a single thing because it chucked it down alllllll day. It’s fine, it’s real life. They don’t need to be occupied constantly.

Embrace the lazy days!! We are still in our PJs watching Scooby-Doo.

I do think it's an age thing. My eldest was always wanting to go out when he was younger. After starting school full time, he loves nothing more than a lazy day at home now!

I do also sympathise with refusing to go to soft play. I used to hate school holidays when mine were younger because everywhere was a million times busier than when we usually went.

Children need time at home , it’s not good if they can’t entertain themselves for a day . When do they play with their toys if they’re never at home ?

Sorry, where did this come from that children constantly have to be entertained?

Sorry, a 3.5 year old is telling you that the plans aren’t acceptable? Sounds a bit entitled? Life isn’t always fun. Let them self entertain!

Tired here today. Spent 9 hours at a play park thingy yesterday, then dinner out (plus train there and back) so the best part of 12 hours on the go.
Currently still in PJ's, DD is in front of the TV and I'm contemplating us making rice crispy cakes a bit later.

Were not even getting dressed today! It’s chucking it down here!

Of course it's unacceptable to a 3 year old 😝
It sounds perfect to me!

My DS (about to turn 4) in the summer is going to Nursery summer camp 2 days, his grandparents 2 days (who I swear have more energy than him!), weekends are always busy busy busy so he and I have a nice chilled out day once a week where we just watch a bit of tv, play with the indoor sand, toys, bit of water play with pots and pans on the kitchen floor, bit of baking maybe. It's lovely to just have that nice chilled out time for us two.

A little entitled..? Dc1 is obviously wonderful in my eyes, but there are moments when I think “seriously?! You are asking for more entertainment”? It’s a constant “what’s next?” with dc1. Even if we’ve just got back from a favourite, fun activity. Even meal times are a bit of a battle trying to get dc1 to sit still and make time to eat without running off to find something more entertaining.

I really hope it’s a 3yo thing. Although I don’t remember 2 being any different !

I think some less fun days would actually be beneficial. Dh loves taking them out on weekends though, so I don’t want to be the boring parent who never takes them out.

Those of you who take your kids out every day, just what exactly are you doing? I don't get this need to constantly be out and about.

I refuse to constantly entertain my children. I expect them to find their own things to do. They don't like it, but after a bit of pestering, they generally find something to get engrossed in. I do take them out occasionally, but it tends to be a trip to the park or something simple.

curly

We do something every day, but it is frequently simple stuff, like a walk in the woods or trip to the park. Soft play, library, swimming, local(ish) interactive science museum, shopping and a babycino at the cafe etc on other days. Sometimes we go to the garden centre and then plant whatever we’ve bought in the afternoon. Dc1 also does a sport class once a week.

Minus the two days at nursery, when it’s just the baby and me at home or maybe doing errands, it isn’t a huge deal to take them somewhere else on the other three days.

But, I definitely want them to learn to entertain themselves a bit more. Dc1 would gladly sit in front of CBeebies all day, but I don’t want to do that either.

I schedule in ‘nothing days’ as I think they’re very important. Life is not a series of entertaining activities all in a row so children need to learn to entertain themselves, understand that households actually take some effort to run and maintain, and most importantly, whilst Peppa Effing Pig might like going out when it’s pissing it down, I’m not so keen.

It’s national lazy day today I believe :)

Enjoy

yupindeedy. Fecking peppa! I’ve been repeatedly asked if we can jump in muddy puddles today!

To dc1, I think life does seem like a constant stream of fun activities. Every night it’s “what have we got in the morning”? Although, maybe it’s me misinterpreting a simple question... I assume it’s “what fun activity have we got planned” when actually saying “nothing planned for tomorrow” is equally fine.

I am planning some days at home next week for my 4 year old. We have been on a 2 week holiday and this week he has done extra swimming lessons and a drama workshop.

I feel like all I have done all week is ferry him to various activities and so I need some downtime and a chance to catch up on jobs next week!

Your day sounds perfect!

You’re not alone on the question of ‘what’s happening next?’

Friends and I often comment that they usually haven’t even finished what we are doing right now before they start asking ‘what next?’

You’ve hit the nail on the head there as often the answer to ‘what’s next?’ is ‘nothing’ and that’s perfectly ok.

"Mum, I'm bored."

"Oh, really? That's a shame."

Then ignore. They soon find something to do.

We frequently had days at home, or going no further than the garden. It's good for children to learn to entertain themselves, although little ones may need a couple of suggestions from time to time.

Opposite here. Mine have had four 'nothing' days this week because I've had to work, so today I've finished at noon and we are going out for lunch, a walk at the World's Most Famous Lighthouse and maybe some shopping. Then we'll battle Friday afternoon tourist traffic. I know how to show my children a good time.

We had in out in out in weeks during school holidays, or out in out in out if I was feeling particularly generous...

I think it’s a lazy day all round today. Our trip out was to get our hair cut, then back for homemade cinema/dvd in the front room!

You just described my day with a 3 year old op. The only downside as far as I can see is that we both get tetchy with each other by the end of the day... it’s good though, I think to have a couple of down days a week over the summer holidays.

Apart from anything else who can afford to be out every day!