To wonder what to do with my children on these endless rainy afternoons?

[catsandkittensandcats]

I know we should be in puddle suits and wellies embracing life at the park but we really, REALLY don’t want to do that.

I have a three and a half year old and an eleven month old. Eleven month old can’t walk but obsessed with pulling herself up to stand and wanting to crawl everywhere.

We have endlessly done soft play to the point where I drove to one 30 minutes away last week because I think we were all fed up of the other ones.

We have also done the role play places a LOT - they are lovely but worried they’re becoming tedious. And the baby can’t really join in although she doesn’t seem to mind crawling around eating any toys she finds.

Swimming is a no because you need two adults for two under fives. We’ve been to the library but neither find it hugely interesting and so it only fills about three quarters of an hour.

Groups are on in the morning but then I’m left with a loooong afternoon - is there anything I’ve missed?

@ButWhatAboutTheBees apologies - I fully accept there may be no ‘solutions’ to this problem but I am mostly looking for ideas out of the house and most people are suggesting things like TV and crafts and baking that are home based. We do still spend plenty time at home, if we’re at a group in the morning (maybe an hour) and something for an afternoon is maybe two hours, three maximum, it still leaves plenty of time for Tv. Too much …

@Singleandproud unfortunately Ds would definitely expect a soft play followed by a buffet and all his mates singing - I’d love to do that too but not very practical!

I appreciate you have ruled it out but I always found my children were in a lot better form when they got outdoor time. Baby can be put in an appropriate swing and older one can explore the rest of the playground. Then ye could do tree rubbings etc.

By all means in house pop up a travel cot empty in bags of balls and get them to take turns. Hand painting, Duplo, twister a lot of times were hits here.

Season ticket to local attractions like farm parks? Most have some indoor sections.

Are there any local mums that you could meet up with at each other houses. There's probably apps to meet people or you could ask your health visitor

Any afternoon groups available?

Maybe go a bit further afield? 30 mins to another soft play isn't that much. In rural areas that's a short distance to get to anything!

Jigsaws
Puzzles
Mad baking (very messy)

Den building - mine used to love building a sofa fort, or throwing blankets over the dining table and then getting all their soft toys to camp under there. They would play for hours once the den was built.

Baking always went down well - cookies that could then be decorated after were good.

A lot of craft - we used to have an easel that had a chalk board on one side, we did a lot of painting, chalk drawing etc.

Mine also spent quite a lot of time helping me with housework, sorting clothes, loading the washing machine etc. They seemed to find it entertaining (wish they still did!)

When my eldest was crawling, he used to love to empty out the pan drawer and the CD cupboard (showing my age!), so I used to make sure there was nothing in there that could hurt him, then let him crack on.

Do you have any museums or public art galleries nearby? In Manchester most of the museums have a space for children, and it's usually very under-5s friendly, with giant objects to touch/crawl all over, some sort of display or activity for toddlers.

God I remember these days. I totally understand why hours in the house feel so eternal.
I did a big list of afternoon activities to look at when I had no plans and needed inspiration, some were in the house for when it was properly raining out, I got them off Pinterest and they mostly involved toilet rolls, rice, toy cars etc (nothing at all elaborate) and the others were totally mundane things like going to big Tesco to choose a favourite fruit, or going to the big out of town shopping centre for something I could easily get nearer me like envelopes, just to get us a change of scenery. Once a week we went to the local cafe for tea and cake.
We live near a big city so did all the museums, galleries, trails etc, even in the rain. The bus ride was exciting enough even if we only managed an hour in the destination.

Do you have other local mums in the same boat? Go “ out on a visit” to their house one afternoon then they visit you on another afternoon say it’s a party to the 3 yr old. Houses are already child proofed and new toys to play with for the visiting kids. Do you have a toy library near you or a charity shop selling children’s toys to switch things up? Most 3 year olds want to help so a wee cloth, mini dust pan and brush or child size sweeping brush keeps them busy. Make snack time a game, hide bits of fruit, cheese or whatever in Tupperware type boxes and let them find them. If you have outside space is there a possibility of arranging shelter so you can still use the space if a bit drizzly?

I’ll have to look into museums. I thought they’d be a bit too young but it would be good if there was one with some interactive things. We did Cadbury world once but it was a bit old for them although they enjoyed the chocolate!

What about bus or train rides locally, mainly for the excitement of the journey?

I had the opposite problem in Latin America, scorching heat and UV at 17. Yes, seventeen. I used to do indoor picnics, puzzles and board games, all sorts of indoor games depending on the age.

No relatives /dgp's to visit regularly?

I usually take my toddler to a museum, gallery or theatre show. We're in London so we have lots of options a quick tube ride away.

Try trips to big, boring shops like DFS. Usually carpeted, so baby can try to stand without too much to hurt themselves. You can kid yourself it’s educational by doing a bit of half arsed “can you find a red chair?” with the toddler too. It’s quite boring but free, dry and warm. Curry’s is always good for toddlers too as they like opening and closing the doors of washing machines and the like. Pets at Home is the best but save that for special occasions.

a cardboard box with every plastic sieve ,funnel ,microwave container,spoon and lid you possess to be opened up and laid out and then stacked and replaced. Bubbles are a godsend blown by you for chasing in the house and catching. I loved packet bought crumble which could be stirred round in plastic bowl with spoon for ages. Bake an apple in the microwave add the topping and it’s a treat for daddy when home😀 I had ready made rolled out pastry as a stand by and cut out letters and a plastic lattice cutter which could be given for poking out the holes. Gave me time to clear up.
I also crochet and found that just sitting there with them rolling around on the floor at my feet they chuntered away happily. Much better tv for kids now as I’m a G’ma to several.

Do you have family around OP like your parents who might be not working. I would go and visit them :)

Oh I remember those days very well! There are only so many times you can go round the park in the rain. Museums and garden centres are a good shout, my two loved wandering round a garden centre. It might not be possible near you, but any pick your own farms opened yet? Where I am pick your own strawberries are usually in a polytunnel so actually not horrific even in the rain.

Even an art gallery can be a distraction, usually lots of rooms to run through - and some galleries here have free activities for kids which offers a distraction. Plus of course ikea can easy fill an afternoon if there's one near you.

I used to take mine to the pet shop sometimes to look at the guinea pigs. Anything to get out of the house.

Mine loved a trip to the supermarket at that age. Ride in the trolley, give the eldest the list and get them to help. Even better if you have one near you where you can scan the items as you go round. My DC love this.

Similarly trips to Ikea, Decathlon and Pets at Home are popular.

Any nice local museums near you? I've found even the smallest and most improbable museum can keep mine entertained.

I had two 17 months apart so I remember this stage.
I would do the group in the morning then back for lunch and hopefully someone would nap.
Then the afternoon we'd usually go for a walk with the double pushchair either to around about or to the shops or I'd get a take away coffee. I know it sounds dull, but usually someone might have a snooze (not me!) and it killed a bit of time then back for tv and tea time. Or I would go to someone's house for a play or vice versa. It is a boring phase, I won't lie.

Museums
wildlife trust places (they do toddler days which are fantastic)
zoo membership
National trust places
shopping when they make lists - draw pictures of fruit and veg.
aquarium and aquatic shops (Maidenhead aquatics let you feed the fish for £1)
libraries

best thing I ever did was buy a puddle jumping suit and just get out in it.

Have theme days, so Pizza day for example - Do a list with simple pictures for the 3yr old to follow and take them shopping for the ingredients (sainsburys do a dry dough mix you just add water to I would recommend and supermarkets where they have the mini trolleys, give the kids the money to pay with) then you go home and make the pizza, wear aprons, play opera music etc, this then also serves as lunch and really does waste a few hours and is teaching them social skills, forward planning as well as basic cooking.

Get a toy rechargeable remote control car, 3yr old will love it and the 11mnth old will chase it around - this one we have is indestructible! You can build ramps/obstacles etc. https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjR8fL67dCGAxVyklAGHVlJAikYABAYGgJkZw&gclid=CjwKCAjwyJqzBhBaEiwAWDRJVBEE0D4UcqeougwftzdrsG0yzPVnfutrpEm6cLnkVFkEpoj32N_NBBoCSNAQAvD_BwE&sph=&ohost=www.google.co.uk&cid=CAESeOD2WoorlJRN9sBgLiPmrrD_HJL9j6rc212plVcAcDRP60jOpl7_Dqe_js9AW13w5s77E8ue3A5sphkk5eacp1FtNmAgwGB5kBNIADGiID2xvLyGiVvKvQX5GHuOZmRYpYfL8xGEaeTwiAWiZd0tZZksPIP76tiENw&sig=AOD64_2w4DHuG2S3qPxOGjs_P5hS0Z7B6Q&ctype=46&q=&ved=2ahUKEwirpev67dCGAxXRQ0EAHQJUDlsQzzkoAHoECAYQOQ&adurl=

Final one, is to do the you tube dance/ninja videos for kids where they copy the actions - I know its TV but it’s also exercise! I learnt mine liked it when they used to try and get involved with my exercise and yoga videos…which are also an option as gets you moving too.

This and also public transport to get there can be fun and fills the day

Transport day - go for a ride on a bus/tram/train. Costs a, day rover for you and free for the children. Don't have to go anywhere in particular, but a cafe stop, or interesting large shop, or museum or art gallery en route can be good. Can spend a while in a train station watching the trains. Make the travel longer than direct a-b, and the excitement.

Walk to the local shops to buy ingredient for tea - again walk the long way round. Stick in bath afterwards to warm up if its wet and rainy. Take yourself a mug of tea into the bathroom so you can recharge a bit while they splash.

If it is just drizzly do go to the park in waterproofs. Take a flask/keep cup of tea/coffee with you - hot drink is how I found standing pushing a swing in the cold to be bearable.

See if you can befriend another family or two with similar age children.... Meeting up at a park in the rain is much more bearable with another adult to chat to, and taking it in turns to host for an hour or 2 at home for a cuppa while the children play can fill part of an afternoon really well... You could bake buns to eat when friend comes round as an indoor activity too.

Filling the days when the weather is rubbish and the kids are small can be really hard work, I remember it well

Mine would play keepy-uppy with a balloon for a surprisingly long time at that age. Good if you only have a small garden or inside if it’s really wet.

You can also make an obstacle course by stringing wool across a corridor. Quick to set up, baby can crawl along the floor and the older one can practise ninja skills by climbing over/under the wool.

How wet is it? Mine used to like feeding the ducks and puddle stomping and I found it bearable if we dried off in the nature reserve cafe afterwards. It’s easier when they’ll still wear all in one suits because then it’s just yourself you need to keep dry.

Cosmic kids yoga is really good too. Project it onto your tv and pretend you’re out at a baby class!

We don’t have any family to visit unfortunately. PIL are an hour away and often aren’t around and my parents are dead. Will have to try a random train ride somewhere. I was wondering about that for tomorrow but it’s parking at the station and the pushchair and I don’t actually know where we’d go! But the three year old would probably enjoy watching the trains.

The weather is so interchangeable: in a half hour swimming lesson we had lashing rain and bright sunshine. It’s difficult for a non walker and even in good weather she can only really use the swings.