To wonder what other parents do with their kids all day

[Frolickingfoam]

It's been raining non stop. We don't live near family. We don't have childcare help. Got two under 3.5 who wake up at 6am, and one doesn't nap at all.

Genuinely what do other people do with their kids all day? We do try to limit tv but just do not have the mental emotional or physical energy to entertain or play with them all day. If I put out an activity they might engage with it for 10 minutes, max. The hours drag on. There's only so many stories I can read/they are interested in. They play together for a bit but then it descends into fighting.

I feel like a terrible parent for hiding in the loo just so I don't have to engage with them for a minute. I give them far too many snacks because it's something to do. Am I missing some kind of amazing parenting trick? How do other people stay sane? Helllppp

I'm a similar boat to you OP. No childcare help and up at 5:30 this morning.

My answer is TV. Sometimes you just have to. Every time I beat myself up about it I have to remind myself that I watched a fuckload of tv as a kid and have turned into a well balanced and responsible adult with a good job and lots of interests.

Don't feel bad about the tv.

I'm going to write all these down in a list on my phone!

@pepsicolagirl love the Cinderella game 😂

I think underneath it is the guilt that I find playing with my kids boring a lot of the time and often I would rather be working. I know that is awful and I will miss them being young 🥺 it's also so hard to balance both of their needs. Sigh.

Sometimes needs must. Dp and I are both feeling really unwell so we have spent most of the weekend snuggled on the couch with the kids, watching tv.

Obstacle courses get a LOT of time here. I have a 2 & 4 year old and if I can't wear them out outside I do this inside. Best thing about obstacle course is that you can sit down and "supervise" (ie mumsnet) while they get exercise. You just have to throw out the occasional “good jump““wow“ etc. All it takes is a mattress on floor/chair to jump off etc, 10 star jumps, a roly poly etc etc. My kids love it.

I asked DS what he wanted to do today, he's 2.5 he said go to town and get a coffee! I blame his father. We did though we walked the ten minutes to the station and got the train because he loves them and the getting the ticket, waving to the driver etc (it's a mile and a half 4 minute train trip), we went and got a hot drink, we had coffee he had milk, and walked down to the beach with them, we walked along the seafront to the park where he had a snack and a run around, fed the squirrels some nuts then walked home. It was raining on and off but we've got wellies and raincoats. Got back he 'helped' start dinner and put some laundry in the machine, then did some drawing, we put a film on but he was too busy making ramps for his recycling truck..... Dinner, bath stories, bed.

He also loves playing floor is lava. I can't wait for soft play to reopen

Morning: played with Lego and had a swimming lesson (and they played in the pool for 1.5hrs after).

They were tired after that so I walked the dog while they stayed home with DH, ate lunch/ played computer games/ more Lego.

Then we went to the shops. Home, more computer games, dinner and a Mario Cart tournament before bed (DH won )

I honestly wouldn't put too much pressure on yourself. Go puddle stamping, teach them a card game or do some baking.

I always find that getting out at least once a day to do anything always makes me feel better.

I don't know what's open/what you're comfortable with/finances but at the toddler age at we did as much stuff out the house every day as we could:
Soft play
Visiting garden centres to see the pets, water fountains, sheds, cake in the cafe
Museums so they can run around and play
Travelled on public transport for fun
Swimming
Parks
Window shopping at local shopping centre and go on the little rides, cafe
Library
Pond dipping at local nature reserve
Train into our city centre, wander around people watching, buskers
Any booked activities I could find like pottery painting, sensory play, baby rave, music or craft session run by the council or charities, swimming lessons, rugby tots, football tots, baby ballet and so on
DH took them to a fortnightly dad's stay and play session run by the council on Saturday mornings
Days out to animal parks, country houses, big parks

At home on a wet day we did:
Long bubble baths
Baking
Jigsaw
Peg pictures
Den building
Play dough
Playing in the garden
Walking round the local streets with wellies and puddle suit on then home for hot chocolate
Imagination play

It's pretty intense at that age and they have no attention span to do proper crafts, it's always imagination games so I remember how boring it all got

@Frolickingfoam

I'm going to write all these down in a list on my phone!

@pepsicolagirl love the Cinderella game 😂

I think underneath it is the guilt that I find playing with my kids boring a lot of the time and often I would rather be working. I know that is awful and I will miss them being young 🥺 it's also so hard to balance both of their needs. Sigh.

Haha you're welcome!

Don't feel guilty, young kids can be boring AF!!
It can make you feel like you're going nuts!!

Just use what you have. You don't need flash toys. Duvet covers, chairs to make a den. kiddy yoga or workouts on YouTube. Prit stick, uncooked pasta, cut outs from magazines or holiday brochures. Salt dough, cooked pasta for sensory play. Paint sticks!

Definitely go out every single day, just put on wellies and waterproofs.

Indoor picnic with rug on floor and teddies
Make a den then look at books in there
Long daytime bath with toys
Make a big train track/duplo city together
Bake and decorate fairy cakes

Blow up some balloons and bat them about.

Making a den in the furniture as already mentioned is a good one.

Indoor picnic?

Yes dens! We did that a lot , oh and your username made me think, foamy soap! Jellibaff etc!

Some good suggestions here.

I would also set up a play table/area with some different toys there that are not usually there. I find that having them out ready to play often helps them become re-interested in toys they may not otherwise enjoy.

Play baths with lots of bubbles.

Go for a drive in the car, stop somewhere quiet and eat snacks. Play games in the car (how many red cars/trees can you see etc.

@pepsicolagirl

My daughters favourite game when she was 6 was cinderella. I was the wicked stepmother and she had to tidy what I told her to. Excellent game 9/10

I think we'll all agree you officially win. Excellent activity!

When they were little it was train tracks. Lots of train tracks.

Isnt there something called the 5 minute mum? Someone with younger dc posted about it on fb.

Today we have managed to watch all 3 minion movies, one of which was done in the form of a family nap/cuddle on the couch while mummy recovered from her vaccine 😂

My 3yo loves to help with cleaning so while I vacuum I give him random disconnected attachments or the carpet brush to use which he thinks is so fun (long may that last...)

He’s had some tablet time

We drove to Smyths and had a wander around there. He got to pick out some cheapy toys.

Honestly I’m not and never will be one of those mums who can spend all day playing with them. Love them to bits of course and want to nurture them to grow up but I also need time to get on with things in peace or just have time to myself even if that means screen time on miserable days. It won’t kill them

@pepsicolagirl

My daughters favourite game when she was 6 was cinderella. I was the wicked stepmother and she had to tidy what I told her to. Excellent game 9/10

Oh my God that's genius

I hear you op, it's hard when they're so small. Mine are 3 and 1.

Puddle walks if it's not torrential.
If it's dry, follow their interests, looking at sticks/stones, collecting daisies, pine cones etc. Make a collage with them at home - you only really need some paper and PVA glue.
Reading, reading, reading. Mine would happily be read to all day.
Baking and cooking - even just putting the tea in the slow cooker.
Pretend games. This evening we pretended to be going on a train to the beach while DH cooked the tea.
Toy tea party.
Open ended play - build with blocks. Play farms. Play pirates. Dinosaurs.
Help me put the washing machine on/take stuff out/pass me pegs.
Help put dry clothes in the right bedrooms.
Paint. So many cheap craft ideas.
Make up stories with a few story prompts.
Duplo.

I love open ended toys for keeping my 3 year old entertained.

Also, TV. My eyes don't open properly until I've had at least 1 cuppa.

When things get dire I play fetch with my 3 year old, she loves it

When mine was that age I HAD to get out with him, for my sanity. We'd always do something in the morning like a toddler group, or a class or museum/swimming/library/bakery for a cake/shops/cafe/soft play/park/botanic gardens. Then home for lunch, he'd nap for around 2.5 hours then we'd chill with tv/tablet/toys/books/long bath and generally mill around the house til DH got home. Sometimes we'd go to the shops in the afternoon if we got bored.

I'm not great at going out in the rain to just be in the rain. It isn't a thing I can comfortably do. But we just play to our strengths I guess. I'll play Roblox with him for ages though, him on his tablet and me on my phone. That's something I enjoy and can understand.

Now he's older I find the days don't drag like they used to when he was little. This will be a phase of their lives before they get older and go to school. That feeling of the days dragging will be behind you at some point, I've only recently realised that I don't clock watch the same way I used to.

It's not so bad going out in the rain, but yes it has been it pouring down.

Maybe something you could enjoy together. I like colouring books and jigsaws. Sounds massively boring, but once you get into it, it's honestly not too bad. I find colouring relaxing and I've even found myself doing jigsaws in my own. Also building bricks are good, making little castles or houses. Those play mats with streets on them and cars

Have a 6 and 3 year old. Today we went out in the rain to a new playground that's recently opened. Girls had a great time.
Got home watched the Lion King, did some painting and glitter glues.
Played just dance.

Oh, also

Library
Feed the ducks
Outside play - scooter/sand/running around.
Bark rubbings
Finger painting
A tub of 'indoor sand' and things to scoop/pour/fill/diggers/things to hide and find. Same with water and scooping/pouring.

Duplo
Jigsaw puzzles
Anything with water
Muddy puddle walk
Fort building/obstacle course
Family meals with toys or games

I limit TV to late afternoon, but only because i find they have a low attention span if they get early in the day
The routine helps them to stay focused too
Every kid is different though