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.

@saraclara

Thank you! My thoughts exactly!

My DC at that age were perfectly capable of playing some of the time on their own.

And we certainly never went out every day if we didn't have to!

Generations of kids managed to entertain themselves

Yes a couple of generations ago the OP could have put her two in the charge of an 8 year old neighbour, wrapped a couple of sandwiches in a napkin and told them to be back a tea time. These days, that sort of thing is frowned upon.

I have friends who’s children who will sit and play with for example trains for hours and all very calm- I have a more spirited toddler. I like to do an activity even if it’s just walking round the shops so she can burn off some energy.
There’s 13hrs in her day, and we have a small house.

I too find it strange how you can get stressed about a day indoors 🤷‍♀️

Go swimming as someone suggests - unless they don’t let you in with two under fives.
Soft play this morning?

Then cooking their own lunch and decorating digestive biscuits or fair cakes.
Junk modelling.
Make some play dough.
A book hour, curled up in front of the fire with a pile of books to choose from.
A long play bath.
Make macaroni jewellery.
Colouring
Button box (supervised)
Television

Judgeypants .. Did you seriously think your question wasn't going to raise eyebrows?

It is definitely easier to be out of the house for at least part of the day with young children.

But the storm is unlikely to prevent you from popping to nearby places - leisure centre, soft play and so on.

Finding yourself inside for longer than you'd like shouldn't be a source of dread though. It is useful for children to experience boredom and to find ways to entertain themselves. Plan some activities, some tv time and some unstructured time where they amuse themselves.

I think you need a box for days like these of toys they rarely play with so they are a treat mine are okay mooching watching tv etc iy will be tonight when they cant sleep the issue will be

Kids need to learn how to entertain themselves. I micromanaged my five year old when she was younger and now she’s needy and reluctant to do things for herself (we are working on it - she’s more than capable at school!). I haven’t micromanaged the two year olds activities to the same extent and she is much more independent. Loves imaginative play and will engross herself with her dolls/kitchen/blocks etc for ages. She’s actually teaching my five year old. It’s interesting to watch.

As an aside I wouldn’t be going near soft play or swimming today as it will be absolutely rammed

Ok right, here’s where I’m coming from and it’s not a bloody drip feed because it shouldn’t be relevant to a very simple thread about play.

My DM is dying in another country. I’m travelling there frequently and at short notice. My DC are adopted. The older one is completely freaked out by my repeated absences and is acting out all over the place at the moment. My resilience to deal with this is very low at the moment because of the dying DM. I find getting out to the park hugely helpful in these situations but it’s not possible today.

So it was just a simple bloody question to some other mums for ideas for what to do.

Fuck’s sake.

Up until he was about 4, my son had that painful combination of being extremely hyper and also destructive.

So, if we spent prolonged periods of time in the house, I literally could not take my eyes off him for a second.

Otherwise he'd be pulling things off the kitchen table, out of cupboards, drawers. Turning lights on and off, drawing on walls if he got the chance, stuffing loo roll down the toilet etc.

He also wouldn't sit and amuse himself and believe me, I really tried to 'train' him to do this!

As a result, spending a portion of the day outside became a necessity for me. He just needed to expend energy outside, for his behaviour to be manageable inside.

He's 5 now and whilst I still get a slight feeling of discontent if we have to spend the entire day inside, it is now possible.

OP try and play for a couple of hours, then put the tv on for a couple of hours, then play again, then tv again. Or, go to soft play if there's one near by?

Colouring
Play dough
Slime
Pots and pans band
Origami
Painting
Dancing
Nap time!!!

Some of you are Such Amazing Parents. Medals all round.

Of course there is no possibility at all, whatsoever, that other people may have high energy kids who need daily fresh air and vigorous exercise, who don't do well being cooped up all day, and who are perfectly capable of amusing themselves for hours outside.

Mine is 5 and I completely understand the need to get out!

We did have plans but they have been cancelled due to the weather. DD has said she wants a pj day but I predict she will be restless in about 3 hours.

At that age, I found the day was much easier if we went out for a bit. Dcs let off their energy outside then we’re calmer at home.
If they didn’t, then they’d be moody and just start going a bit crazy.

Op, do something that lets them be energetic for a while and hopefully they’ll be more manageable.

I used to make them jump around like frogs on cushions and not fall into the pond. Have a disco and do lots of jumping, star jumps and running really fast on the spot. The younger one can just run around.

OP I just saw your update. for you. I'm sorry about all you're going through. Ignore the sanctimonious twats who can't wait to knock someone down.

And you call that “not a drip feed”?

@Rainallnight

Make a den, give them snacks and leave them to play.
Failing that play doh? Baking? Get them to “help” with chores? Movie afternoon? Build box forts? Painting? Drawing? Read them some books? Puzzles? Loads of things you can do.

Gin. Gin for everyone. Then just all sleep through the storm and come up smiling Monday.

I'm sorry for what you're going through, but of course that's a drip feed. We're not mind readers, and weren't to know that we needed to be gentle with you.

It's not going to be for long, op, honest!

Admittedly I only have a 3yo but my plan for the day is:
Painting/crafts
Decorating biscuits
Bath
Picnic lunch
Board game
Building a huge train track
Disney film
Dinner
Bath
SLEEP
GIN.