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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Indoor activities for parent and child

6 replies

orangeleopard · 30/07/2024 12:32

Posting here for traffic really. But I’m disabled with severe chronic pain and have an almost 5 year old who’s on the pathway to be diagnosed with adhd/autism. My mum and family often help us and takes my son out as I often can’t. My family are going on holiday for the next week so I’m basically going to be stuck in with my son for the week - so I was wondering what activities/hobbies you can do indoors. To note, I literally have no outdoor space as I’m in a flat. I don’t want people to come at me and say it’s not fair he’s stuck in for the week, as I know it isn’t - but due to my disabilities I cannot get out to do things with him alone, and I also cannot afford to pay for care as I’m a single parent also so I don’t have the finances (and adult social services are useless).

so I guess, I’m just asking for activities, hobbies, even suggested movies for the upcoming week to make our week a little more enjoyable

OP posts:
OperationalSupport · 30/07/2024 12:38

What kind of things does he enjoy? Does he need structure and continuous input or could you set things up and leave him to it for a little while?

I’ve had to keep my kids mostly indoors due to the heat today and yesterday, we’ve done some Lego challenges (eg who can build the best boat) and some painting where we followed a tutorial (Andrea Nelson art on instagram is clear for kids but has nice results for watercolours).
Would he do yoga or an action dance with a YouTube video when he needs a movement break?

Fluffytoebeanz · 30/07/2024 12:45

Water play in the bath/sink, making play dough, baking cookies get a roll of paper draw around him and let him paint/colour himself in. An indoor treasure hunt. Lego/duplo. And don't feel guilty about screens.

WooYa · 30/07/2024 12:57

We make playdough (recipes easily found online)
Gloop which is cornflour and water Drawing
Baking
Facepaint - using my make up 😬
Water play - mainly using ALL of my cups in the sink with lots of washing up liquid
Sand tray - fine layer of sand in a tray (or plate) and use fingers/forks to make marks
We've also draw or paint a picture, cut it up and then try to fix it back together again like a homemade jigsaw.
We raid the recycling too! You'll be surprised what you can make from an egg box.
If you have an electric whisk/frother (so much easier than doing it by hand) then you can whisk up shower gel or washing up liquid and it makes a really thick foam.

SapatSea · 30/07/2024 13:04

If I couldn't get out with my kids and they needed to burn off some energy I used to play Simon Says with them or have challenges - can you walk to the end of the room and back with a balloon between your legs, can you run with it. Can you hop on one leg to the end of the room and back, can crawl, pretend to be a snake etc combos - can you jump up, take 2 giant steps, 4baby steps, then bunny hop etc- make silly stuff up. My kids also really liked playing in the bath, so I'd make it bubbly or add food colour and let them have whatever toys they wanted in it. Shark grabber and fishing rod games are good and can be used over the bath as well as in it. My kids liked putting on their swiiming costumes to pretend it was a pool!

Structure the day and plan the activities the night before - breakfast, an activity, a snack, an activity, lunch, film/programme, activity, books, computer game etc.

I'd let him make as much of the food as he can - butter the bread, cut the sandwiches, push down the toaster etc. My DC used to like indoor picnics sitting on a tablecloth or blanket, so it was easy to fold up the corners and shake all the crumbs into the bin and they could prepare the food themselves and wash up. I also used this playing on the blanket/sheet method with bitty toys such as Lego and playmobil or small cars. Get in some cheap craft kits if your DC likes that, maybe get a toy he has wanted ( if you can afford it) especially a building type kit toy.

Book series are good if your DC can sit and listen or a series of films. My DC used to like the Pokemon films and Harry Potter ones. You can do more than one a day, have a binge or eke out throughout the week. My son only liked non fiction so he liked DK find out type books and I used to keep some of those in stock.

Children ususally love attention from a parent so ask questions to get your DC talking - really listen, prompt for more info and praise. Keep it going.They love it! Examples:
https://www.newhorizonacademy.net/20-questions-to-ask-your-kids-to-get-them-talking/

20 Questions to Ask Your Child - New Horizon Academy

Many parents can relate to getting one-word answers from their children. How do we get our kids to have more meaningful conversations?

https://www.newhorizonacademy.net/20-questions-to-ask-your-kids-to-get-them-talking

Maryamlouise · 30/07/2024 13:05

Mine love to make some monstrous creation from the recycling as well. Lego is also good. We did some baking yesterday, a craft kit, some board games, played video games and watched a couple of episodes of a show they like. Have done cosmic kids yoga previously and enjoyed that

Maryamlouise · 30/07/2024 13:06

Mine love a treasure hunt as well. You can hide stuff around the house or a series of clues for them to work out

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