Winter with little kids is just a bit shit..

[blernam]

..or is it just me?
Following the shitness of lock down and the past summer where we used up every winter activity as all it did was bloody rain I'm finding winter a bit hard tbh.
We do get outside whenever possible but I hate wind and rain and we have done every activity to death (library, trampolines, soft play, museum etc etc). I also have two days off a week and sometimes feel like I'm filling time until DS 4 goes to school.
We do down time in the house (play dough, reading, baking etc), but fuck am I bored of it and I'm sometimes envious of child free friends who can just do a bit of DIY and veg out with a film of a weekend.
Try to avoid too much tv, get the balance between independent play and engaging parenting. Do some local classes but not too many. Fuck me, my head explodes.
I also WFH which doesn't help.

Not at all, solidarity I am so sick of this RAIN. We have two boys who are 2 and 4 years and honestly I have cried a lot on the past few weeks. I’m exhausted, I’ve had a chest infection since Christmas, the weather has been abysmal and this winter feels so long. Filling 12 hours of their days is so hard - I have one day off a week with them but it just feels relentless now. We’ve had so much illness which has kept them off nursery as well.

Trying not to wish time away and “soak it up” but yeh I’m burnt out big time. I also WFH and just sick of being indoors now and the grey days.

We have good waterproofs and we do go out regardless but doesn’t mean it’s not hard work. My two year old goes nuts everytime we put his outerwear on so it’s not a simple as just getting them outside. Also live in Glasgow so it’s bloody freezing and they’ll do the park for max an hour due to temperature which is bloody fair enough.

anyway moan over, it’s not just you. I remind myself it’s hard because IT IS HARD. Roll on spring

Yanbu. My dc are adults now but I feel a bit traumatised when I think back to their toddler years, especially the long dark winters. These are the toughest times.

You don't have to go anywhere or do anything fancy to entertain them. TV or radio on in the background, books and magazines within easy reach, pens and paper available when they want, Lego in easy reach in a big box... then you just sit back and supervise and are there when they want to talk to you. A trip to the shops is exciting enough for a little kid, especially if they get to choose a new book or magazine or something.

It is awful. We’ve been trapped in a lot because we’ve all been ill in turns since mid January especially the littlest. I feel like I should have shares in Calpol at this point

It's awful.
And I have teens now. February half term felt like a punishment.
No playgroup.
Outside is either muddy or cold.
It's not fun.

@awitchoftroubleinelectricblue
Yes I appreciate this but sometimes I like to leave the house too.
We have Lego table and crafts etc, we are frequent visitors to the works.
Also little kids go bat shit crazy stuck in the house all day.

@Marshmallow87 @WishIMite @toomanyleggings @Onacuctustree
Solidarity to you all. Also glad it's not just me!

YANBU. I recommend Cosmic Kids Yoga as a good screen time/ movement compromise. The problem for me isn't that we can't go outside, but that we can't stay out. It often feels like a big messy palaver getting ready and then back into inside clothes for a short amount of time outside.

YANBU......my twins are 7 now and honestly winter entertainment is dire!

My teens are not needing entertaining anymore but I remember all the hours we spent trying to keep them busy and entertained in crap weather. Some tv, some jigsaws, simple board games and crafts but yes it’s tough and im ashamed to admit I was bored sometimes!! Hang in there

We don’t mind but we like chilling at home 😊

@Everydayimhuffling
I quite like the cosmic kids. Agree with this, muddy puddle suits plus dogs plus everyone is snotty and wet is not much fun. Versus the boundless energy if we don't get out. Soft play again tomorrow (my soul slowly dies a bit).

It's the relentless mud that gets to me at this time of year. My DC are a little bit older now, but ds is a rugby player so I have never escaped it.

I feel like this; in lockdown I did a lot of rainy muddy activities as there was no other choice and now I just hate being out in the rain.

It's brutal. I have a high energy 18mo and our local park was flooded for over a week recently. Counting down the days until warmer weather comes

Yep. Sick to death of the mud!

Agreed OP, I'm not naturally outdoorsy but my 2 young DSs are extremely lively and trash the house if we don't go out! They aren't that interested in craft/play dough or anything that involves sitting still at home (unless it's screen)

We've invested in decent outdoor clothes and boots for the whole family, and I often take a travel mug of nice coffee with me on long walks, which improves things greatly!

Joining in!

I've got twins who have just turned four and winter is really beginning to drag. I try to keep them busy - pre-school two days per week, swimming, gymnastics. They have so. much. energy. Whenever we're at home they fight and shout and scream and break everything. It's now half term so everything stops, and I'm feeling pretty despondent! They won't sit for 2 minutes to do crafty things, just make a huge mess and then say they've had enough. Obviously we go to the park and for bike rides etc, but agree with the PP who is also tired of all the faff with muddy/damp clothes and wellies etc. I just feel so fed up at the moment!

It's not been too bad for us but we have all the London attractions at our disposal and luckily a budget to match. My school aged dc has had a multi sports camp during half term, my 1yo has had gymnastics, music and Hartbeeps classes, and we've done 3 shows and some workshops at the children's festival at Southbank. The weather has been pleasantly sunny at times so we've had some playground time too.

@AnonymouseCat
Eek two times the energy. DS is on the go 6-8, dropped all naps at one which was a bit of a shocker.
He will sit for about 30 mins for a craft or colouring but needs to be active.
Like PP we have good outdoor clothing and a bike etc but the faff of it all.
We are in somerset too where it's rained/flooded for months (feels like years).
DH and I both term time (he's a teacher, I'm ex but work in education) so also have the hols to fill as nursery is term time only

This. We have one car that is the dedicated rugby car so one remains in a reasonable state and the other just gets hosed down in April.

@kellin
I often think a trip to london would be fab, so much for him to see and do.
We have done a museum workshop, a local NT castle, swimming, his regular gymnastic class but somerset isn't brill for stuff. We actually got a hot tub recently and this has been amazing. It's forecast rain every day for the next month.

We have national trust passes and use them a lot at this time of year. Theres usually something for them to go and look at in the houses, a trail to go on plus most of them have play areas and a cafe so we can kill a good few hours there. It costs us about £12 a month for a family pass.

Yanbu.

I had to buy extra long thick winter coats and bundle them up in thick out door gear and live in the park. With a hot drink in a flask and hot water bottle stuck down the back of my leggings as you just stand around!

We joined the national trust too which was roughly similar but more walking, cake and warm places to sit/ walk round. And we spent more time there in winter than summer tbh.

Beach in winter is quite good actually, especially if you can get fish and chips

We did soft plays a lot too but i found my first would always catch something and my second was toddler during lockdown so we just didn't access those as much.

It was relentless and driven by naps or teatime and endless snacks.

It really does pass and does get easier.

Today is a bit rubbish and everyone is over tired. But February half term hasnt been that bad here. Did indoor activities Tuesday & Wednesday as it was wet, but the rest of the week and weekend before were sunny. It was sunny and 17 celsius on Thursday, which I thought was pretty warm for February!! During the week when older two are at school I do toddler groups or see friends if it’s wet. I always manage my expectations, it’s winter it’s going to be a bit wet at times but really compared to many places that get piles of snow I think we do get off lightly! And it’s getting lighter now, spring is around the corner.