Small children and oife after reducing screen time?

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My children are almost 4 and 5.5. I'll admit that they spend far too much time on gadgets and watching films than they should. I know this is bad, you don't need to tell me.

I don't want advice on how to cut down, but how to keep them entertained/when they aren't playing by themselves? The 5.5 year old can self entertain for a long time. The 4 year old, not so much.

What sort of activities do you do with your children? In all weathers? I'm at a loss!

Life*

My son has weekly activities Sat and Sun am (dancing and swimming) so that kills a decent amount of time. I also try to get him outdoors as much as possible, trip to local parks or National Trust visits.

We've had a pretty quiet bank holiday, but he's also done baking, a Lego set, making a volcano set, drawing/stickers, building and some daytime reading all indoors.

He's only allowed the tablet after 5pm weekends only so that helps us control it relatively well. He'd be on it all day if I let him so I need plenty of things up my sleeve!

Mine are 4 and 2

Time in the garden, get them some new toys - we have just got a mud kitchen so its something new.

Helping set up the toys they have to start with, ie build an amazing train layout for them to then play with.

Spent the morning at a local forest, practicing on bikes, scooters and then climbing trees.

Writing practice - child led but eldest is obsessed with writing currently.

Leaving them to it a lot of the time, they are great at imaginative play currently - lots of hospitals going on as this is the latest craze!

I suggest leaving them to it. They’re close enough in age to have similar interests. They will fight and bicker, and your input should be in teaching them how to resolve those conflicts. I think a divide-and-rule approach is occasionally required but on the whole they have to learn how to get along (for the rest of their lives, when you’re long gone).

I don’t believe a parent’s job is to entertain. It’s to prepare them for life, which means letting them live it, with guidance and supervision.

It’ll get easier as they grow older. Let them learn.

The best toy is another child. My dgc (6 and 3) visited for the weekend, and a friend had his two dc (9and 3) here as well. They played discos with music and lights, hide and seek, the flying bum game (don't ask!), Lego, wheeled toys in the garden, 2 hours in the play park. They used to make slime but we had to put a stop to that; so messy.

Read to them. Quiet time with a book and a snuggle is a wonderful experience for all of you. (And it pays off - children who have been read to are said to do better at school)
Make play doh (loads of recipes on the net) hours of playing for very little cost and effort.
Drawing and colouring are usually good fun at that age.
Painting, and finger painting and printing, if you can stand the mess- you need a clearly marked space like a table or moppable floor (a plastic cloth or cut open bin bag can help keep the surface clean)
Walk to a park, taking time to look at everything on the way.
Build pretend castle and dens with cushions and furniture.
Put on some music and dance or sing. (or both) let them entertain you 😀
Give them a little brush or a cloth so they can “help “ you with the housework.
Explore a button box, or the contents of a bag (that you have checked is Chid safe)

My 4 year old does dance and gym. We go trampolining a lot. She does play alone but it was a long time coming. For activities she likes kinetic sand, aqua beads, crafts, water play. What does your DD enjoy? Mine for instance loves “bits” eg craft Pom poms in a huge tray with spoons and various receptacles, playing with buttons, my sewing box especially the pins, using scissors or knives, money, sorting. I don’t entertain but I do set things up and sit there with a ☕️ Imagination Tree has good ideas. We used to do the vinegar and bicarbonate thing a lot

Boys or girls or one of each? Because it does depend.

Boys - hours and hours ...and hours ...and hours of lining up toy cars on a toy road carpet rug (Argos have them) or playing with a wooden track railway.

Girls - hours and hours ...and hours... and hours of playing with dolls and doll houses. Dressing up, playing ‘house’, playing with (imaginary) horses.

Having living room picnics after they have helped you make the picnic.

All broken up with walks outside to count bugs, spot worms, birds or count buses, spot fire engines, count red cars.... play in the garden spoting birds, count bugs, spot worms......play in the sand pit, blow bubbles, chalk on the path, play with cars/dolls. Or inside weighing ingredients, mixing, making cakes, decorating cakes, doing finger painting, doing paper mache, painting paper mache

Some ideas here

www.goodtoknow.co.uk/family/children/75-ways-to-entertain-your-toddler-71744

entertaining kids is hard work.

I had my dc pre tablet era btw, DC didn’t have one until age 9 so had to be entertained constantly when very young. Now at teen age and no need for entertaining I actually miss being a part of the life of my offspring.

Boys or girls or one of each? Because it does depend.

I have both 4DC, both sexes and it doesn’t depend in our house. My oldest two are girls and weren’t remotely interested in playing with dolls and dollhouses.

We were (are) strict with screens and gadgets too. I find that if the mornings incorporate a good run around or the beach or swimming then they are generally better at entertaining themselves in the afternoon. My oldest is nearly 13 years and this is still true.

When mine were that age the only screen they had was a TV ! They played . With toys . And drew and read and played some more
And watched DVDs

God I miss those days !!! They were much happier and so was I

Just before Feb half term I told my 4yo the tablet was broken and was at the shop for fixing. (it wasn't).
I then made sure we got out the house every morning for a walk or to the park. He quickly forgot about it.
They mostly play with lego,cars on a car mat,drawing, colouring,wooden train track, aquabeads,

"Boys or girls or one of each? Because it does depend.

Boys - hours and hours ...and hours ...and hours of lining up toy cars on a toy road carpet rug (Argos have them) or playing with a wooden track railway.

Girls - hours and hours ...and hours... and hours of playing with dolls and doll houses. Dressing up, playing ‘house’, playing with (imaginary) horses."

God, depressing gender stereotypes ahoy. If you'd have given me a doll at any age to "dress up" or indeed do anything with, you would have been utterly wasting your time.

My kids play with LEGO for hours. Now that it’s summerish we move into the garden and they play outside with their toys. My 4 year old would have entertained himself for a good while. You need to leave them to it and not get involved when they say they have nothing to do, they will eventually find something.
If you are on Instagram check out the five minute mum. She does games for younger kids