To feel the kids need abit more

[Daisyxxchainxx]

Hi all. My kids are 2.5 and 5. Like all other kids they havn't been to a park or for a day out since march. They've not had a takeaway treat. We've been at home alot too. I've been abit run down with my health so i havn't been as fun as id like.

I'm going to take them for a walk today near the river and chuck some bread in for the ducks.

I wish I could give them something to look forward too. Both have been a little down. We do have a holiday at the end of July in the UK.

Any ideas? I think the lack of seeing anyone else is also making me worry. There grandparents are coming over at the weekend. They havn't seen them since Christmas day. Just for a garden chat and a cuppa.

What are you all doing now. It was ok for the first few months. But now I feel it's really lonely for all of us and not much fun. I keep cheering them on with the holiday but the end of July is ages away for little people.

Where in the uk are you heading op??

Zoos and safari parks are opening up from next Monday. If you have one near you then maybe keep an eye on their website and follow them in SM so you can book a ticket?

Please don’t give the ducks bread, it’s not good for them.

Our local duck pond has a sign saying to feed the ducks peas.

Our local McDonalds is doing deliveries if they like happy meals.

We've had Friday parties, so party food, made themed decorations, paper plates, kids have made invitations (for their teeddies). Stupid but something small to look forward to in the week. Where I am lots of cafes are opening again so this week I'll take dd for a walk for an ice cream and to feed the ducks. Is your 5 year old going back to school?

Can you buy them a magazine on Friday and spend the day doing it? My DD looks forward to this as a treat once a month. Because we don't get the very often we do every story, puzzle, colouring in together and it's a real treat.
Can you do a campout on a Saturday night. Get all the duvets in the living room, get popcorn and watch a Disney film? X

Where I am virtually all the takeaways are open. Also the parks - just not the playground. Take a ball and let them run around! Is the five year old in school now? You can focus on the 2.5 year old and do more toddler friendly games

I know it's harder with younger children, but things I have done with mine are

take away food at home so either burgers or hot dogs with chips.

Film nights

Tea party

We try and walk by a river 2 or 3 times a week and I take treats

Buy a magazine once a week

Video calls with cousins

Let them sleep in my bed!

I brought down lots of old toys for them
To play with with

Do you have relatives near by ? We make cakes and drop them off to grandparents as a gift

Mines 3, we’ve been going to the park (grassy areas) and we’ve been running around with the football/playing catch etc, he’s been out on his scooter and bike every day. Walks through woods etc. If your in a more built up area can you try and make a scavenger hunt type thing. So they have to spot x amount of red cars or x amount of trees (great for helping them to count and the youngest to recognise colours etc) and then they get a treat at the end (shop bought cake or a new toy) We’ve been to feed the ducks, but they are a bit peckish at the moment so have a tendency to swarm people so watch out . If the youngest isn’t a great walker take the buggy/or something similar.

If they miss a takeaway, you can still order. Most places locally to us are open and are leaving takeaway on the floor and then knocking and then leaving you space to open the door etc. If they want a McDonald’s, they are starting to open up again mainly for drive thru, so if you do drive bundle them up in the car and eat in the car, or find a grassy area and treat as a picnic. If your local isn’t open make one yourself, so get some cardboard takeaway boxes of eBay and serve up chips/buggers/nuggets in the boxes and sit on the floor with a movie and eat.

We’ve been doing play doh quite a bit this week. It’s really hard at the moment and it’s repetitive as hell, i just try and break the day up as much as possible.

Local (or local-ish) outdoor spaces?

I think we are going to go and see the grandparents. My own parents are both retired and insular as fuck so I don't see what harm it will do.

If they miss a takeaway, you can still order. Most places locally to us are open and are leaving takeaway on the floor and then knocking and then leaving you space to open the door etc.

The thing this, they're pretty unlikely to be missing the food, what most are missing is the experience.

The same with all the other examples, playing catch or football in the park with the same parent you see all the time is fun occasionally and when there are no other peers when it's the only thing you've done for months it's not.

Peer interaction, and lack of parental supervision (not lack of supervision at all in the younger kids, but lack of parent) are really important in kids, the options for those things are so limited, and it's a real problem with potentially long lasting problems for many kids.

I'd focus on meeting up with as many kids and different people as you can in whatever places you can. Experiences, crafts etc. are not what's missing from kids needs right now.

Join your local FB groups.

I could give you pages of what my kids and their friends have been doing, but that won't help you if you live in a completely different neighbourhood, and I would miss out all the things YOU have access to and we don't.

the 2 yo won't suffer at all and miss anything, they don't know yet and they are into everything so they can have all the fun in the world at home. Even camping in the living room in a den is an adventure when you are 2!

For the 5 year old, ask local people.

We are heading to Norfork

Can I take my kids into the shop to buy a magazine? Will I be glared at?

I don't drive and my partner works all week. So going out isn't an option in the week unless it's local parks etc.

We have shops etc here. A park that has a cafe you can takeaway from now I think! I might have to try that soon.it makes me nervous as I've not done things and will worry about walking in when I'm not allowed.

My partner went in the coop the other night. There was nobody on the door. He went to pay and the lady said only three should be in. he said sorry and she said it's ok. The others who work here get stroppy but it's fine. How are you supposed to no if it's ok?

I like the party idea and camping in the living room 😁