What to do with these kids

[cerealspiller]

AIBU to not know how to entertain my kids?! I have two children - 8mo (crawling/cruising stage) and a 2 year old (doesn't follow instructions well)

There's at least 2.5 hours until dinner time and it's wet and windy outside. I don't drive so we're all kind of stuck here for the afternoon.

I don't know what fun and interactive things to do with them both! My eldest loves painting/colouring/etc but the little one is too young for all that as would just try to eat everything. I feel like all I do all day is sing songs and read books, they get bored listening to me!

Looking for some bright ideas please!

At that age if the weather was bad I would sometimes run a bubble bath and let them play in that for a while. very basic cooking can work too, like biscuits or play dough. the little one could eat a bit of that!

(not the play dough the real dough!)

Second the bath idea.... along with random toys that may need a bit of a wash!

Yep I agree, bath.

Wellies and waterproofs and run around outside?

Let them make soup and potions in the bath. Give them lots and pans and bubbles and sit the big one in the bath and let her go wild. Swim in the shower - shower with swimsuits and goggles? Does the baby like putting things in and out of places? I can’t rememner exact ages but both mine loved moving items from one container to another, so maybe lots of plastic tubs and (size appropriate) items to move about?

I’m also stuck in the house with a toddler today. So far we’ve had stories, play doh, made father’s day cards with stickers and crayons (a bit early but it filled some time) and we’re now vegging on the sofa with popcorn and a Disney film. I like the bubble bath/toy cleaning idea above: we’ll do that next!

Make some simple play doh, hair conditioner and cornflour mixed together.

Empty some uncooked rice into a bowl let them play with it by giving them spoons and little dishes to decant it and stir it up.

Go for a welly walk

Bring outside toys inside, big table cloth on the floor put paddling pool on it.

Maybe wash some small toys and then put them in containers to freeze, this is great because today you can wash the toys then tomorrow the children can dig them out of the ice blocks. This is my sons favourite thing to do and it takes two day so two days worth of activities.

• Put some music on and let them play the drums with wooden spoons and saucepans.

• Finger painting for your eldest and play on the floor with your youngest

• Build an inside den with sheet and pillows

• Bath with bubbles (as previously mentioned)

You have my sympathy OP - I remember those house-bound afternoons with absolute horror. It gets easier.

Have a look at play.hooray on Instagram-so many great ideas

Or: CBeebies

Salt dough is great at the eating everything stage - it tastes rank so they're not going to eat enough to be problematic salt wise, but is safe. Chuck in some food colouring if your older DC has a favourite colour.

Also just getting out pots, pans and the likes - new toys - will pass some time.

Disney song disco or Teddy bear tea party for me. A lot of these ideas sound good but would be absolute carnage in my house which would leave me with hours of clean up while both children cried

Cbeebies

AMAZING replies everyone!
So many great things to try
Went with a bath first and they're loving it - put in loads of things they don't normally have in the bath (paintbrushes, spoons, plates, spray bottles etc)

Think we'll get out some pots, pans and big spoons with music when they're out and have ourselves a band! Good luck to my neighbours!

DD used to spend ages playing with a plastic colander and poking giant pipe cleaners in the holes.

@Singleandproud I'll need to get some giant pipe cleaners in!

She literally would spend 30-40 minutes doing it,whilst all her toys sat around her unused.