To ask for activity ideas with the DC

[isawthatt]

Posting here for traffic as I am desperate. We’ve gone into lockdown and I have a 4 year old DD, 3 year old DS and 5 month old DS. We live in a small village, there’s only a play park a woodland and some hilly walks. I’m a SAHM and DH works until 5 so I need to find some activities to do with the DC to keep the entertained through the lockdown. Indoor and outdoor ideas please. Thank you!

Do you have a local community Facebook group??

Our local school PTA has set up trails where you have clues and go and local houses that are decorated and have a special letter in the window etc. I guess just asking for houses with outdoor decorations could be enough?

Wet outdoor play - splashing in puddles then warm bath afterwards.

Nature treasure hunt.

Foot painting.

There must be internet sites with ideas from first lockdown?

Four year old might like GoNoodle on YouTube
Starfall app
Make a fort
Cut out Christmas trees from cardboard and let them out stickers on as decorations

@RandomMess I’m not on Facebook, but I do knows there’s a Christmas light trail near me. There are ideas on the internet but I thought I’d ask here too as there may be more ideas for activities to do with DC the age of mine.

Colour bath. Put a few drops of food colouring in the bath. It doesn't stain their skin and they love it.

Can you drive? If so take them for a drive around to look at Christmas lights. What area are you in? Guessing Kent - some outdoor spaces still open, such as Hever Castle.

Baking Christmas sugar biscuits to hang on the tree or for father xmas. Collect big stones on a walk, then paint them at home, then plant the painted stones on your next walk for other people to spot.

Is it time to plant bulbs?

Mine loved magic maize and washable crayola felt tips.

Could you make up story sacks where you find objects to go with stories?

We’ve been in tier 3 most of the year. We did crafting leading up to Xmas- made homemade postcards for family with black card, ribbons cut into strips and sequins. I’ve seen other more crafty mums collect foliage from walks and make wreaths.

We also move around the house during the day, so we play up in her room some of the day, we do hide and seek and play rockets in her bed whilst we FaceTime family.

Baking muffins is quick and easy and the older two can get involved.

Are garden centres open in your tier? They’re good for the lights and decorations this year.

Giving dolls a bath?
Washing dishes (play teasets or any plastic dishes you have)
Go out collecting sticks and use them to make pictures / structures in the garden after
Chalk hopscotch on the pavement outside your house. (the most unlikely people will also have a go when they walk past!)
Pairing all the odd socks up!

I think if I was tier four with little ones I’d be outside as much as possible - at least every day.
Simple things with baby in a rucksack - feeding ducks, collecting pebbles to paint, a trip to beach, parks a bit further away, maybe.
Walking to see Christmas lights in various places.
Going to see crib in church.

At home playdough, junk modelling, painting the fence with water. Collage pictures, biscuit making and decorating. A tub and lots of plastic things for water play in the bath.
An hour story time everyday choosing books in turn, curled up on sofa.
Half an hour dancing or action songs - must be something online.

I think routine is your friend with set times for meals and certain activities like reading, television and action songs.

Hiya, thank you there’s some brilliant ideas here. I’m making a spreadsheet on what activities to do and when.

To answer a few questions, I’m in Wales and in Level 4 (lockdown). Practically everything but essential shops are closed. I don’t drive, but DH does so we could go somewhere further away after he gets home from work or on the weekends. I’m a bit reluctant to go too far though.

Go on scouting and guiding websites and look at their ideas for beavers/rainbows which many will be easily adaptable if not already suitable for your younger ones.

Off the top of my head:

Get reams of printer paper so they can scribble/colour/draw to their hearts content you could even make paper chains or snowflake Xmas decorations from the results which I'm sure you'd treasure as memories or even in the years to come (there are also many other ways you can turn kids "art" into permanent family heirlooms

Salt dough ornaments/paper weights (gifts for grandparents?)

Exploring textures - doesn't have to be particularly wet/messy can be just making things from pasta, rice, any materials you have hanging about - cereal boxes, kitchen roll tubes, old magazines etc

Balloon games can be fun this time of year

Old favourites - I spy, musical bumps, pass the parcel but each "unwrapping" the kid has to do something fun like make a silly face,

"Exercises" - little kids need to burn off their energy, clear space wherever you can (I have fond memories of upending coffee tables and moving sofas to clear space in my childhood home to do breakfast telly aerobics!) and get them doing star jumps, running on the spot etc

Chalk hopscotch on the pavement outside your house. (the most unlikely people will also have a go when they walk past!)

I LOVE this

Thank you! Some brilliant ideas