what activities do your toddlers do?

[beasmum]

We seem to be at a stage where having one full day at home can be boring for my 3 yr old ds. Unless it's part of the routine of the week it can be hard going to persuade my son to go out to park, library or whatever. So I'm trying to think of a little 'timetable' for his week where we have something arranged every day.

He has two mornings at pre-school which after easter will increase to three. On Saturday am's my dh and he go swimming, which they love and spend hours at.

What sort of organised things do you take yours to? My ds is very energetic by the way and I feel I ought to be doing something physical with him! Any ideas gratefully received.

My DD (3.5) goes to nursery 4 times a week (2 mornings & 2 full days), Weds is her day off. We go to a soft play session with a friend and her DD for a couple of hours in the morning, and in the afternoon we generally just play in the house or maybe pop out to the park or something if the weather is good. On her nursery half days, she is usually quite happy to just play at home in the afternoons, nursery tires her out.

Do you do crafty things at home with him ?

Baking biscuits/buns ?

you could play with a ball for a while or play games like follow the leader or simon says - my DS's love to get some music on and dance lke crazy!

My dd goes to nursery 1 1/2 days a week (Wed/ Thurs), we go to soft play on Tuesdays, have friend round Fri afts and meet up with a crowd of other mums and babies the other day. With any spare time (yeah right) we bake, go to the park on her trike, walk to the shop, play 'dangerous' games like jumping off the sofa or playing dodgeball, painting, play doh, go on bus trip to town or (my favourite) watch dvds for peace and quiet. Swimming and long walks for the weekend with dh ad me.

She is 2 btw

Someone said to me recently that a little bit of 'bored' time was good and I think it's true. It encourages your child to learn how to entertain themselves and develops imaginative play. Could be good to have a morning or afternoon a week with nothing planned.

Also is he good at the supermarket. If you go at a quiet time, this can be good, helping you to count apples and find things on the list

I do know what you mean though. I can't wait for the days to get a bit longer and warmer so we can get outside.

We do playgroup and a gymnastics class - that makes him sleep so well. We also used to do a music class. I think by three some places do soccer skills.

oh, thanks everyone. We have all the sort of things you mention at home, all kinds of crafty, baking activities and lots of play together. It's just that I felt I wanted an arranged 'thing' for us to get out to each day otherwise he seems to get late afternoon boredom and scratchiness. I think he's ready for more challenges but I don't at present want just to do more pre-school, I want to do things with him. As you say nomdeplume, he plays much more happily for the rest of the day if he's had a busy morning out of the house.

Maretta I like the sound of a gymnastics class or ball skills. Will try that!

DS is 22m. We go to a gymnastics / soft play class & then Mother and Toddlers on a Monday am, he has nursery on a Tuesday am, arty Mothers & Toddlers on Wednesday, free time on a Thursday am and then we go to a soft play centre (slides, ball pools, climbing frames type place) on a Friday am.

We usually spend the afternoons with friends or at the park. I love our routine, and would get very bored if we stayed at home too much. Can't wait for summer so afternoons in the garden can commence again!

We found our gym class through the local gymnastics club, but I think a lot of sports centres do them too.

DD goes dancing I was supprised to see that there were quite a few boys there too.

? trampolening ? Indoor play centre? Steam railway, walks on beach and/or in woods? Feeding ducks.

I used to wander around the boundaries of building sites quite a lot with my 3yo DS, he just loved watching the heavy machinery at work.

trampolining! brilliant idea, he's the most bouncy boy ever so should suit him!

DD goes to nursery 2.5 days a week (also goes to PILs once a week). Other than that we no longer have any porganised activities that we do - it was too time consuming and I found we didn't have time for fun stuff together.

We do soft play, park, out on her bike/scooter/roller skates, swimming, walks, craft stuff at home, visiting friends, days out (Sundown, Guliver's Kingdom, farm, etc).

In terms of organised activities, in the past we have done: Tumble Tots, Swimming classes, music sessions, Gymboree Play, Gymboree Music and a "kind of" tooddler group.

And I make sure that some time every week she gets time to just play at home. She has loads of toys she loves to play with. So for a few hours a week she gets to play - often on her own, with me/DH or with a friend.

I personally couldn't do a whole day at home either. I take ds to library, swimming, supermarket in the half days we have together (nursery in afternoon). On our 2 full days we head out a bit later and go to a museum, zoo, art gallery or aquarium and have a spot of lunch out. Now he's almost 3 he is very good company. He still get's plenty of time to just "be". After all he doesn't have to cook, clean or fold clothes (slthough he will help).