Hoop has closed, soft play isn't opening for the foreseeable... AIBU to wonder what I am actually going to do this winter with two kids?

[AuntVictoria]

Having a bit of a pity party this evening. I have a DS2 and DD is due any day now. DS and I went out loads over mat leave, to baby groups, soft play, stay and play etc. I don't know how I'm going to survive a year of entertaining two small children with nowhere to when it's cold and raining :( I know I'll manage and they didn't have all of these things in years gone past and were fine, but I'm feeling pretty downcast and worried about mat leave this evening.

Soft play etc didn't exist when I was growing up, yet my mum somehow managed to keep 4 kids 'entertained.' Use your imagination.

gigchuckedout56 I completely agree.carrying on with nursery was really important for us.When my second was a newborn, I had the eldest in nursery for 3 days and it worked really well. I’ve got every sympathy with the OP and posters having a new baby now. I was able to get out and do lots of things with the bigger one while the newborn was in the sling, I could go to soft play and let the older one run around while I fed the baby and had a coffee. We were able to get to classes etc. I think I’d have gone out of my mind with everything shut. At least the playgrounds are open but they is not always fun if it’s pooring down, the baby wants a feed etc.

The sanctimonious posters expressing sadness about the lack of ability to entertain small children can quite frankly bugger off if they haven’t had to do it during lockdown. It’s a completely different ball game.

We miss swimming and the cinema and friends sleep over etc. Our summer holiday has just disappeared due to someone else changing their plans so we plan to invite friends to sleep in the garden etc. and do the same with them. Days out to NT and Zoo etc.

In September -tent in back garden (will still be warm) and toasting marshmallows etc. Leaf printing and rubbing. Collecting seeds

In October - build up to Halloween and Harvest Festivals.

In November- Bonfire night and might start christmas prep early

December - Christmas

In January - new year and snow and snowmen and winter / new year and spring clean

In February - Love and heart stuff

March onwards -new growth and season with planting.

Throughout:
Dog walks
Hot tub
Paino
Board games - I've just spent £200 on outside chess, bats and balls, throw the tail on the lemur, giant size snakes and ladders etc -and picnic blankers.

Throughout we will do fire pit and star glazing, bird watching and feeders, DIY, gardening, animals, board games, baking etc and try to do some netflix on really horrid rainy days and try and reconnect with each other (20 weeks of lockdown but the kids have been with their grandparents etc). We are all doing Coach to 5K now and hopefully will have tread mill by September so we can keep up with it in the winter.
Of course homework and daily slog but I think we really will enjoy it. Bad days yes, but I've come to realise it really is a mindset game now.

Soft play might not have existed 30 or 50 years ago but I'm sure in the past mums would have filled the day with the toddler trailing along to the butcher and the baker and spending time with neighbours or grandparents or other stay at home mothers with their children. Certainly when I was on mat leave in recent years even going to the supermarket was a source of entertainment for a baby or youngish toddler. None of that has been possible during lockdown, walks were about the only thing that were - I think it's fair enough that people are bored of them! And bundling up daily for a mild south east winter is very different to going out in the Scottish winters we get some years, however many layers you have.

Forgot to say we have finally ordered a bat detector a Mag5 -they have been out of stock at various places for months -the kids have binoculars which they love on walks etc -but not much good when it is a dark walk but the bat detector mag 5 is awesome -we borrowed one and the kids are learning to identify them from the sounds. Awesome. Highly recommended for keeping them entertained.

I have a 20 month old and a DD due in November. I worry about this too. But, it will have to be baby meetups at home or in other houses with baby friends, winter walks all wrapped up and in wellies, crafts at home etc. I may even have to go visit my MIL! I will find it hard. On DC1 playgroups were my sanity. I am foreign and have no family around. DH works 12 hours a day. I really do feel your worry but I am determined to find ways to make things work. I refuse to sit in my house watching cbeebies.

Sorry to hijack where do you get waterproofs from for a toddler? I know there are lots of options

raingear for you and ds.
make use of the local park.

wrt raingear the hiking sections of outdoor stores have great ones.

I'm due in Dec with 2 year old at home but I think it will be ok, depending on transmission and risk of second waves etc

Some playgroups are talking about opening in Sept although I must say I'll be surprised if they can. We used to go to playgroups every day though so I'd love it if they were

We will try to go to outside playgrounds I guess and I hope baby classes etc may be able to open even if playgroups can't. I was thinking of classes for the toddler and baby can just watch just like they do with actual baby classes anyway! My toddler not at nursery either and family live far away but I think it will work out

There is no unsuitable weather only unsuitable clothing.

I'm dreading it OP. I live in London don't drive and I don't want to get public transport with my son if there is a second wave. We used to do such fun activities every day but all of them are closed. I have parks and woods nearby but nothing else. All I do everyday now is go to the park but in the rain it will be bleak 😢

I'm really hopeful that our toddler music class will be running again in September!

Softplays are so dirty and germy anyway I'm not sure how to make them "safe".

Toddler groups are a bit of a worry too - I run one and have no plans to restart at the moment. It's a large indoor gathering and minimal time for cleaning.

FelicityPike I’ve always hated that phase with a passion. Mine are fully kitted out with wellies, waterproofs etc but I personally do not find it enjoyable going to the playground in a storm or gale. Even the forest schools mine have been at have wet weather provision huts, canopies etc and all the kids have appropriate clothing.

@JRUIN

Soft play etc didn't exist when I was growing up, yet my mum somehow managed to keep 4 kids 'entertained.' Use your imagination.

To be fair, her time might have been better spent teaching you some empathy and manners.

@Sailingblue

FelicityPike I’ve always hated that phase with a passion. Mine are fully kitted out with wellies, waterproofs etc but I personally do not find it enjoyable going to the playground in a storm or gale. Even the forest schools mine have been at have wet weather provision huts, canopies etc and all the kids have appropriate clothing.

Oh I love it! There’s so much learning to be had from rain & storms.

Thank you for saying that @Sailingblue. Especially as OP will have a small baby with her, how practical is it to do a feed in the pouring rain if they get hungry or to give them a cuddle if they want comforting.

Zoo
Farm
Playground
Movie days
Arts and crafts
Baking
Beach
Local attractions (there's a dinosaur park, Bewilderwood etc near me)
Walks on nice days
Music/Dance activities
Make dens
Sock puppets
Chalk outside

These are a few things I've done or am planning on doing with my 21 month old.

Takes a bit of imagination but it's been great fun.

Definitely invest in some sensory stuff for littlest. Space blanket 99p on eBay. Loads of stuff on fb marketplace.

It's hard OP. I miss soft play a lot!

Use coats, winter clothes and wellies and go outside? UK winters are really mild. I don't see the issue

It is bloody miserable with a baby when the weather is shit though. Mine was breastfed and with all the fancy coats etc it was still a palaver trying to breastfeed in the pouring rain with a toddler who wants to run off into the woods.

Puddle jumping has its place but it is ok for people to want to do some warm and dry activities as well.

We couldn't afford soft play when dc were little. We did go out a lot. Other things we did was simply put on music in the living room and dance, play games like sleeping lions, lots of singing together, dressing up using old clothes.

@doadeer keep your eye on Lidl. Their waterproof trousers and jackets for toddlers are the best I’ve found and so, so cheap.

Other than that Muddy Puddles and Mountain Warehouse both do waterproof gear for wee ones.

We have walked so much..we have two dogs and live in a lovely area. But everyone is sick of it now! We seem to know every inch of every footpath for miles...

Winter is still a fair way off yet...

I wouldn't worry about it until you have to.

Feeling pretty gutted myself as it means I can't go back to work! Hoop has gone but Happity and Club Hub are still up and running if you want to keep an eye out for things reopening /find online classes. I know they're not the best option but we're all trying our best to make them as good as possible in the circs.