To hate being at home in the school holidays?

[AAAHHHHH]

I'm at home with my 4 year old and she's driving me crazy. She won't stop talking, I can't even listen to an audiobook.

Everytime I tell her to play in her room, she just follows me. I can't get much cleaning done and theres no point really as she keeps making a mess.

We cant go anywhere as theres nothing to do for free (no money atm) and it's raining so the park is off our list.

I feel terrible as well, because shes so inquisitive but I just really hate having to tell her why and what and how to nearly everything.

Well I didn’t really know what I was letting myself in for when I had kids! So you’re not alone in that OP. And I get that kids are exhausting. But if you’ve done all the activities my answer is to stick the tv on! Or go out for half an hours amble, whatever the weather is doing, and then come back and stick the tv on there’s lots of parents in my DDs class (reception) who have one child who have put out pleas for play dates for this half term. I think once kids start school they’re suddenly harder to entertain because they get so much stimulation and company at school. Mine has an older brother to play/argue with so it’s not so bad but I feel for the one child households during this holiday (other holidays have something exciting going on ie Easter/Christmas/Halloween or the weather is better).

I used to love school holidays as it meant I also got time off work. I suspect I may have been a bit of a lazy parent as I wouldn't have felt at all guilty about sitting watching TV or a film when it was cold and wet outside. I can definitely recall a couple of February half terms where I took DS to soft play and sat and read my book (yes I did look up for him occasionally!) and another day whether we spent nearly all day watching Scooby Do. Not saying I didn't do the craft stuff and days to the park as well but no need to beat yourself up if you want / need the odd lazy day.

The other thing is OP I think that you do need to encourage your DD, in a nice way, that sometimes she needs to learn to amuse herself , encourage a bit of independence and to use her imagination. I think it's good for children to be able to do this at times and to not require constant stimulation. I don't think 4 years old is too young to start to do this, but I may be wrong (a long time since I had a 4 year old).

This thread is so horrible
The smuggery, the inconspicuous gloating, the complete lack of empathy
Don't ever post you're struggling because the assholes come out in droves

Play with your kid. Simple

It's not simple...the op has been playing with her DC and doing activities all day. No one can really be expected to not have a break from that even for half an hour to have a cup of tea in peace. Nursery staff don't work all day without a break.

You’re getting a really tough time on here. My 3 year old is really into role play and it is just draining. I’ve said I just can’t do it all day. I spent 3 hours yesterday playing being Elsa and Anna and specifically the bit where Anna is frozen. I can do everything else with patience but role play kills me. I’m going to send her to drama classes as she’s old enough. It is relentless. I don’t think people without role-play obsessed children get how hard it can be.

I do make her play independently so I don’t know why people are saying a 4 year old can’t. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think you might get 30 mins of peace to listen to something or read.

Horrible posts on here.

Shit weather, no money, other worries by the sound of it, yet if you don't enjoy every minute of playing with a four year old who is incessantly chatting then you're a terrible mother.

Just awful.

I hope you're ok op...tomorrow is a new day

I can do everything else with patience but role play kills me.

Me too. OMG I HATED it and I am actually not a cold detached parent who can't be bothered to play - I've done countless hours of lego, baking and crafts in my time. But having to pretend to be a dog, or my DD's favourite, a shop customer so she could use her toy till - just nooooooo.

I used to explain to DD that I couldn't do it for very long because I found it so hard - I think that's reasonable. It's not bad for DC to know you are human and have things you struggle with sometimes.

Mine are a similar age and despite what some think I really do love school hols. I find them easier and more relaxing than my days off or going to work. There is no rush and shouting to get ready in the mornings. In fact they know how to operate TV so go down on their own and make themselves a cereal. I follow half an hour an hour later and make breakfast. They leave me alone because they know when I come down I turn off the TV. They play Lego, colour, crafts, make a mess. I took them to a trampoline park today but yesterday the only thing we did was a supermarket shop. You don't have to occupy them all the time although maybe it is easier with two..

I still can't get past the fact that you thought you'd sit quietly and enjoy an audiobook whilst your 4 year old 'plays quietly in her room'. Poor kid.

It's not people being smug. I have a 2 yo who needs constant entertainment, it's draining but I would never have time to sit and listen to an audiobook. I'll sit DS at the table on his own with pens and paper or stick a film or cbeebies on, half the day if I have to and I'm having one of those days. But the OP describing the audiobook and telling the kid to play in their room at 4, OP clearly thinks that's totally normal and it's not.

I think you have to wrap up and get outside.

Get a pile of books and read them together. Go to the library first if you're in need of some different ones, spend time in the library choosing then home for a cuppa for you, hot chocolate for her and read the books together.

Draw pictures, practise her letter formation for school but make a game out of it, write her tricky words from school on pieces of paper and hide them around the house so she hunts for them and brings them back to read to you. Go out on a number hunt, or a shape hunt. Get all the cutlery out of the drawer and get her to sort it into groups. Then challenge her, can she group them in a different way? All this can be done while you have a cuppa and chip in with questions and encouragement.

Run her a sink of soapy water and get her to wash her dolls' hair. Put her in the bath with random bottles with dregs left in of shampoo etc and various containers and get her to make 'potions'.

Try being a teacher term time and parent in the school hols. Kids all year round 🤣
DS was like this & I just found it easier to get out the house. I would also say that if you do give 100% attention then you might get a break.
Also agree with others it's easier if they have a play date. Plan ahead for next hols! Are there no play groups nearby? Where I live there is usually something on for £1 or thereabouts.

I guess that you've more going on than you're saying, you need to get it addressed because it's making the relationship with your child more difficult than it should.

It's hard adapting to kid-time when you're used to work,-time. Kid time is so slooooooow. I usually get better at it as the week goes on. I remember being told to 'go and play' a lot when I was a kid. I was v imaginative, so generally toddler off to do so. Dc1 is like me and will happily play alone. Dc2 needs an.audience. it's exhausting. Cbeebies is your friend. As is a wander around the supermarket and emptying the cupboards. My house used to get v clean during holidays cos it meant I.could ignore the kids for a bit. I'd give Dd a duster and the polish and she'd be happy as Larry.

So much for #bekind eh? Perhaps let's just unravel this for a second instead of telling the op that she should be happy to do all the things with her precious bundle.

It's hard work. Not all kids are easy. Adults struggle too. It's a thing.

Op when my three were very little I felt similar. I love them all with everything I have but if you are their sole source of entertainment; if your partner is not fully participating and it's ALWAYS you doing everything; if you never get a break from what is often quite a tedious, draining job, then yes, it can lead you to wanting to stick your fingers in your ears and close your eyes and hope for a second that your fairy godmother might come and lighten the load a little bit.

Try to break everything down into half hour slots.

That's what I used to do. 'We'll do 30 minute of this and then mummy needs to do 20 minutes of that' kind of thing.

It really can help to just take the edge off. And huggle huggle telesnuggle always went down well on a rainy afternoon.

Don't feel bad. One day at a time. Be kind to yourself. Break it down into easier chunks.

Actually, it could be worse- you could have a child who.wants to talk about Fortnite all day. And failing that, what Xbox games he wants. At least 4 yr olds have more than 1 interest.

Big hugs. Some days are just really shit. My daughter is an adorable 4 year old but sometimes I really struggle too.

I have a 4 year old and totally get it!! The talking is constant! However, I have a 2 year old which is helpful lol

I planned this holiday week out to avoid getting bored and stuck inside.

These are some of the things I'v done or will be doing with him..
Cheap art/craft things for him to do.
Childrens tv/movies
Making cupcakes together
Involved him in cleaning.. i.e. when I'm cleaning kitchen told him to wash his toy bricks and dry them.

I also make sure we go for a walk for atleast 20 minutes everyday so he gets fresh air and some exercise.

Hope that helps. :-)

@yesmatmoyhers aren't allowed to complain are they?

OP I have asked for my comments to be removed. They were a bit mean and unnecessary and I apologise.
Might I suggest a pair of earphones (you can get some good cheap ones from sports direct or amazon) and let you DD have some iPad time with headphones. The CBeebies app is brilliant for games and drawing/painting. I hope you manage to enjoy the rest of the holidays

@bashoono25 Point taken. I have already reported my comments and posted an apology to the OP