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.

Long bath with lots of cups pans, spoons and a colander to play with

If like me you've got a cupboard full out of date spices or old unused toiletries, let them make "witch soup" with water in a big bowl.

Indoor obstacle course.

The party idea is genius.

Cinema? DH is taking 2.5 year old now. I'm at home with 1.5 year old but I'm cleaning and he's playing with his toys.

Why be harsh at all lilgreen? People don't owe you their life stories. It's hardly a controversial thread, why make it about something it wasn't?

See I grew up in the 80's no siblings at home and even with a huge outdoor space to play in and being pretty self sufficient I still needed a bit of "entertaining" from time to time
Mine grew up with considerably less access to freedom and outdoor space and I think we struck a happy medium between micromanaging them and ensuring they got plenty of fresh air and had fun
Kids are different one of mine is a home bird one likes getting out and about
Twats like lilgreen need to grasp the amazing concept that we all have different circumstances and needs but I expect that's beyond them
Fortunately mine are now teens and adults and I almost have to crowbar them out of their pits

I'm glad my dc are able to just potter and play as some of these lists sound exhausting- not being judgy, Judging myself really as there's no way I'd have ever gone to all that effort. Tbh though we're well used to these winds in Scotland so we'll just be going about our usual Sunday - need to pop to Tesco at some point.

Kids are different one of mine is a home bird one likes getting out and about

Exactly the same here. My 6 year old has to be prised away from her books, whereas my 4 year old likes nothing more than running round the woods pretending to be Elsa.

OP

I never got my two into the routine of self-settling (bad mum), so needed the daily walk or drive to get one or both of them to sleep. It's exhausting when you've already got too much on your plate.

Much like PP have suggested, build dens, sort out the toys, play music with pots and pans, put on a million episodes of Barney (showing my age and that of the DC).

The older one might be ready for "opposites day": pudding for breakfast; cereal for supper etc etc.

These days, I just live in fear of the wifi going down...

I'm a bit at the idea a rare Sunday spent indoors is a thing some kids can't cope with?! It's just a different kind of play, surely?

OP thanks for your update, it sounds like you've a lot on your plate

I still think many posters make a good point that we need to help our kids cope with periods indoors, discovering (safe) ways to entertain themselves. For your mental health too!

Lots of great ideas on this thread

Oh and no ones been a twat on this thread either

An outdoor idea - if you've a garden play statues and who ever gets blown about is the loser?!

@RippleEffects you sound like such a fun mum. Dd always says its bear/bunny’s/tigers birthday but I’m always too busy/tired with baby ds to join in. After reading your post I’m going to make a real effort because she’d love it.

Op we have lots of days indoors because I’m on maternity and dp is practically a hermit when he’s not at work but ironically we did have plans today, the roads are completely flooded though so no chance.
Dd likes to play pretend imaginary games a lot, she loves colouring and doing maths so she’ll be fine. By around teatime when I’m starting to get a bit stir crazy she usually has a big bath with all her toys. I use these days as a chance to catch up with jobs I’ve been putting off as I physically can’t just go to the park and ignore it.
If you’re a mum with more patience/fun/time than me: baking, puppet shows...but I have to say the teddy birthday party sounds best.

I feel your pain... Over exuberant 2yo that needs a 5, mile daily walk and a 3 month old that only reliably naps in a moving outdoor pram. Thank goodness dh is here too. Trying not to dwell too much on what we would be doing pre kids (cosy lie in, lazy brunch, newspapers, grown up movies....!) just splitting the day into hour long chunks and getting on with it. I feel it would be easier with just the toddler tbh, the littlest one is prone to a cry if she doesn't nap well, at least we can undertake some activities with toddler.

Here's to a glass of wine this evening. Or maybe even at lunchtime.

It's not a tornado, you can still leave the house!

Check the forecast to know which is the quietest part of the day, don't walk under a tree line (obviously), but you are allowed to leave the house

Some people genuinely can’t leave the house @JosefKeller there is a fallen tree at the bottom of my street and the whole road is flooded so I can’t even go out for a wander.

the whole road is flooded so I can’t even go out for a wander.

You could go out for a paddle...

You could go out for a paddle...

That's really poor advice, even in jest. Don't ever take kids to paddle in floodwater!

Baffled by these threads. Grown adults can’t work out how to look after their own dc in their own house.

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.

You really should have put all that in the OP. It changes the reason why you need advice and what specific advice you need.

Yeah don’t think the 6month old would enjoy it @SoupDragon, dd probably would!

Don’t worry @crankysaurus local news issued a warning not to play in floodwater, it’s filthy!

The storms terrible here, roads closed, sandbags out, cars abandoned! Facebooks going crazy

My dds have built a den. They are using their cuddly toys to protect the den. They’ve taken their snacks in there and will eat their lunch in the den. Maybe go hide in the den with them?

It's just a different kind of play, surely?

Depends how big your house is really. Most people don't really have houses big enough to run around in and plenty of children do need to let off steam at some point in the day.

Baffled by these threads. Grown adults can’t work out how to look after their own dc in their own house.

What's wrong with asking for advice and ideas!?

Before mine were old enough to get the concept of dates, we used to make birthday cards for Granny and Grandma on indoor days. No matter that it was months until an actual birthday, which grandmother wouldn't be delighted by a homemade card at any time of year?

You really should have put all that in the OP. It changes the reason why you need advice and what specific advice you need.

It's completely irrelevant to this thread. OP was asking for ideas, not to be lectured about how DC should be able to be indoors all day.

Throw large sheet over the table- chuck some cushions and toys under and they have wee play tent.6