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.

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

Under normal circumstances- which is what the OPs situation appeared to be in first post- I don’t understand the need. Being in the house for a day really shouldn’t be a problem to be solved.

It's completely irrelevant to this thread.

It’s relevant because one of the DC is having a particularly hard time so not a simple case of suggestions for play.

It’s relevant because Op is not firing on all cylinders so it affects the type of activities that will be an option for her.

A really good time to recognise that your DC's need to build their independence and ability to focus at times without adult intervention. This can be built with an obvious eye on keeping your children safe. Using the good ideas on here, let you DC's try them out, provide the resources and some ideas then let them play whilst you are busy with something else alongside.

If they can't focus for long, add a question, another small resource, an idea to support them - but don't get overly involved. If they can't focus for long, this is something to really work at overtime and of course time related to their age.
What do your children really like to do? What are their interests. Children will focus for longer on something they have chosen and re keen on, rather than something imposed. Once they are interested and playing actively, don't distract, let them continue, keep the same thing going, listen to them, add to their play or join in for a minute or two.

Children need to play, to be resilient, to work things out for themselves, to try and fail, to be creative and imaginative. The 'Characteristics of Effective Learning' explain in more detail and support learning for children 0-5 years.( Early Years Foundation Stage Curriculum).
It is really detrimental to children's later learning if these are not on place.

Can't you just sit and watch tele for a day and let them play. Also play with them if you like or do some jobs whilst they watch tele. I love a lazy day. We can't afford to be out every day anyway.

Just do a variety of things.

Colouring.
Naps.
Baths.
Cornflake cakes
Play dog
Books.
Tele.

Soon be dinner then tea then bed lol

Baking
Play doh
Colouring
A nice bubble bath with toys
Put on music and dance around for a bit
TV

What is wrong with asking other mums for ideas about indoor play? (I used to ask my mum for her ideas when mine got dull. )

If your children are bouncy you miss outdoor activities.

Weekend days are harder for lone parents because friends are usually doing family things.

Is it really that bad outside? We were going to go and visit my grandparents today. Is it a stupid and reckless idea to go and drive somewhere?

I can hear rain and wind, but I haven't actually been outside yet.

@SunshineAngel it depends where you are. Some places are worse than others and also as my local wether forecaster says it's also about norms and perception. In Scotland we just call it winter and most people are going about their daily lives but this level of wind is unusual in other parts and therefore aren't set up for it

I love days at home. Find it more stressful to take small children out. Dc3 is 21months and be will mooch about and play, eat snacks, watch TV, cuddle. Usual stuff

When my two were pre-school, on a lovely windy day we would sit at the front bedroom window and play scuba-diving! Outside would be under the sea and all the things blowing around outside were different fishes.
(Best in the autumn and on bin day!).
Leaves blown from the trees in shoals of clown fish; paper/plastic bags floating past the window / through the air were bigger fish hunting their dinner; a big sheet of newspaper was a manta ray, a dustbin lid was a shark and what excitement when a dustbin itself rumbled down the road, Thar she blows! A whale!
Ha ha that's brought back such great memories, and I remember one time when some poor person slipped and stumbled as they walked along - a shipwreck. How we laughed! All hands were saved :)

OP mine at the same age and also clingy as I've been away for the last couple of weeks. They usually go out every day! Also we are all knackered as the storm woke us up in the night.

So far we have watched cbeebies, read stories, given the doll's houses a clean with wipes, and then made a load of stuff to go in the dolls house as it's only got a few bits of plain wood furniture. Pics to go on the walls that i printed from my phone, blankets cut from an old human sized blanket, flowers made out of paper. Then lunch. Then we all tried to nap together but they kept screaming, flailing and hitting me and each other so I kicked them out into their own beds...peace at last!

This afternoon will be a trip to Lidl and/or A&E..

Can't you go out? We've been out twice today - swimming and cinema. Weather is horrible but I feel safe.

Sunshine Angel, it is unbelievably windy here and I'm on the outskirts of London. Bits of fence have fallen down and there is some sort of peculiar covering - like something would be wrapped in - blowing around the garden, I've no idea where that has come from. Even my cat doesn't want to go out if he doesn't have to.

Op, you've had some very good suggestions for indoor play and I'm sure you'll manage fine, people just do. If it is still bad tomorrow, I'd make the night last into the morning, curtains closed. I know it was still dark until much later than usual this morning because of the storm. All cuddle up in bed and have a lie in, let your children think it's still night time. That sounds like bliss. Then get up slowly and start the day a bit later.

Being in the house for a day really shouldn’t be a problem to be solved.

Why? Who says? Being stuck in all day drives me mad and I'm an adult. My 2yo is used to getting a lot of fresh air and exercise...that's a good thing, not bad. We would rarely be out all day (almost never in all day) so plenty of playing with toys inside too. Some children need to run and jump up and down in the day, that's not strange.

There is loads you can do and I speak as one who had two 18 months apart. Surely by now they play together, mine did and loved playing ' den'
Even if it is a blanket drapped from the back of an armchair with cushions to sit on. Get the toys out and let them play, put a dvd on of their favourite characters and watch together.
We always had crafting afternoons, get the paint or playdough out or bake.

Lots of good ideas. I also always get the children out at some point in the day- I think it’s important for them to get some exercise every day, and I go mad being cooped up inside all day so it’s partly also for me.
We tend to do colouring, play dough, TV, train tracks, Lego, jigsaws, baking, more TV. One of my children would just get on with things herself, the others are needy and want me to do things with them all the time- well one did, now he is big and will sit and read in his room for hours. I’m not sure this is anything to do with parenting, just different personalities.

I decided to have a long overdue tidy of the towel/linen/junk cupboard. DS jumped up in it and has decided it’s now a secret bunker, he and DD3 have been in it all day. DH now playing board games with them I’m full of the cold so am going to try napping on the sofa.

Honestly, OP, in your situation, I would take them to the park anyway. The wind and rain can be fun, and then you bring them home and have hot chocolate and that's fun too.

Well me and dd2 have just been to the local shop, dd on her scooter. DD1 stayed home incase the amazon delivery came. Both have now gone and knocked on the doors of the other dc on the street and are now all running around whooping in the wind wearing boots and rain coats

Go out.

It's not The Apocalypse.

Just been out. If I hadn’t been labelled a storm, I just would’ve thought it was very windy. Stay away from trees and have a run around a wide open space with them.

Agree that fresh air and a run around should happen every day but if it's really a one off to stay in it shouldn't be a problem. It's good for kids to be able to cope with it occasionally.

I think I'd take them out for a blowy walk if it's safe ;catch leaves in a fishing net?) followed by den building and hot chocolate.

Thank you for posting this thread! I have exactly the same age gap as you. We never stay in the house all day but I still find the afternoons hard to fill. One activity I find works for both is water/messy play. I put a washing up basin on the table and little pots and pans with raw pasta and oats etc and that keeps them busy for a while.

I hope you are able to ignore everyone who came in just to criticise without adding anything helpful. You sound like you are doing a great job. X

I think its maybe less windy where some of you are. I considered a walk with my DC today but a massive fir tree.has come down exactly where we would have gone and a big chunk of the neighbour's shed roof has blown off, so we're staying put.

I agree I would never stay indoors with mine all day come hell or high water.

Apparently the royal nanny takes the children out and demands them to play despite the weather.

We’ve got 3 of the blighters. The eldest is 5.

Paw Patrol, Paw Patrol, be there on the double..