Failing at this toddler malarkey

[Moominfan]

Usual routine out in the morning for a toddler group, then in the afternoon we go for a toddle. Now he sits on floor doesn't want to toddle. I struggle to interact with him at home. I hate mess which is why we always go out. But now I need to think of some more indoor stuff to do. We read, play with jigsaws, he helps me clean. Just feel like a naff mum cause I can't cope with painting, baking all that fun stuff toddlers love. i really wish I could get over my need for the place to be clean. I've got a mate that makes elephants out of bottles with hers. I just wish I had that crafty knack but it's just not me.

Do you have a garden? We do all our craft stuff out there. DS is also a fan of patio chalk if you can bear that for a few days until it is washed off in the rain.

Mega blocks are great too. Messy whilst they are out but usually cme in a storage bag so easy to tidy away and store out of sight.

Do you have a garden OP? You could set up a “mud kitchen” or get a sandbox and a few toys so he could get messy outside? I know it’s getting cold though so that might not be an option where you live? When I’m really at a loss I fill the bath and DD has a great time splashing around with her toys.

You could create a “yes space” in your house if you have the room? Gate off a specific area or room and let him do what he likes (within reason!) in there and only there? That way you only have one area to clean so it might make the mess more bearable to you?

Crayons (I only allow it at the kitchen table so no mess), playdoh and a box of alphabet fridge magnets have been a hit here this week?

We also have a little plastic slide in the playroom, it was cheap from Tesco. When we first got it she literally spent hours on it - might be an idea?

I hate the mess too, and I’ve never done baking, you’re definitely not alone and definitely not failing!

@alphabravo I think you might need a hobby, instead of needlessly attacking posters on forums. Your post is so over the top it's laughable.

Oh I second mega blocks!

I find winter hard work! Have you had a look at sites like this one theimaginationtree.com/15-discovery-box-activities-for-preschoolers/ inspiration to see if there are any ideas you would be comfortable with? You can get a tough tray for 15 pounds off Amazon which really helps contain stuff. My 2 spent a good hour pouring dried beans between containers this morning in ours, and yes we had to pick some beans off the flour but it was no more clean up time than picking up the number of toys they'd have pulled out over the hour otherwise and unlike paint there's no risk of permenant damage.

I'd also 2nd the suggestion of little Brian paint sticks above - they seem to enjoy them a lot mote than crayons, no brushes, no water, dry in 30s and water soluble so easy to clean any hands that do get painted.

OP we are all different and so are children. We have a tiny house and we spend a lit of time outdoors. My DC love the outdoors. We dont do much painting or crafts because it is. 20 mins set up for a 5 mins activity.
We collect leaves we play with trains we read books. It changes with the seasons and as he grows up.
Growing up I was involved in daily tasks such as cleaning and cooking and it wAs like a game.
We can't all do the baking or the singing but then again not all
Toddlers like that.

I think I tried too hard in the past. DC spent 1 hour playing with a cardboard box DH got out for him.

And there I was planning and prepping for something he played with for 2 mins.

It is ok to let him lead the play and it is more than ok to go out because you don't have time to clean up a mess

Oh and a plastic tea set, ELC used to do a brilliant one, is great fun in the bath. Also empty plastic bottles - make holes in them with a sharp knife or pin and make bigger with a pencil (when he's not looking of course) and then let him have a ball filling up the bottle and seeing the water pour out.

If you do an activity in the morning then I don't see what's wrong with doing house stuff in the afternoon? I don't really do messy stuff, they do that at nursery/school! You're doing fine 

If you're failing then so am I, OP 😄👍🏼
And I have 2.5 year old twins so I am TWICE as bad as you. 😘

Sounds like you both do lots of great things and it's healthy to be outdoors!

I wouldn't do baking with my toddler as it would just encourage me to eat even more! But he has lots of blocks, books, jigsaws, mega blocks and musical toys to keep him entertained.

Chalk drawings, crayons and play doh are all fun ways to be creative indoors but don't actually cause a mess

We don’t really do baking or crafts. I don’t consider myself a bad mother at all. We do loads of activities, but my DS just isn’t that into craft stuff and I can’t be bothered with the mess for him to be bored in 3 minutes. He has nursery to do that.

Alpha bravo

Also getting a toddler to help clean is a novelty like loading the washing machine or running the hoover hose around like a little drunk person. I hope you're not actually trying to get him to genuinely 'clean'.

Well yea it's really cheap labour 

They like stuff like this anyway, my 5 year old cried the other day because I put the grocery shopping away without asking him to help!

Thank you all for the helpful suggestions got some good ideas