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.

I've just come back with the dogs and it's blowy but not too bad, I'm in London, so maybe you can do a quick walk now?

It will feel like a much longer one, I promise.

Sorting out your toys is a great idea.. It's a focus and they will definitely see things they have forgotten about which will interest them once more.

I used to play hairdressers. I'd sit on a cushion on the floor and they put clips in my hair. The good part of it is that the customer reads in the hairdressers.

I apologise for being a sanctimonious twat

Kudos for that!

My plan with the two year old today is nowhere near as exciting as some of these lists 😂 we are gonna play with toys, read some books, watch some tele, eat nice food, bath later, bed and then a glass of wine for me 🍷

We used to dance, it helps to yell 'dance party' and dance yourself too. When DS was little we lived in a flat which had a long central corridor and I used to set up an 'assault course' with things on the floor. So jump over the tea towel, hop like a bunny between the skipping rope and the scarf etc. Then do it again with one arm up in the air. Then do it again with your left hand touching your left foot. After five or six goes it took the edge off enough to be able to sit and play with a toy.

Mine loved a game of hide and seek at that age - you hide with the younger one and the older one has to find you and then repeat the other way around.

We have the game 'Gotrovo' which is also good. It has picture based cards (e.g. a bed, a mat, a lamp) you can used to make a treasure trail around the house. If you make sure you alternate clues between upstairs and downstairs you can burn quite a bit of energy off them. I put the TV on to keep them quiet while I make the trail.

As others have said, the bath is always a good idea. The other thing I've done if you don't have the ingredients for playdough is make cloud dough which only uses flour and oil (see theimaginationtree.com/lavender-scented-cloud-dough-recipe/ ). It's more of a powder than playdough so you can pour it / scoop it / pat it into shape. I make an ice cream cone out of paper, get out a few cups and bowls, my muffin tin and my ice cream scoop and it entertains them for a good hour.

I also have craft kits in stock for days like this - something like the Alex craft kits you can get on Amazon. Everything you need is in the box so there's no set up time, so you can grab and do while the younger one is napping.

I genuinely find it easier to stay home than go out, so I had no idea people found it hard to stay in to this extent. That’s not meant in a negative way because we all manage things differently, but it is interesting. I’m so sorry to hear you’re having hard times, my Father died when my children were small and it was very hard. Be gentle with yourself every day doesn’t have to be a performance, you are allowed cornflakes in your PJs or pizza and a cartoon.

Completely bemused by some of the responses here. In what world is feeling the need to go out everyday anything to do with micromanaging children? My DS will happily play on his own inside for a few hours but he needs a run around outside. We live opposite a park and he goes everyday. Some of you are talking as though going out every day means going somewhere but plenty of us need to just get some fresh air every day. I can't sleep if I haven't had a good walk. What's with all the 'we never went out and were happy entertaining ourselves too!? Children used to be playing out all the time! Surely it's not odd to never have a day where you're inside all day!?
Sorry things are hard OP...I hope you manage today ok, I think it's supposed to be calming down here mid afternoon so fingers crossed.

Indoor obstacle course, climb over sofa cushions, climb under a duvet.

You can also hide 'prizes' to be found.

Make up a dance to a song.

As others have said, toy picnic / party. Maske invitations, bake some buns, make sandwiches and decorations etc etc

You don’t have to ‘do’ anything. Just let them be children fgs. They don’t have to have every hour organised. Unbelievable.

I wouldn't walk in woodlands but I'd go for a quick walk to blow the cobwebs away. It's not exactly a hurricane, it's a storm.

I was the same OP, out everyday with D's, come rain or shine.

lilgreen

Don't be a knob. It's hard being stuck in all day.

OP I find days in hard too, DS 1.5 is not keen and has the energy of 2 toddlers and will only play for so long before the tantrums over absolutely nothing start.
I deal with it by breaking the day down in to 15 min slots. I even write it down. There is definitely 15 mins of TV and snacks every couple of hours as I'd go a little bit mad if not. If they are enjoying something for longer then great, as soon as they are not, we move on!
It's nothing special, just things like water play, tipping and pouring rice, banging pots and pans, aqua doodle, climbing the stairs, racing cars, riding on mummy's back I also have some baby crafts that I do with him, get yourself on Instagram and look at mother could, she's very good and it's likely things you have in the house already.
Just knowing what we are doing next helps take the stress out of it.
Also there is no reason you can't 'brave the storm' on a special mission to find a hidden object and get 'swept away' in the garden, providing you have good outdoor wear, then you can be 'rescued' and have warm milk and a long bath. The 3 year olds excitement should carry the little one along!
All will be back to normal tomorrow.
for all you're going through with your DM.

We tend to go out every day because

a) I get bored at home all day and
b) Fresh air is good for you... adults and children alike.

I was a child of the 80’s and I don’t think we spent many days at home all day. We went for walks, to the park, played in the garden etc. Same sort of things I do with my DC.

My older two are 6 and 4 and will play for ages together at home without my input, but I do find they are less grumpy when they’ve had some fresh air. My 1 year old couldn’t really care less at the moment and plays with his toys at home quite happily.

Why do you need to stay in OP?

Knob speaking here. This is what happens when you organise too many daily activities for young children. They do need down time to just be. I’m presuming you are in their home where they have toys and resources? Paint? Bake?Dress-up? Dance?Read? indoor picnic? Den making with blankets and clothes horse? TV? Film?
I was a sahm to 2 DC but I am a knob so don’t listen to me.

lilgreen how is taking them to a park to run around and play any more ‘micromanaging’ than setting them up with paint/baking etc?
I think a good run around the park with their siblings is ‘down time to just be’.

Being 'bored' for a while does kids no harm at all - in fact it's the reverse - it teaches them to entertain themselves and be more self-sufficient.

We have still gone to rugby tots and we’ll still go to the park later.

I'm really sorry for your situation and I appreciate why you posted.

But we're not mind readers. And I don't think anyone was harsh. Taking it at face value I don't understand why children can't be left to their own devices some of the day.

Your circumstances are totally different to the norm and had people known you'd have got different answers.

Some lovely ideas here ( if you ignore the critics). Mine are adult now and it’s brought a tear to my eye remembering the fun things we used to get up to. (We were a bit naughty and would have probably wrapped up and ventured out anyway). Another vote for the teddies birthday- lovely idea.

Yeah, it was an uncalled for lilgreen. Needing time outside is absolutely nothing to do with too many activities. I can safely say that I have never planned special activities for my DS, he plays for hours with his toys but there comes a point every day where he needs to have a run around outside. Nothing to do with micromanaging him or too many activities, everything to do with exercise being good for him. I would imagine it's genetic. I'm perfectly happy pottering around much of the day but I need to go outside sometimes. As this is out of the ordinary for the OP she has asked for some advice, not to be lectured by people.

Just read your update op. Either it’s relevant or it’s not. I think it’s relevant hence you should have mentioned it upfront. I for one wouldn’t have been so harsh.

Taking it at face value I don't understand why children can't be left to their own devices some of the day.

Some of the day isn't all of the day. Surely you can see that.