Entertaining three kids when tired and unmotivated

[littleraysofsunshine]

Half term... 3.5yo, 2yo, 17 week old... The older two play nice sometimes but then want allllll my attention alllll the time. Which is lovely but I also need breathing space. Were having a day in today, and they're climbing the walls. Usually i cope great! But I had like two hours sleep last night so it doesn't help

How do you cope on the days you're shattered?

Put them in the bath with bubbles and bubble wands. Sit and watch.
Make a ramp for vehicles from a sofa etc. Sit and watch.
Give them some play dough. Sit and watch.

I set up activities but they just want me doing it with them all the time. It's lovely they want me but I'm so tire today! And it's always the days I tired they want/seem hard work.

I've made play dough so I'll see how it goes

I feel your pain!! Bubbles (this is good as you can sit down!) bath, taking all the sofa cushions off and building a den/stepping stones. Simon says/musical statues. Sorting out the toy box which sounds boring but they usually find things they haven't played with for ages!

I'm with you!

I have a 18 week old DS who was up 3 times in the night, I'm knackered and have hideous period pain and feel dizzy and lightheaded (and I'm breastfeeding so shouldn't even be having a period - stupid body).

Its cold, grey and threatening rain. My 6 year old is bored and irritated.

We are watching a My Little Pony DVD and eating leftover easter eggs and DS is asleep on me.

They are exhausting at that age - I remember it well
Although the thought of it is hard, actually getting them out every day made such a difference to mine - the fresh air, the exercise. Doesn't have to be anywhere exciting or to cost anything - local parks, going to watch the diggers on a local building site, feeding the ducks, walk round to someone's house, a different park from the one you normally go to, look on council website for things happening - there were always big events and little ones you could take them to for free or for £1 -, having a car, mine always loved going on the bus or the train, as they considered it a real treat - we'd go into the City Centre and go into somewhere like the (free) art gallery...would only be in there about 20 - 30mins, but it was just somewhere to 'have been'.
Agree with the water suggestions too - be it 'watering the garden' or just jumping in puddles or a load of old tubs and cartons in a tray of water, or, putting them in the bath itself, mine could always play with water for ages.

Play dough lasted half hour then they started scrapping.

I've just set up a tea party picnic in their room whilst I tackle the washing from last nights bed wetting - they keep scrapping over the tea set.

What happened to the days they play nice? Ahhh lol