To be worried about staying sane stuck inside all winter with a 2 year old?

[Lardeedar]

Is anyone else struggling at home with a 1-3 year old that isn’t in nursery? My options before were park, playgroup, or friends/family visit at theirs but now The weather is turning I’m just having to keep her inside all day every day and we are both losing our minds!! The playgroups are all shut and now not allowed in anyone’s house.

You know the age where they won’t stick at anything for more than 2 minutes because all they want to do is explore new objects, places, people?! She literally cries when she sees that we’re coming home.

There’s a few outdoor play sessions Thank Goodness but mostly they are shutting everything down. I’m genuinely worried about her development and my mental health being cooped up with her crying continually asking for Hours and hours of tv. Anyone else?

You need an outdoor survival kit! Hand warmers, thermos mug, protective sheet to sit on.

Look on Pinterest for ideas of what to do and look at libraries for books (if open in your area).

Get your dc a waterproof all in one and wellies and embrace the outdoors. Honestly you have to get outside otherwise you might very well lose your mind.

Look at homemade play doh, salt dough, easy bakes and be creative. Indoor picnics, toy discos trips to a virtual zoo.

Can you tell I was a Sahm for years. It's very very hard work but each day will pass by.

I haven't read through all the comments but my advice would be to split the day up into chunks. Make meal times last a while. The prepping can be an activity! I also count going out to do chores as an activity for the day. My two year old loves a trip to the supermarket. We can also have a slow walk to the local shops some days which takes a while. We can also spend ages doing video calls to family members. Have a morning activity and an afternoon activity planned e.g. crafts, messy play, water play, puzzles, role play games. Also lots of peppa pig on standby

It does suck though. We had a really nice routine of playgroups and visits to friends and family before lockdown. I'm lucky that mine does go to nursery a few days a week though so I'm not worried about her socialising etc.

Yes hopsalong I think maybe a morning or two at nursery would really help

I'm sorry if this sounds defeatist but honestly as a mum of a baby and toddler the last thing I need is extra prep to leave the house and more stuff to cart around with me. I'm not the most muscular of people and my rucksack is already full.

I agree, I'm not seeing many of these families with toddlers in wellies at the park in the pissing rain. Did see a dad with older kids playing football and getting drenched which made me smile

These are really tough times. Believe me, I’m not harking back to yesteryear as some golden era but I do think perhaps one advantage of having my kiddies 30 years ago is that all these activities simply didn’t exist. It’s a relatively recent thing. My kids were in childcare while I worked, and other than that it was once a week at the mum and toddler group in the local church. All the stuff like baby music, little kickers, messy play etc didn’t exist - or if they did it was on a minuscule scale. I do think one advantage was that it was totally normal to bung the kids in wet weather gear, get out and just walk every day. Other than that, it was basically just toys at home, perhaps the occasional craft activity if I was feeling brave, and also getting them to help with cooking. Don’t feel it has to be something special like baking cakes; I’ve always felt it’s far more useful to get the kids involved with prepping normal lunch and dinner. Even a toddler can have a little bowl and scrub spuds etc

Don’t panic that your child might ‘miss out’. Many of these activities are money spinners for the franchise owner, not a necessary part of child development!

There is a saying ...
There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.

Just dress for the season. Plenty of fun to be had in the cold and rainy days just make sure to wear appropriate clothes 😊

Don't quite understand this belief that you have to 'stay shut up indoors' because the summer's over. You can still go on lovely walks. Our family's got all sorts of outdoor plans. We climbed hills with the babies/toddlers in outdoor backpacks. We've booked on for a torchlit night hike later in November too.

If your kid 'cries when we go home' you need to really wonder why. A child is more than capable of playing with toys, drawing, colouring, making things, playing imaginative games and doing puzzles, watching some quality TV, all kinds of nice things at home, without... crying in horror at the thought you've gone home? Come off it.

@Caelano

These are really tough times. Believe me, I’m not harking back to yesteryear as some golden era but I do think perhaps one advantage of having my kiddies 30 years ago is that all these activities simply didn’t exist. It’s a relatively recent thing. My kids were in childcare while I worked, and other than that it was once a week at the mum and toddler group in the local church. All the stuff like baby music, little kickers, messy play etc didn’t exist - or if they did it was on a minuscule scale. I do think one advantage was that it was totally normal to bung the kids in wet weather gear, get out and just walk every day. Other than that, it was basically just toys at home, perhaps the occasional craft activity if I was feeling brave, and also getting them to help with cooking. Don’t feel it has to be something special like baking cakes; I’ve always felt it’s far more useful to get the kids involved with prepping normal lunch and dinner. Even a toddler can have a little bowl and scrub spuds etc

Don’t panic that your child might ‘miss out’. Many of these activities are money spinners for the franchise owner, not a necessary part of child development!

I didn't do these activities - my kids both disliked them (didn't like other naughty kids, frankly) and I disliked trying to chat to the parents (they genuinely did only want to talk about nappy contents and sleepless nights.) They're definitely only of benefit to the person taking money at the door. It was also an advantage; they self-entertain quite normally, without any expectation of some expensive activity, and they are genuinely appreciative at the days out we have or board games we might play together.

Thanks Duanphen. We do do most of those indoor activities, but I think she’s crying cos she misses interacting with people and going to new places. She cries and says “lila’s house” and “claire’s House” (my sisters house and my friends). Just gets me down as she can’t understand why I don’t take her to those places anymore. You’re right that I need to distract her more with fun activities

Yes I hear you OP. I have a nearly 2 year old. It’s all very well saying ‘just wrap up and go for a walk’ but 1) we’ve been for a walk every day since fucking March and 2) We can dress appropriately but we both still find walking in the wind and rain miserable.
I have two school aged DC anyway so we have to wrap up and do the school run twice a day regardless (an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon). More walking in the cold and rain doesn’t really appeal. We’ve done ‘hunting for Gruffalos’, teddy bear picnics, Pooh sticks, basically anything you can do outdoors we’ve done (it’s been 7 months now after all).
Only one group has reopened round here and it was a limit of 6 people and is fully booked until Christmas.

The benefit of going out in bad weather is you can go home for a big bubble bath afterwards! Mind go in the bath when they are 'bored' and won't stop asking for tv. That will use up another hour! Maybe that will cheer her up, then a small hot chocolate as a treat. Makes going out and getting cold and wet worth it!

Are you in an area where meeting up outdoors is allowed? If you are I’d try my best to set up a couple of weekly meet-ups with a friend with a similar age child. These are desperate times so I’d even post on the local fb groups to find people if you don’t already know anyone.

My 3year old is very active and a nightmare to keep indoors. She has a few all in one puddle suits and wellies and we go for walks whatever the weather she tires herself out a little bit by jumping in puddles. She likes collecting treasure (leaves, sticks stones etc) She also has a scooter so she'll scoot to places and a balance bike but she prefers to scoot. We go to feed the ducks, and she loves playing in the woods.
It's crap everything being shut but you definitely don't need to be stuck inside, pack a little picnic and make it fun, or go for a good walk somewhere further away if you have a car and then treat little one to mcds on the way home!

@Caelano so you did have a mum and toddler group at the local church so that you could meet up with other adults and children occasionally - in a lot of places those are now shut with no date set for reopening.

Let's face it though it doesn't rain all day every day all winter (and I say that as a resident of Scotland) so even staying in on those wet days there is still loads of opportunity to get out and about. My dc love bikes and always have so that was a major incentive. We'd often hop on a bus or train to go somewhere and the journey was the biggest part of the day. I didn't do groups and rarely went to soft play as couldn't afford it.

All these people saying 'go out in all weathers' but DD will no longer go to the only group that's on here because it's outdoors and she got rained on last time. Have had to give up her place so someone else can go.

@midnightstar66

Let's face it though it doesn't rain all day every day all winter (and I say that as a resident of Scotland) so even staying in on those wet days there is still loads of opportunity to get out and about. My dc love bikes and always have so that was a major incentive. We'd often hop on a bus or train to go somewhere and the journey was the biggest part of the day. I didn't do groups and rarely went to soft play as couldn't afford it.

Don’t get me wrong mine loves being out and about. But it’s been 7 months of it now, and we’re all fucking bored of it. We’ve done every park/walk/bike path within miles of our house. We can’t go on the bus as I’m exempt from mask wearing but get yelled at every time I try to go anywhere that they’re required which distresses the toddler.

My DD (almost 2) loves to unpack advent calendars. There are loads of those in shops right now. The toy based ones are slightly pricier but they can stretch for days since she starts playing with the first few toys and forgets about the rest! Recently bought a slime calendar and she loved the little pots and containers. We set up a slime shop in her Barbie closet.

Last year when she was smaller she loved crinkly packets and small bottles. So I got a cheap beauty advent calendar and used all the stuff inside myself.

Stickers are also good and keep her entertained for ages since she has to concentrate on peeling them off and then finding a place to stick them!

Bubble baths with a "selection" of different bubbles including normal bubbles, bath/shaving foam, lotion foam etc.

Children are usually unphased by crappy weather. Invest in wellies, puddle suits etc and go out with her. Most children enjoy the sensory experiences of rain, puddles, mud etc and I suspect that running in wellies is more tiring than running in trainers so will hopefully lead to some good sleep at night

On wet days when you need to get them out the house, remember garden centres usually have a large outdoor space with a roof and lots for little ones to look at. If it has water features displayed, fish tanks and even a cafe that's a great trip out for a toddler.

There is a saying ...
There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.

It's not so much the cold (I used to live in the Alps, up to -15 is fine if you've got sunshine and the right clothes) it's the wind and rain - I live by the sea, there are plenty of winter days where a toddler would get knocked off their feet by the wind.

It probably also depends on the DCs ages, I have a baby (can go in the sling) and a robust 4.5 year old, winter would be more stressful with a not that steady yet 18m year old.

I'm too scared to try them because we rent but I saw an advert for bath crayons which look really fun. A pickler triangle might also be a good investment/Christmas present.

My now 5 year old really hated strong winds, always massive screaming however well wrapped she was between the ages of 18 months and 3. She's still a bit funny about the wind in her face and eyes.

I hate the days when the wind is blowing the rain (or hail) straight into your face. I don't blame the kids for not enjoying that...

Cold we can do, wet we can do, windy is ok (but we do try to avoid woods/forests because of the number of big branches you find on the ground afterwards.

It's the cold plus windy plus wet that's a real pain with kids, especially those that seem to dislike hats and whose hood goes up and down every 30s on a half hour walk!

wrt raingear - decathlon has decent stuff. or other outdoor stores.
didriksons is fab but pricey.
but beware of the ski stuff, if it's padded it can get very warm in there in temperatures above 10 degrees.

@Caelano

These are really tough times. Believe me, I’m not harking back to yesteryear as some golden era but I do think perhaps one advantage of having my kiddies 30 years ago is that all these activities simply didn’t exist. It’s a relatively recent thing. My kids were in childcare while I worked, and other than that it was once a week at the mum and toddler group in the local church. All the stuff like baby music, little kickers, messy play etc didn’t exist - or if they did it was on a minuscule scale. I do think one advantage was that it was totally normal to bung the kids in wet weather gear, get out and just walk every day. Other than that, it was basically just toys at home, perhaps the occasional craft activity if I was feeling brave, and also getting them to help with cooking. Don’t feel it has to be something special like baking cakes; I’ve always felt it’s far more useful to get the kids involved with prepping normal lunch and dinner. Even a toddler can have a little bowl and scrub spuds etc

Don’t panic that your child might ‘miss out’. Many of these activities are money spinners for the franchise owner, not a necessary part of child development!

I speak only for myself, but the whole reason why I’m driven to paying money for (one or two) expensive toddler groups, is that all the free/low-cost activities (such as church groups, or rhyme time in the library) no longer exist in my area. I don’t really want to pay £7 for 40 mins for my child to sit alone on a foam mat either...I’d swap that in a heartbeat for a stay and play church session as you mention. But even more importantly, there are very few ‘normal‘ community / neighbourly interactions due to social restrictions. Nursery if you can afford it is the obvious choice (£60 for two mornings a week where I am) but not everyone can or is able to send their child there.

You make the best of what you have of course.

Caelano so your children were in childcare and you had one tots group a week - christ I wish we had that. There isn't a group open for 20 miles here (rural, we have to travel to things anyway) and I can't afford to stick her in private nursery, she'll have to wait until next September. One group in a church hall, one morning a week is all I'm asking for really, it would make a huge difference.

Nobody bloody wants to meet either - we're in lockdown here but I sort of thought parents of toddlers by this stage would make their own risk assessments for the sake of sanity and at least meet for a stomp around the woods- but I've asked and everyone is all "no, we're staying in again."

Maybe it's just me they don't want to see actually