To wonder what on Earth I’m going to do with two small DC indoors all day during Storm Ciara?

[Rainallnight]

DC are 1.5 and 3.5. We never stay in all day. I’m dreading it.

Do you have a museum close by? You can push 1.5 yo in pram and 3.5yo can wander around. Could kill a few hours by the time you get there / have lunch or snacks?

I used to play "fetch" with mine. I sat on the sofa with a cup of tea and threw a soft ball which they had to chase and bring back.

I've got three kids under five and all these activities are making me feel stressed!! Have they not got any toys? No wonder kids these dats don't know how to be bored if parents are putting all these things in for them.

My older two (2 and 4) can entertain each other or themselves with Lego and whatnot, or games that involve running around the house and making a mess usually. The youngest is a baby so can lie on a playmat. CBeebies if we get fed up of that.

The plan for today was swimming but I have been out to the animals and its worse than I expected. (I have difficulty judging from new reports the reality of wind speeds ect) so I am keeping an eye and if I feel safe to drive we may still do that but have prepared DC for this to not be the case. My eldest is older though (6)

So I am planning for an in day and thinking, computer games, movie, baking, helping cook dinner make a den, do some puzzles, play a board game or two. That sort of thing

Mine are much older now but I really had no idea people went out with their children every day and felt anxious about staying home with them. Fascinating.

I'd be more than happy to let mine in the garden if they wanted to go out.

Mine are mostly grown up now - I would expect the older two to sleep through it if they didn't have to return to university 😂

Why do people get so worked up about having to stay indoors all day? I’m honestly baffled.

Mine are 5 and 2. We often stay in all day. They play well together. I do housework, they play around. After lunch we’ll do some play dough or something. It’s not a big deal. No need for a list of activities. Probably go to grandparents later on.

You NEVER stay in all day?
Why?

Odd sock snap used to be a favourite with 2 preschoolers at home , and all those socks finally find friends

This is just astonishing. I’ve never known anybody who can’t spend days at home with their children. Don’t you like your home? That’s a reason to not want to be there, but if it’s a nice comfortable place what on earth is the problem?

@PhilCornwall1 that was helpful

Oh look, it didn’t take long for the judgey pants to arrive.

I have a 2 year old and he goes crazy if I try and stay in all day. People saying they are baffled - some kids just hate staying indoors and are a nightmare! From about 2 hours after waking up he starts getting restless it doesn't matter what activities I try and do with him.

The wind is really bad here so think I'm just gonna have to be creative!!

‘Washing up’ was/is a favourite activity of ds’s. Plastic plates/mugs/Tupperware - sink for three year old and baby in a high chair with a bowl. Just be prepared with lots of towels, mop and change of clothes (or let them go naked and wild!)

Other than that just embrace chilling out a bit. It’s good for kids to get bored and learn how to entertain themselves. Read a couple of books, watch tv, just let them pull out their toys.

You NEVER stay in all day?
Why?

Cant speak for the OP but mine were unbearable in confined spaces for a day at that age. Too much energy. I used to have an annual membership to the big science museum near us, just so they could run up and down the gantries on wet winter days (in later years we actually got to look at some of the exhibits).

Now as teens they'd happily spend the whole week in 1 small room, just as long as food and tech are on hand.

2.5yr old, think I’ll have to venture out- only locally 2 miles max to the supermarket or to a friends. I can’t cope with being inside all day, utterly painful!

I've been reading this thread with complete bewilderment. What's so stressful abbot being in all day? And do peerless kids met this level of micromanagement and entertainment?

Generations of kids managed to entertain themselves without this level of parental involvement and angst. Toys, books, paper and crayons, TV. And being left to their own devices.

We're going to church to take the newborn for the first time and then meeting friends for lunch. We live on the coast and it doesn't seem much worse than a normal bad weather day. Everything is a 10min drive, might have rethought ot if a longer public transport journey!

(And by devices I didn't mean screen devices)

I put all sofa cushions on floor and let them go crazy

Sliding down the stairs a fav with mine when they were little, or making a slide for their toys on the stairs.

I often stay in all day😹

My 40 year old DS has been known to ring me for a chat on days like this because he is going stir crazy.

Write out a plan, it will make you feel better.

I used to love a whole day in the house, don’t worry about how messy the house gets, just have fun. We used to

Bake,
Make dens
Lots of art
Play with toys
Have a long bath
Put on the tv and snuggle on the sofa.
Take the big seat cushions off the sofa- pop them on the floor and let them use like a trampoline.